Isaiah 2: 1 – 4
The word that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.
In days to come the mountain of the Lord’s house
shall be established as the highest of the mountains,
and shall be raised above the hills;
all the nations shall stream to it.
Many peoples shall come and say,
‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
to the house of the God of Jacob;
that he may teach us his ways
and that we may walk in his paths.’
For out of Zion shall go forth instruction,
and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
He shall judge between the nations,
and shall arbitrate for many peoples;
they shall beat their swords into ploughshares,
and their spears into pruning-hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
neither shall they learn war any more.
Reflection
You may wish to click here to listen to Handel’s stirring rendition of some verses from Psalm 2.
Handel’s setting of the opening verses of Psalm 2 both inspires and haunts us; his free working of the Coverdale translation of the Psalms paired with a tune evoking the dreadful energy of battle reminds us of the ways in which the nations still furiously rage together.
Yesterday, deploying the same tactics they use in Gaza, the Israelis told many people in Tehran to leave and announced they have mastery in the air. Until Mr Trump pulls its leash Israel will continue to inflict a dreadful beating on Iran. This despite the fact the news media report they are willing to talk in return for a ceasefire; a ceasefire Mr Netanyahu has no need of, nor desire for, just yet. So, the nations continue to rage and folk in Tehran debate moving north or staying put. A friend living in Tehran tells me he watches the BBC Persian Service via Satellite TV and is weighing his options; what do you do when the safety of home is no longer safe where few places in your country are?
Mr Netanyahu, like millions of Iranians, wants regime change in Iran; I’m not convinced, however, that terror is the best way to change a regime. In war attitudes harden and an attack on a country gives its leaders a patriotic boost. Of course, the world’s attention is on Iran and Israel – leaving Mr Netanyahu free to continue his deadly assault on Gaza. We watch the news feeling horrified and helpless recalling Isaiah’s words wondering if the vision of an Israel at peace is simply a cruel joke or empty delusion.
But for now the nations are determined to learn about war. Mr Putin’s invasion of Ukraine means Nato countries are increasing their military spending to defend themselves. People are again wondering if the threat of nuclear war is a greater threat to humanity than the climate crisis – a threat which, if realised, would end life as we know it on earth. We worry, despair, and try to put the news out of our minds turning, instead, to music stations and focus on the minutiae of life as that’s simpler and easier. The internet, being both a repository of knowledge and a sewer of filth, is full of Christians announcing this latest war is a sign of the end times and a fulfilment of Biblical prophecy – a nice easy way to not have to try and work for peace. Saner voices urge peace and dialogue, Cardinal Dominique Joseph Mathieu, Archbishop of Tehran-Ispahan urges negotiation and described the situation of Christians in Iran as being “between the cross and hope” where resolution can come only through prayer.
So, today we stand with the Cardinal and Iranian Christians, with the starving people of Gaza and the beleaguered people of Israel, between the Cross and hope. Jesus is crucified again in His people as the nations rage furiously together and, in their warfare, ignore the suffering Messiah dying silently in His people, praying for peace and reconciliation, rejected by the powerful and insular. We pray and have hope; a hope not grounded in the machinations of Messers Trump and Netanyahu but in the suffering Lord who longs to rise again in peace.
Let’s pray
O Most High
the nations rage and fight,
they prepare for war not peace,
and we have no words.
Crucified God,
again and again you die in your people,
as the forces of imperial might
love death not life,
and hide in the dark instead of seeing the truth in the light,
and we have no words.
Most Holy Spirit,
as simple fools we hope for peace,
we long for weapons to be beaten into ploughshares,
for flourishing in Israel, Gaza, and Iran,
and for our words and prayers for peace to be no longer needed.
Amen.