Devotion 8.11.26

Isaiah 56

Salvation for Foreigners

1 Thus says the Lord:

“Keep justice, and do righteousness,

for soon my salvation will come,

  and my righteousness be revealed.

6 “And the foreigners who join themselves to the Lord,

  to minister to him, to love the name of the Lord,

  and to be his servants,

everyone who keeps the Sabbath and does not profane it,

  and holds fast my covenant—

7 these I will bring to my holy mountain,

  and make them joyful in my house of prayer;

their burnt offerings and their sacrifices

  will be accepted on my altar;

for my house shall be called a house of prayer

  for all peoples.”

8 The Lord God,

  who gathers the outcasts of Israel, declares,

“I will gather yet others to him

  besides those already gathered.”

God's Word is extended to foreigners in or outside of Israel and those who are outside of his Word today are invited in to join themselves to his Word and his covenant.

This reading, assigned when the liturgical readings were developed long ago, is one that is relevant today. It was in Luther's time, in Christ's time, and at the time it was written. Thus far, Isaiah has prophesied for God on the coming servant who will be the one who suffers on Israel's, and our behalf, and in today's reading Isaiah notes that this covenant extends to foreigners from outside of Israel. 

As I read this, I have to ask myself why? Why did the learned, the elite class of educated pharisees, ignore these prophecies when Christ came to earth and chose instead to persecute him and bring him to his death (which he defeated for us and rose on the third day)? Why did the disciples have to argue amongst themselves and decide, after lengthy debate, that this salvation belonged to Gentile as well as Jew as Isaiah points out so clearly?

Maybe some insight is given to us in Galatians as Paul speaks in no uncertain terms to the church in Galatia. The issue at hand being do you have to be "Jewish" before you can be a "Christian?" Hear what he says in Galatians 3:

"1 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. 2 Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? 4 Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? 5 Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith— 6 just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”?"

As Paul continues in Galatians 3:

7 Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. 8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” 

The stumbling block then? A Gentile must be circumcised and become Jewish before he can become a follower of Christ. Paul addresses this foolish notion with a foolish suggestion: Why stop there? Cut the whole thing off if that's what it takes. 

What were the stumbling blocks in Luther's time? Again, the ruling religious class had men believe that works were the path to righteousness in God's sight, for which Luther might have chosen circumcision since he realized he could not satisfy God's judgement on his works alone. Luther then discovered, in God's Word and in his plain sight, that it is faith alone.

What are our stumbling blocks today? In our Lutheran faith, as it was debated in the recent synodical convention, it is "are you Lutheran enough?" For example, do you follow the "order of worship?" These are the questions of significance people debate as many go to their deaths not knowing Christ.

A foreigner, it is worth noting, is not a political designation. It is a designation of those outside of the faith. In Israel's time, the people were part of God's covenant as a chosen people who became a kingdom. Isaiah is noting that the covenant will extend to the foreigner, within and outside of the boundaries of the kingdom. In our minds today, a "foreigner" is one who is not of faith in Christ (Jew and Gentile alike). Our kingdom, God's heavenly kingdom, is open to all who confess faith in Christ and have been baptized into that faith. Once in the faith, we are no longer foreigners to God, but now citizens of his kingdom.

Hardened hearts and stiff-necks among those who should have known or should know better seem to be the answer to the question of what are the stumbling blocks.

Pray with me: Gracious God, I give thanks that you adopted me as a son of your kingdom through faith and baptism. Help me and the church bring others into this citizenship by sharing your Word, prayer, and acts of love meant to bring the gospel's message to foreigners like I once was. In Christ's name, Amen.

Hope Men's Ministry is a ministry in service to Hope Lutheran Church and School. Our purpose is to grow, unite, and share God's Word to all men through meaningful activities. These activities center on fellowship, service, conversation, prayer, study and devotion as we seek to become men of God as He created us to be.