Then there is the realm of escapist fantasy. Yet the world still stumbles on, leaving us to wonder if there is any hope of deliverance from chaos and incompetence. The prophet who wrote under Isaiah’s name in the late eighth and early seventh centuries B.C. lived in such a world. Everything seemed to have spun out of control. The Northern Kingdom of Israel had vanished under the brutal heel of their Assyrian conquerors. The Southern Kingdom of Judea laboured on, but was ruled by a succession of corrupt and incompetent kings bearing the lineage of David in name only. Judea was clearly coming unravelled.
The Messianic passage in today’s reading reflects both fervent yearning for a world of justice, harmony and peace, as well as a conviction that God and only God is capable of delivering it. This is not fantasy — it is hope and faith speaking through the sacred imagination. The vision is as inspiring now as it was then. A powerful, incorruptible, just and wise individual would rule the Earth with justice, righteousness and compassion for the poor and vulnerable. He would not be deceived or swayed by external appearances or distorted and twisted words, but would be governed by his nearness to God. There was more: not only humans would benefit, but all of creation.
What a wonderful dream — but alas, it has never come to pass. This vision was given new life in Matthew’s Sermon on the Mount, and it has reverberated through every utopian vision since. Perhaps we hold the missing key: “the Earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord” is something that is our responsibility — one we have shirked consistently. This knowledge is not conceptual or book knowledge about God but a deep, personal, experiential relationship with the One above every creed and label.
Paul encouraged his audience to reflect that experience of God in both steadfastness and a harmonious way of living. The manner in which we live together and deal with one another is a very accurate measurement of the quality of our knowledge of God. For Paul this meant willingness to embrace the Other — in this case the gentiles — in a way that gave glory to God and testimony to God’s mercy.
John the Baptist did not quite fit the image portrayed in Isaiah’s prophecy. He was indeed a holy man of God, but a bit heavy on the fire and brimstone. John still represented human presuppositions about God — judgment, punishment and doom. But then he did not claim to be the promised deliverer; in fact, his entire ministry was consumed with preparing the people to receive the one coming after him. The coming Messianic figure would bear another kind of baptism — one of spirit and fire. When the promised deliverer arrived however, he surprised everyone. No wrath, no judgment, no punishment — but plenty of forgiveness, compassion and wisdom. There was certainly enough of a challenge for everyone, and in fact Jesus raised the bar for many things. Fortunately, He also gave us the Spirit to help us on the way.
John warned his listeners against complacency and smugness — don’t think that just because you belong to the “right” religious establishment that everything is fine between you and God. This cautionary reminder is as relevant for us today as they were then. Only repentance — a revolution of minds and hearts and a willingness to change our attitudes — will bring us into harmonious relationship with God.