Your God Rules! - Reflections on Isaiah 52:7-10 for Christmas, Year C

by John Holbert on Sunday, December 1, 2024

The lectionary collectors give us three separate choices for texts on this most holy of Christian days; each of the choices from the Hebrew Bible come from the lengthy book of Isaiah, that complex collection of writings covering some 300 years of prophetic work, from the 8th to the 6th (perhaps even the 5th) centuries BCE. Of course, the most famous of these three is Is.9:2-7, that unforgettable tableau where we move from darkness to light, led by a little child, who is given divine authority. This is so predictive of what some early believers saw in the birth of Jesus that the words became nearly ubiquitous in celebrations of that birth through the centuries.

          I wish, however, this year to look more closely at Is.52:7-10 (11-12), a nearly equally famous announcement of the rule and reign of YHWH, promised by the prophet, facing the “ruins of Jerusalem” (Is.52:9). This text is a part of the work of II-Isaiah, that prophet of the exile of Judah to Babylon. The work was composed sometime late in that exilic period that ended in 539BCE when Cyrus the Persian conquered the Babylonian empire and allowed the many captives of that empire to return to their homelands. Though some Judeans chose to stay in the city, creating a vibrant Jewish community, some returned to Jerusalem. During the interim between what looked like an interminable time in the capital city of Babylon and the advent of Cyrus, whom Isaiah calls “messiah” (Is 45:1), Isaiah promises that YHWH has not forgotten the chosen people and will surely come to release them from their Babylonian captivity.

          His words are grand and wonderfully imaginative.

               “How desirable on the mountains
                    are the feet of those who carry joyous news
                       who announce peace, carry good, announce salvation,
                       who say to Zion, ‘Your God rules!’” (Is.52:7)

On the hills that surround Jerusalem swift-footed messengers of joy may be seen who shout peace and good, who proclaim salvation, wholeness, freedom, summarizing their message by voicing the fact that “Your God rules,” not the Babylonian king, not Cyrus the Persian, but YHWH, who epitomizes in coming peace, joy, and freedom. “The sound of sentries raise their voices together and sing for joy, because with their own eyes they see the return of YHWH to Zion”  (Is.52:8).The joy of the messengers announce the coming of YHWH back to Jerusalem, leading the captives home. And these same sentries urge others in the city to “break out together into song, you ruins of Jerusalem, because YHWH has brought comfort to the chosen people, has redeemed Jerusalem” (Is. 52:9). The Holy City, left in ruin by the armies of Babylon, now witnesses joyous song at the coming of YHWH; both the hills and the ruined city echo with the joy that YHWH has promised and now delivers.

          “YHWH has bared a holy arm for the eyes of all the nations; all the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God!” (Is.52:10). But now, and suddenly, the call of the prophet changes. “Leave, leave, get out of there! Touch nothing unclean! Get out of it, and purify yourselves, you who carry YHWH’s vessels. But you will not go out quickly, nor leave in haste, for YHWH will walk before you; the God of Israel will be your rearguard” (Is.52:11-12). The prophet appears to say that Jerusalem will not be the final resting place of God’s chosen ones. Indeed, they will depart from the ruined place, taking with them the holy vessels of YHWH, the sacred tools of worship left in the temple, and will leave for somewhere else, fully protected by YHWH, who will both lead them slowly and will guard them from behind at the same time.

          YHWH has demonstrated power in the return to the city but continues to show power by not being confined to that city. The chosen ones can find new places to be as long as they are protected by YHWH, who is, as YHWH was in the Exodus from Egypt, both in front of and behind the people.

          Ans so are we who celebrate this great Christmas Day. We, too, are recipients of signs of God’s great power, not only in astonishing displays of force, but for us the gift of a baby, lying in a manger, the very essence of a new power of this same God, a baby who brings with him joy, peace, and freedom, and ultimately salvation/unity for the whole world. Merry Christmas to all!