5 Come, house of Jacob,
let’s walk by the Lord’s light.
6 You have abandoned your people,
house of Jacob.
They are full of sorcerers from the east and fortune-tellers like the Philistines;
they hold hands with foreigners’ children.
7 Their land is full of silver and gold;
they have countless treasures.
Their land is filled with horses;
they have countless chariots.
8 Their land is filled with idols;
they worship their handiwork,
what their own fingers have made.
9 Humanity will be brought down;
each person laid low—don’t lift them up!
10 Go into the rocks,
and hide yourself in the dust from the terror of the Lord,
from the splendor of God’s majesty!
11 People’s proud gazing will be stopped
and humanity’s arrogance brought down;
the Lord alone will be exalted on that day.
Reflection
Today’s reading begins with, “ 5 Come, house of Jacob, walk by the Lord’s light” and it jumped out at me immediately upon my first reading. I have been reflecting on “walk by the Lord’s light” for almost two weeks and I can’t seem to get it out of my head. Have you sung or heard the song “Marching in the Light of God”? It is one of my favorites and it is also known by the Zulu translation “Siyahamba.” It can be found in the UMC Faith We Sing hymnal supplement, and it has been sung in church gatherings and protest marches since 1952. The song had its origin in South Africa’s anti-apartheid movement and has been sung around the world, capturing the hearts of countless people. Several recordings can be found on the internet, and I hope you will listen to a few of them after you meditate on today’s devotional. This song calls us to MARCH in the light of God, and then the singer is invited to SING in the light of God, and then to PRAY in the light of God.
What does it mean to “walk by the Lord’s light”? Simply put, the call to walk in the light of the Lord is a call to live according to God’s will and teachings, not in the ways of the world. In verses 6-8 the prophet Isaiah critiques Israel’s current state, highlighting their reliance on foreign customs, partnerships with idolatrous nations, striving for excessive wealth, dependence on military might and basic widespread idolatry. The passage then calls us to the future days of the Lord when nations will learn God’s ways, the way of loving your neighbor and your enemy rather than depending on worldly things. When we walk in the light we are following Jesus in everything we do. Jesus is the light of the world! These verses speak to us today as they spoke to the people of Israel thousands of years ago. Marching in the Light of God calls us to never give up doing everything we can to bring humanity to its knees and change our idolatrous habits. Siyahamba is not just a song; it is a powerful message and a movement from the second half of the 20th century as South Africa and the world wrestled with the evils of apartheid. The evils of humanity against humanity, of the powerful against the powerless, of rich against poor seem to be with us always, but we must not let that deter us from doing what we know is right in the eyes of our Lord.
by Kathleen Stolz
For Pondering and Prayer
The light of God is like a lighthouse with a rotating beacon announcing hazards ahead. As followers of Jesus, we are called to identify and avoid those hazards. What are some of the hazards that God’s people face today? Who are our idolatrous partners? What “worldly things” do we depend upon? Do we strive for the almighty dollar, or do we follow the path of Jesus, living simply and loving one another? Are we afraid to do what is right and just in the ways of God? Do we follow the ways of the world because we don’t want to make waves? The light of God warns us, as God has done since the beginning of time. And it is never too late to change our ways and to share the message with others.
Prayer: Loving God, I know that the road ahead is filled with stumbling blocks, but I hear you saying “don’t give up!” You have gotten my attention. I may be only one person, but I have a voice to share your message of love and light. Give me strength and courage for the journey ahead. Amen.
