Operation No More Tears

In Tolkien's book, The Two Towers, two hobbits sat forlorn in the long dark stairs of Cirith Ungol (a forbidding mountain pass), wondering just how they got themselves into this story they now inhabit. They sat there, solemnly eating the last of their elven bread, sipping from their quickly-diminishing water, and pondering the next leg of their already difficult journey. After reflecting upon the great stories they had grown up hearing, Sam looks at his friend, Frodo, and says, "I wonder what sort of tale we've fallen into?"

Do you ever think that? We all have a narrative of how we think our lives should be, or we wish they were, and yet often we seem to ponder, how did things turn out that way? Typically, when we start to think like that, we are well on the way to despair or deep anxiety. This week, we are looking at a whole nation of people who are wondering just that. The two tangible things Israel has built her identity upon are about to be lost: the land and the temple. Furthermore, it seems that the promise of the Davidic line of great kings in coming to an end. Has God forgotten? Is there any future for us? Is it always winter, but never Christmas?

It is at this point in the story that the prophet Isaiah enters and gives them a promise and a hope; it is a hope so grand that it will sustain an entire nation through destruction and exile. It is a promise that all comes down to a "servant-king" who will come and rescue his people. So if you want to hear the whole book of Isaiah summarized in one telling, you won't want to miss this Sunday.

By the way, we will also be installing elders and deacons, and ordaining Bob Conrad to the office of elder. We are so thankful that God continues to supply us with servant leaders!