And at the heart of the Genesis story of the creation of human beings is the essential nature of the human being, both male and female, existing to know God intimately and to walk intimately with God. There is an equality of worship, in adoration of the presence of God; there is an equality of revelling and feasting in fellowship with God in the Garden. Equality is a gift in creation, it is the foundation of equality before the law, equality of voice in the public square, equality in righteousness. Walter Brueggemann makes a similar point in his commentary on Isaiah 59. The post exilic community in Israel is deeply flawed not by its lack of worship, of which there is plenty, but by its inequalities in justice, in voice, in inclusion of all who accept Torah, regardless of wealth and status.
The first point to make is thus that inequality contrasts with the basic equality that exists before God. That may well not make it wrong, but as I will come back to when looking at the issues of the use of power, it raises a significant question mark. Is it possible, where there is gross inequality, for equality in worship and fellowship to be maintained?
[blockquote]The post exilic community in Israel is deeply flawed not by its lack of worship, of which there is plenty, but by its inequalities in justice, in voice, in inclusion of all who accept Torah, regardless of wealth and status.[/blockquote]
Thinking about it, and comparing this and other passages with his more homely and characteristic, and not particularly intellectual, linked evensong sermon at Trinity Wall Street, I wonder if in fact this pretentious drivel was written for him.
The evensong sermon is much more like what he has produced in the past.
Actually, if you read Isaiah 59 it follows on from Isaiah 58 which is concerned with worship and honoring God, specifically observing His sabbath. 59 goes on to level charges of disobediance to God and dishonoring of God and the separation from God that has created. It is then focused upon His provision of salvation to a people unable to save themselves. While lack of inclusion may be the consequence of some of the disobedience and iniquity listed, the focus is upon the relationship with God, not the ordering of society and some socialist or liberation theological focus, and to make this its focus is not to give credit to its real focus which is upon relationship with God, and the provision He is making for restoration.
Much as with true Reconciliationâ„¢ – Isaiah 59 to me reinforces the point that reconciliation is with God when we are obedient to him, and reconciliation with others is a by-product and a consequence – the happy state of the world described in Isaiah 58 for those who walk with Him: “then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth.”