Upper Path Valley Presbyterian Church

Isaiah 9:1-4; Matthew 4:12-23 January 27, 2008

“Sent”
Rev. Meagan M. Boozer

Once upon a time [it is a made-up story to teach a truth], there was a group of people, led by God, who settled the region we now know as Path Valley. The people discovered the land to be kind to the harvest, and beautiful at the break of dawn. Places of worship were established, to give thanks to the God who had brought them safely to this new homeland, and to teach the children the ways and words of God so that they might know and love and serve him. Yet the enemy lurked, waiting for an opportune time to attack. The enemy appeared to be those who were pushed out from their settlements, but the enemy is always more than he appears.
For the sake of the story, let’s establish that the northern part of Path Valley begins in Spring Run and reaches to Blairs Mills, with the southern part beginning in Spring Run and reaching to Ft. Loudon. And, let’s establish that the enemy was a real threat to the communities all up and down Rt. 75. Inhabitants needed to be on the alert. Someone always needed to stand watch lest they be overwhelmed and snuffed out due to lack of attention and lack of preparation for the battle.
Well, in this story, one day the northern part of Path Valley, from Spring Run all the way to Blairs Mills, was overcome. One day, all was as it should be; the next day, all was chaos.
But here’s an important piece we can’t miss: During the apparent time of peace, there was a man who went from community to community, from church to church, from Ft. Loudon to Willow Hill to Doylesburg to Blairs Mills, telling the people that the enemy was advancing. This messenger from God told the people what they needed to do: They needed to pray more; they needed to stop spending so much time on everything else except attending to God; they needed to clean up their acts; they needed to be on the alert, get their weapons ready, and keep the torches lit from sun down to sun up. But to those within earshot of his words, things seemed to be going okay without obsessing over all the stuff he preached about, and so, the people in the North and the people in the South were not ready when the enemy came. Even after the northern portion of the valley had been overtaken by the enemy, the southern communities still remained spiritually lazy. God’s messenger, who traveled non-stop to warn his fellow Path Valley-ites in the south that what happened in the north to Dry Run and Doylesburg could happen to them too, was seen as a nuisance, certainly not one you would pick up along the way home after a hard day’s work.
This is the circumstance into which the prophet Isaiah was speaking in chapter 9 of his biblical book. The northern part of the land settled by the Israelites, called Israel, had been overtaken by the Assyrians, including the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali; the southern part, called Judah, was unprepared – not alert to the schemes of the enemy. Isaiah knew the southern portion was going down, too. He spoke to God, and he spoke for God. About one hundred and fifty years after Isaiah spoke the words about the downfall of Judah, the southern kingdom fell in 587 BC.
But, back to our story: The man who’s going up and down the southern part of the valley (after the northern part had been taken over), was giving people fair warnings about what they needed to do in order to keep the land God gave them, at the same time that he’s telling them how amazing it’s going to be after they lose everything and are sent away from the land they love.
“If you don’t do what God is telling you to do to prepare to take your stand against the enemy, you’re going down, just like Concord went down. If you even live through the invasion, you’re going to be rounded up like a bunch of cattle and taken away from this valley, like Mike McCartney ships out stock. There will be people you see every day now, that you will never see again after that dark day. However . . . (sings Isaiah)
Gray skies are gonna clear up
Put on a happy face
Wipe off the clouds and cheer up
Put on a happy face
Take off the gloomy mask of tragedy
It's not your style
You'll look so good that you'll be glad
That you decided to smile
(Can you hear Isaiah singing this?)
Spread sunshine all over the place
And just put on a happy
Put on a happy face.”
(From Bye, Bye Birdie)

Now, we’re ready to hear God’s word from the prophet Isaiah 9:1-5. He is speaking primarily to Judah. Though our “official” reading for today begins in verse 1 of chapter 9, I want to back up and begin in verse 21 of chapter 8 to set the scene. I am using the New Living Translation for this reading:
My people will be led away as captives, weary and hungry. And because they are hungry, they will rage and shake their fists at heaven and curse their king and their God. Wherever they look, there will be trouble and anguish and dark despair. They will be thrown out into the darkness. (9:1-5) Nevertheless, that time of darkness and despair will not go on forever. The land of Zebulun and Naphtali will soon be humbled, but there will be a time in the future when Galilee of the Gentiles, which lies along the road that runs between the Jordan and the sea, will be filled with glory. The people who walk in darkness will see a great light—a light that will shine on all who live in the land where death casts its shadow. Israel will again be great, and its people will rejoice as people rejoice at harvest time. They will shout with joy like warriors dividing the plunder. For God will break the chains that bind his people and the whip that scourges them, just as he did when he destroyed the army of Midian with Gideon’s little band. In that day of peace, battle gear will no longer be issued. Never again will uniforms be bloodstained by war. All such equipment will be burned.”
All of a sudden, Isaiah stopped his ranting and raving words of gloom and doom in order to speak some words of encouragement, hope, comfort, and peace, “Things are tough now,” he says, “and they’re going to get tougher. But after that, it’s going to get way better - because God has revealed a plan for his people – a plan beyond anything anyone can imagine.”
(continuing in chapter 9…vv. 5,6)
“For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. And the government will rest on his shoulders. These will be his royal titles: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His ever expanding, peaceful government will never end. He will rule forever with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David. The passionate commitment of the LORD Almighty will guarantee this!”
Darkness is here. Light is coming!
Depression is here. Hope is coming!
Death is here. Resurrection is coming!
Addiction is here. Freedom is coming!
War is here. Peace is coming!
Poverty is here. Food is on the way!
Slavery still happens. The chains are coming off!
Darkness is here. Light is coming!

