Hopefully the title grabbed your attention and you’re now looking at the image and trying to puzzle out and interpret what you are seeing. The easy answer is that you are seeing a reflection in the sugar bowl on the table of our men’s bible study group. But is that the whole picture, do you see the spoon, the coasters? What about two open Bibles? Still looking? What about the reflections of Terry taking the photo, the coasters and the coffee cup. So you’ve got the full picture now? Shame you missed the reflections of Dennis and John.
Making you think and interpret what you think you see and understand is a good illustration of exactly what our Men’s Bible group is all about. We were blessed last night in that so many men turned up we had to get the folding chairs out.
Eight of us around the table continued our journey through Isaiah. We’ve left the history part of Isaiah and we’re now journeying from verse 40 onwards. It’s a time of new beginnings again as the rough places are made smooth, the rugged plain and the valleys raised. God’s highway is being created here.
The news is good here for anyone who’s feeling up against it. Young or old, tired, weak and weary, faint of strength or resolve, God’s promise is a renewal of strength. The image of the eagle soaring is one of my favourite biblical pictures. We’re also instructed to support each other and the imagery from some of our bible translations talks about nails being used to make something immovable and fixed forever. It was certainly an image of the crucifixion that was coming to mind here. Remaking us into tools to be used, providing water for the thirsty and those in drought. Turning the deserts into fertile forests shows the Lord remaking and remodelling all who follow him.
The promises go on, promises to bring light into darkness, freedom to prisoners, sight to the blind and triumph over enemies. These promises become all the more relevant as our brother in Christ, Paul, prepares for his baptism on Sunday. “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters I will be with you.”
What is also quite surprising is how three short chapters in Isaiah have prompted so many well know worship songs and choral pieces. Just under 300 years ago George Frideric Handel provided the music and Charles Jennens words from Isaiah for the part of the Messiah entitled “Every Valley shall be exalted”. Fast forward to 1967 and Sebastian Temple’s “Make me a channel of your piece” contains elements of the verses from these chapters. Martin J Smith in 1995 wrote his “Shout to the north” lyrics about being tested and coming through with the Lord’s help. Darlene Zschech in 1996 penned her lyrics to “Power of His Love” singing of how to “rise up like the eagle and soar”. I’m sure there are probably many more.
So whether you get your Scripture through the Bible study, through the music you listen to, or the songs you sing, pause for a minute and reflect. What do the words mean? What are they telling you? What are you called to do?” Only you can supply that answer. Only you get to see the picture given to you. Share it and talk about it. You may be surprised at what happens when you do.