The Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany

Wait Upon the Lord
Isaiah 40:21-31
1 Corinthians 9:16-23

Just listening to today’s reading from First Corinthians makes me tired. Paul being all things to all people. To the Jews I became Jew… To one outside the law I became as one outside the law… To the weak I became weak. There is a very important message and a challenge to us in the content of this reading. How much would we be willing to change, say, just about our worship in order to share the blessing of the Gospel with others?

But in addition to that challenge, as I consider this passage this year I’m struck mostly by Paul’s breathless activity, the frenetic intensity of all that he does. We know from elsewhere in Scripture that he was tireless in his travels throughout the Mediterranean. In this morning’s reading he is transforming himself moment to moment to engage others with the Gospel. He was intense and driven as an evangelist and apostle.

Some have suggested he had a hyperactivity disorder. That’s a cheap shot, although it usually gets a grin. Or we could say he is just one of those sorts of high energy people and leave it at that. And since we are not one of those sorts of people we are excused from any similar energetic dedication to the gospel.

But wouldn’t you like to have that sort of passion? Isn’t there at least a part of you that envies that sort of energy? Both for living life in general and for living a life full of faith? I would like to have at least some of that enthusiasm for the Gospel.

The propers for this day—the collect and Scripture readings appointed as a group for this day—invite us to hold the passages from Isaiah and First Corinthians next to one another.

The Isaiah reading begins by describing God—the energy and power that is God’s. God, who creates all that is. God, who destroys everyone who claims to triumph through human power. God, who commands the very stars of heaven. God, who will never faint or grow weak.

And then Isaiah turns to speaking about people: “those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”

Those who wait for the Lord shall be given the Lord’s power. Maybe that’s Paul’s secret.

A little background on this passage from Isaiah. This is from that portion of Isaiah often informally called “Second Isaiah.” The book in the Bible that we call Isaiah was written by several different authors at different times. Second Isaiah, which begins at chapter 40, wrote in the late 6th c. BC. At that time the standing and strength of the people of God had been shattered. The people have been defeated and dispersed, many were in exile in Babylon. The people were fearful of their future and uncertain of God’s presence and care.

To these people, the prophet Isaiah says: Wait for the Lord. The King James translated it differently, and I prefer this translation. The King James does not say, “wait for the Lord,” it says, “wait UPON the Lord.” As a servant might wait upon a master. Attentive and vigilant. It’s not a passive fatalism. It’s not about sitting back and waiting. It’s about maintaining attention and focus. Eyes fixed unservingly. Anticipating the master’s word or gesture.

I think also of a well-trained dog waiting upon a command. Those laser eyes focused on you, the dog almost trembling with anticipation. Please, please, please tell me what I get to do next. Sit? Fetch? Come? Wait upon the Lord.

One commentator, reflecting on this passage wrote: “Great views of God are essential to call forth great hopes and great energies.” Viewing God greatly, focusing on God with great attention, calls forth great hopes and great energies.

Wait upon the Lord. Look to God. Look away from anxieties and fears. Look away from the troubles and demands of the world. Do not be districted by anything of this world. Lift up your eyes and keep your focus upon the Lord, the Creator of all.

The people to whom Second Isaiah wrote lived in terrible times, especially for the people of God. Paul lived in a world very challenging for new Christians. We live in times that certainly challenge our faith and try us in many ways.

So Isaiah speaks to us: wait upon the Lord. Again, this is not helplessly sitting back and waiting for God to come and fix everything. It is an intense and focused vision on God alone. We find that focus in the places you would expect—worship, prayer, Scripture. Wait upon the Lord with unwavering attention.

Those who wait upon the Lord, like Paul, will be given God’s own power and energy in their lives. They will mount up like eagles. They will never grow weary or faint. They will live faithfully with purpose, energy and hope.