Proper 16: Old Testament, Isaiah 51:1-6

Isaiah 51:1-6

The neighborhood where I grew up was a great one. Lots of families. It was a city residential area with lots of alleys. Everyone had a garage that was a separate building from the house. Most of the homes had front porches and there were two great intersections nearby that boasted great street lights for night-time hide-and-seek, frisbee and wiffle ball games. We were outside in the summer from just past slamming down Sugar Smacks at sunup till dinner. And the final call of the day came from my dad’s booming voice … “CAYDA!!!” My childhood family nickname was known throughout the neighborhood and it was always great to hear that voice at day’s end. It was my dad’s voice. Everyone near Biddle and Second Street loved it.

There’s another voice that continually bellows and it is not limited to our little Jackson, Michigan neighborhood. It goes out throughout the whole earth. “Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness, you who seek the LORD” (Isaiah 51:1). It’s just the beginning of the chapter of our Old Testament reading for the week, but in the next few verses God lets us know that from God’s Garden, Eden to our present street address, Dad is calling us home. 

Verse 5 reveals more, “My righteousness draws near, my salvation has gone out …” God calls to the people hewn from the rock of Abraham but he doesn’t stop there. The message of God’s salvation is “light to the nations.” And he wants the message to be heard. Have you ever thought about how long God has been calling to those he has made? He never tires of the task and he actually blesses us by giving us a hand and voice in it, (See Genesis 12:1-3). 

God is calling. And he is a dad. The best dad. The righteousness he references in our passage is his. And he gives it to his children as a pure gift as they repent and believe his good news. If you think, even think you may have heard his bellowing voice lately, don’t get busy doing other things. Stop and listen carefully. Respond. Say yes. Come home for dinner. There’s a place at the table for you.