Providence Church
Epiphany
January, 11, 2009
Prayer: Father, you revealed your Son to the nations by the guidance of a star. We pray that as you guided the magi you may also guide your people to Jesus in whose Name we pray. Amen.
On this first day when heav’n and earth
Rose at the Triune’s word to birth
The day when He who gave us breath
Revived our souls and vanquished death
Why close in sleep your languid eyes
Shake off dull slumber, wake, arise;
And mindful of the Prophet’s voice
Right early in our God rejoice.
This is an ancient Epiphany hymn written by Saint Gregory the Great.
We find here an early testimony of the Christian response to the work of God, and that is: shake off dull slumber, wake, and arise!
This is echoed throughout the Scriptures, but notably from the words of Yahweh to Jonah. Jonah, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me.” God calls Jonah to arise so that the Gentiles would quickly hear and see the light of the Lord.
This idea is what we see our passage this morning. We have a double imperative: “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.” Yahweh has just rebuked and chastised His people in chapter 59. The contrast of chapter 60 is magnificent. The people are separated from their God (59:2). They are sitting on the ground in silence (see Lamentations 2:10). Their mouths are shut in the presence of Yahweh. But yet the end of Isaiah 59 ends with this marvelous promise: “And as for me, this is my covenant with them,” says the LORD: “My Spirit that is upon you, and my words that I have put in your mouth, shall not depart out of your mouth, or out of the mouth of your offspring, or out of the mouth of your children’s offspring,” says the LORD, “from this time forth and forevermore (59:21).” Continue reading “Isaiah 60:1-6 Shake off dull slumber, wake, arise! Epiphany Season”
Podcast: Play in new window | Download