Recall for a minute Israel’s history of oppression. The Egyptian pharaoh set over the children of Israel cruel and severe taskmasters to carry out his life-stifling designs. However, such cruelty did not go unnoticed. YHWH speaks from the burning bush: “I have seen the affliction of my people in Egypt. I have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows” (Exod 3:7). YHWH would go on to deliver Israel from the oppression of a despotic pharaoh and his sadistic taskmasters through Moses and Aaron. He promised to bring them into a land where life would not be stifled but enhanced under the rule of his Torah. The only stipulations for Israel were to “walk in obedience to him, and keep his commandments, decrees, and laws” (Deut 30:16) and the result would be LIFE in all its fullness. However, if their hearts turned from YHWH and they refused to obey him then the result would be death. Death would come in the form of exile from the land by foreign nations who would oppress them. Israel, if she turned from YHWH, would find herself back under the brutal yoke of foreign taskmasters. Sadly, Israel forsook YHWH not long after he brought them into the land of promise. He was patient for hundreds of years until he could stay his judgment no longer. He sent the children of Israel into exile and placed them under the hand of oppressors once again.
Isaiah’s prophecy in his 60th chapter is a practice of hope; one meant to address a community in utter despair. One of the unique aspects of this hope is found in 60:17. Isaiah offers Israel hope in the form of slavery to a new overseer and a new taskmaster. “I will make shalom your overseer and righteousness your taskmaster.” This slavery and oppression will result in the “sounds of violence no longer being heard in your land, or the sounds of destruction within your borders” (60:18). The city where shalom and righteousness dwell as overseer and taskmaster will call its walls “Salvation” and its gates “Praise” (60:18). Isaiah dares Israel to practice hope. Hope for a time when their current oppressors will be displaced by gracious and kind overseers. Hope for a time dominated by YHWH’s creational shalom and Torah righteousness.
During the season of Advent, we remember the time when shalom and righteousness burst upon the stage of human history in form of the baby Jesus. He came to save his people bringing them shalom (wholeness, peace, wellbeing) and making them righteous. We, also, long for the time of his return when he will fully establish his kingdom on this earth, a time when we will gladly submit to the bondage of his shalom and righteousness.
BD
Isaiah’s prophecy in his 60th chapter is a practice of hope; one meant to address a community in utter despair. One of the unique aspects of this hope is found in 60:17. Isaiah offers Israel hope in the form of slavery to a new overseer and a new taskmaster. “I will make shalom your overseer and righteousness your taskmaster.” This slavery and oppression will result in the “sounds of violence no longer being heard in your land, or the sounds of destruction within your borders” (60:18). The city where shalom and righteousness dwell as overseer and taskmaster will call its walls “Salvation” and its gates “Praise” (60:18). Isaiah dares Israel to practice hope. Hope for a time when their current oppressors will be displaced by gracious and kind overseers. Hope for a time dominated by YHWH’s creational shalom and Torah righteousness.
During the season of Advent, we remember the time when shalom and righteousness burst upon the stage of human history in form of the baby Jesus. He came to save his people bringing them shalom (wholeness, peace, wellbeing) and making them righteous. We, also, long for the time of his return when he will fully establish his kingdom on this earth, a time when we will gladly submit to the bondage of his shalom and righteousness.
BD