If No Sound

I Will Not Keep Silent©

January 17, 2010

Isaiah 62:1-5

Psalm 36:5-10 (UMH 771)

1 Corinthians 12:1-11

John 2:1-11

Amy DeWitte

            Sometimes I will let you in on the process of thinking about things for a sermon.  I realize that I have a certain stream of consciousness, and I imagine that you often wonder, “where did she get that?” I was struggling though the texts for this week from the psalm to Corinthians to John - and there is so much for us to talk about in these passages.  I would love to preach about spiritual gifts as the are presented in Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians.  I want us to continue talking about the purpose of a church and what it is we are doing here, and what each of us has to offer and the way we are responsible for giving what we have in service to God and love of neighbor.

            I’d also love to preach about Jesus’ coming out story - his first miracle at the wedding in Cana, the way he showed the world for the first time who he was and how people responded to that.  I have questions about this passage, and I want to wrestle with them with you.

            This is the weekend we celebrate MLK’s birthday, and there is much to say about his legacy and and where we are as a nation and a world in the ways we relate to each other.

            Honestly, I didn’t even give the Old Testament passage all that much attention because I was so fixated on the other things.  But none of those sermons came together. Then I realized why: those were not messages for today.  They are certainly worthy things to talk about, but that will be for another time.  Today we have to address the major event that has happened in the life of our world since we last met here for worship together.

            You have read and heard and seen pictures and video of the destruction in Haiti following the 7.0 magnitude earthquake and its aftershocks - buildings destroyed, damaged - people killed - children orphaned - hospitals put out of commission - the port rendered useless for brining supplies in and out. It’s unspeakable, and I guess that’s why I chose to write you so many emails of the last few days. It was easier for me to “talk” about this that way.

            Even as I have hope that our disaster response agency, the United Methodist Committee on relief will be able to help the people of Haiti significantly, I find that the director of that agency himself, Rev. Sam Dixon was killed in the the collapse of the hotel where he was staying before the earthquake hit.  People are so desperate relief workers need guards to protect them.  The threat of quick-spreading disease is all too probable given the traces of death everywhere one looks.  Even beyond the obvious destruction, lots of things seem to be going wrong.

            And what is there to say to all of this? I can’t, with integrity, explain theologically why this happened, or answer all of the questions we might have about this kind of profound human tragedy in the short span of this sermon. It’s easier for me to call us to action rather than talk about it.  In fact, my first reaction is: “Don’t just sit there and think about it.  Do something”

            What then, should I preach? Today is not the day to talk about spiritual gifts from Corinthians or miracles in John. I could stray away from the lectionary to respond to this event, of course.  Even then I wouldn’t know what to say that would be helpful to me or any of you.

            But wait, what was that passage from Isaiah saying again? I went back and read it, and this time I could not dismiss it. I read it with new eyes in light of what has happened. I heard it with new ears. The scripture always has something new and good for us to grasp from it.

            Isaiah 62:1: “For Zion's sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until her vindication shines out like the dawn, and her salvation like a burning torch.”  It sounds like Isaiah could be speaking in the voice of God on behalf of God. That is a good and fair interpretation.  But I have become convinced  that this could be something different.  It could be that Isaiah is speaking to the people, on behalf of the people before God. Isaiah is interceding.

            The Israelites had been in exile and now they were back in their homeland. But everything seemed like a desert - things were not the way they used to be, King Neb had done a number on the place, and the people were restless and disappointed. They had to struggle to get back on their feet again. They felt like God had left them and would never return. All that time longed to go back home and that was it?  God promised them the glory of the good old days - everything would be rebuilt, but better this time. But that wasn’t the way things were panning out at all. Hadn’t they served their time, their just punishment in exile? Was God still trying to punish them? These were their cries; these were their lamentations.

            In the midst of all that comes a prophet, Isaiah.  Isaiah knew the truth. He knew God to be a faithful God who would fulfill promises, who not only speaks for God but speaks to God and before God and the people. What if this is intercession?  What if this is not God reminding them of his promises, but Isaiah reminding the people and God of what God promised.  Hear it again in that light:

•         “For Zion's sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until her vindication shines out like the dawn, and her salvation like a burning torch.The nations shall see your vindication, and all the kings your glory; and you shall be called by a new name that the mouth of the LORD will give.You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God. You shall no more be termed Forsaken, and your land shall no more be termed Desolate; but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her, and your land Married; for the LORD delights in you, and your land shall be married. For as a young man marries a young woman, so shall your builder marry you, and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you.”

            This is what Isaiah has to offer in the aftermath of destruction - not more judgmental words, not some trite proverb saying everything’s going to be alright. No, instead he repeated the promises of God, asking God to make good on God’s promises. He stood up as one who spoke both on behalf of God and on behalf of the people. He interceded. And he wouldn’t shut up about it. This was not just a cursory prayer for the people who were returning home, but incessant pleads for redemption and deliverance.

            “I will not keep silent….I will not rest.”

            Maybe that’s what we are meant to say in situations like these - in times when we don’t know what to say, in circumstances when words don’t seem like nearly enough and we are left feeling useless to do anything. What we cling to are the promises of God. With those promises, we pray incessantly that God will remember God’s children and will indeed deliver them.  With those promises, we also speak words and show signs of hope that God is with us, is with our Sisters and Brothers in Haiti.

•         I’ve had this song in my head the last several days - “How Can I Keep from Singing?

            My life flows on in endless song,

            above earth's lamentation.

            I hear the clear, though faroff hymn

            that hails a new creation.

Refrain:

            No storm can shake my inmost calm

            while to that Rock I'm clinging.

            Since love is Lord of heaven and earth,

            how can I keep from singing?

2.         Through all the tumult and the strife,

            I hear that music ringing.

            It finds an echo in my soul.

            How can I keep from singing?

            (Refrain)

3.         What though my joys and comforts die?

            I know my Savior liveth.

            What though the darkness gather round?

            Songs in the night he giveth.

            (Refrain)

4.         The peace of Christ makes fresh my heart,

            a fountain ever springing!

            All things are mine since I am his!

            How can I keep from singing?

            (Refrain)

Copyright © 2009 Amy DeWitte. All Rights Reserved. No portion of this writing may be reproduced in any form without specific, written permission of the author.

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