New

See I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? (Isaiah 43:19) I have always avoided using this word from the prophet Isaiah because it can be one of those phrases that lazy vicars tend to use to get their own way. ‘Let’s build a new church hall’ – do you not perceive that this is what God is doing? ‘Let’s sack the choir’ – isn’t it time to forget the former things? (Isaiah 43:18) ‘Let’s get rid of the pews’ – this is the new thing of God. It’s not particularly hard to manipulate using scripture, and worse. Isaiah deserves better.

Isaiah is also particularly challenging to read right now, because Israel, Egypt, Assyria, Syria (Aram) and Iraq (Babylon) are never far from consideration; alongside oppression, conflict and mass people movements. If we needed any reminding of our chaotic and painful world, which we don’t, Isaiah gives us one, geographically and historically. We can be grateful to the prophet that it is his voice that also proclaims a ‘light for the gentiles’ and a great light seen for ‘the people walking in darkness.’

But as Isaiah proclaims the ‘new thing’ it is more than a word for Israel, it is a word about the nature of God. God is merciful; God renews; God always breathes life. So holding the reality of darkness in one hand we do celebrate the renewing presence of God in the other. To be honest, I do perceive something, and as our autumn begins in Malmesbury I look with gratitude at new and invigorated staff and leadership, renewed commitment to our Glory! and daily prayer meetings, about 40 signed up for Alpha, strong teams ministering in worship, healing, ministry to the elderly and the young, and a great team of small group pastors.

So as we pray for God to renew the church our own community, we can also pray with hope for the renewing of the far older church in Syria, and the utterly broken world in which they serve. As Isaiah prophesied, we watch for streams in the wasteland.