Psalm 147:1-11,20; Isaiah 40:28-31 Both of these passages tell of the power of God. In the Psalm it tells how great the Lord is abundant in power. He determines the number of stars, controls the weather, and gives food to the animals. It agrees with our Isaiah passage regarding God’s understanding. It is above measure in the Psalm and is unsearchable in Isaiah 40. It also tells about God being everlasting and the Creator who does not grow faint or weary. What both passages tell about is who the Lord will use God’s power for. God will build up Jerusalem, will gather the outcasts, heal the broken hearted and bind up their wounds. The Lord will also lift up the downtrodden. This goes along with Isaiah who says God will give power to the faint and will strengthen the powerless. I can imagine the Israelites shouting out, “but when will this happen?” The psalmist says the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear God, in those who hope in God’s steadfast love. Isaiah talks about God’...

Mark 9:2-9, II Corinthians 4:3-6 Our Mark passage today is read on Transfiguration Sunday which celebrates the time Jesus took three disciples up on a high mountain and his clothes become dazzling bright. He begins to talk with Elijah and Moses. These disciples are witnesses to the glory of Christ later told of in our II Corinthians’ passage, “in the face of Christ.” It also says that Christ is the image of God. These disciples are terrified, but Peter speaks out wanting to capture these transfigured people by setting up a tent for each of them. To this God speaks out from a cloud saying, “This is my Son, the Beloved. Listen to him.” Jesus then returns to his normal human state. Who today are privileged to see the glory of Christ? II Corinthians tells us that we who proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord. It is then that the light will shine in the darkness of our souls. God shines in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. We are tran...

Isaiah 64: 1-9; Psalm 80: 1-7, 17-19 Isaiah 64 is a plea for God to come down from the mountain and show God’s power. Israel is under the Babylonian captivity, and they remember how God showed God’s face to Moses. But alas, Isaiah moans, God has hidden God’s face from us. He admits the fault of the Israelites who have turned their backs to God. They have transgressed, committed iniquities, so God hid God’s face and delivered them to the hand of their sin. Yet Isaiah pleads, “You are our Father.” He uses the metaphor of God being the potter and his people being the clay – the work of your hands. “Don’t remember our sins forever – consider that we are still your people. Psalms 80 asks for the Lord, the Shepherd of Israel to come and save them. The psalmist asks to be restored and to let God’s face shine upon them three times. He asks for restoration and to let God’s face shine upon them so that they may be saved. The third time he asks the same after requesting God to give them life,...