Friday, December 17, 1999

Isaiah 58:10-11 -- On Stretching our Souls

"And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday:
And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not."
Isaiah 58:10-11


Two verses instead of one... hope that isn't too much for you guys. :) And it isn't really an end-of-the-world scripture either, so there goes the whole thematic December thing... dang. I like this scripture because it has so many analogies. :) First of all, it talks about drawing out thy soul... cool stuff. Drawing out thy soul, like stretching yourself, and your soul, not your pocketbook or your emotion, or even your food... your soul. Making that person part of you, including them in your circle of identity, recognizing them as deserving of your bread and support, just as much as yourself. Then, soul again... satisfy the afflicted soul. Don't just pat their feelings, or give them a lollipop... take care of the soul of the person, think about the deepest needs.  Then more light stuff. Cool. Rise in obscurity, darkness as noonday. :) We will matter even when nothing seems to matter, and we will have light, even when it feels like there is darkness all around.

Anyway, so I guess the second verse is the payoff, if light wasn't enough. :) Guide thee continually. And who doesn't wish at times that God would just come down and tell us what to do? And satisfy your soul in drought... I think water and light are pretty synonymous here. (Which makes for an interesting thought, drinking light... now wouldn't THAT be cool. I bet there isn't anything that refreshing in the *world*)... fat bones is cool, because osteoporosis is the whole decrease-in-bone-mass disease. So, fat bones would fix all that, right? :) And then more water analogy... which makes a difference to those of us who are currently Arizonans. Water matters, especially in the desert. God's water will never let you get dehydrated. :) Imagine if we were as into spirituality as the whole country is into bottled water. :) Anyway, growing garden, flowing stream. No stagnant water or evaporation for us. :)  God provides.

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