Fast forward about 700 years. Jesus has been born of a virgin. Some of the families of the people who were taken out of their God-given homeland have returned to their deserted and devasted country and tried to begin again. The problem was that they returned not as they first came, on God’s terms, but now they lived under the terms of those who ruled them – the Roman government. They tried to put on a happy face, but they just couldn’t seem to get over what they knew (in their heart) had slipped away.
I want to read now from Matthew’s Gospel, 4:12-25 (again from the New Living Translation):
When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he left Judea and returned to Galilee. But instead of going to Nazareth, he went to Capernaum, beside the Sea of Galilee, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali. This fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy: “In the land of Zebulun and of Naphtali, beside the sea, beyond the Jordan River—in Galilee where so many Gentiles live—the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light. And for those who lived in the land where death casts its shadow, a light has shined.”
From then on, Jesus began to preach, “Turn from your sins and turn to God, because the Kingdom of Heaven is near.” One day as Jesus was walking along the shore beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers—Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew—fishing with a net, for they were commercial fishermen. Jesus called out to them, “Come, be my disciples, and I will show you how to fish for people!” And they left their nets at once and went with him.
A little farther up the shore he saw two other brothers, James and John, sitting in a boat with their father, Zebedee, mending their nets. And he called them to come, too. They immediately followed him, leaving the boat and their father behind.
Jesus traveled throughout Galilee teaching in the synagogues, preaching everywhere the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed people who had every kind of sickness and disease. News about him spread far beyond the borders of Galilee so that the sick were soon coming to be healed from as far away as Syria. And whatever their illness and pain, or if they were possessed by demons, or were epileptics, or were paralyzed—he healed them all. Large crowds followed him wherever he went—people from Galilee, the Ten Towns, Jerusalem, from all over Judea, and from east of the Jordan River.”
Just think if you had been torn from your home, wherever you live, by enemies who cared nothing about your faith, your family, your traditions, or your dignity, just think how it would be when you got to come home. Just think how hesitantly happy you would be, always looking over your shoulder, wondering when the ax would strike again.
People in the centuries before Jesus was born, and people in the years when Jesus was walking around, are no different than people today. We go off on our own ways, forgetting or failing to acknowledge that all we have is because of God’s grace. Then, when times get tough, we sometimes shake our fists at God, or we get on our knees in repentance, or maybe a bit of both. And then, thereafter, we walk as if on eggshells – wondering where the enemy is – wary of laughing too loud lest he hear it and come more quickly.
But let’s hear what God is telling us today: It’s no coincidence that the land Isaiah spoke about (the region of Zebulun and Naphtali) is the same region Matthew told us about in his Gospel. Matthew wants to make sure we understand why Jesus was sent to us: Jesus was sent to redeem everything! He was sent to restore everything! Jesus was sent to bring back to God everything that had been stolen and covered in the darkness of sin. When he walked on that land that had been decimated by evil and brought healing and hope and truth, he redeemed it forever. And when we allow him to come to us and live in us, he redeems us, too! He restores us by transferring us from a prison of slavery to sin to the wide open spaces of love & justice. Like Jesus walked all over the land and claim it back for God, Jesus was sent to “walk” all over our lives and bring healing, and hope, and truth, too.
Those who believe in Jesus as the Redeemer, the only one sent to save us from the darkness of sin, are chosen by God to be his adopted sons and daughters. Those who are chosen by God are called by God to continue the redeeming, healing, hope-filled work of Jesus. Just like he brought light, we’re called to bring light.
If you’re married, you’re called by God to love one another in such a way that your partnership displays the love that Christ has for the Church.
If you’re a parent, you’re called to raise your children up to be image bearers of Christ. Last Sunday at June Worley’s funeral, Sam & June’s daughter, Elaine, spoke of the weekly ritual of her mom coming into her room on Sunday mornings, flipping on the light, and saying, “rise and shine!” Unless you were sick with a fever, there was no missing Sunday school and worship, Elaine told those gathered. And then her voice broke as she said something like this, “Though as I got older I wanted to sleep in, mom never gave in. Now, I know that the gift of faith is the greatest gift my mom gave me.” Parents, we are called to never give in when it comes to passing on our spiritual heritage as sons and daughters of God in word, in prayer, and in life example! There is no greater calling on your life – it comes straight from the first chapter of Genesis – in those blessed words of creation and commissioning before the Fall.
If you’re a student, you’re called to make the very most of the intellect and gifts that God has given to you while showing honor to those who teach and guide.
If you’re in the work force, you’re called to do your very best with the time and materials God places before you. I could go on and on…
But, I hope you’re beginning to see the light. If we’re chosen, we’re called. And when we’re called, wherever we’re called, to whatever kind of work we are called, we are sent out with the light of Jesus shining in us - shining on us – reflecting off us like a shiny lure so that we can fish for people (that is, if we’re willing to answer the call).
I want to go back to the book I’m reading, In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day, regarding missed opportunities. “Most of us regret sins of commission in the short-term [I wish I hadn’t said that, or done that thing I said or did yesterday or last week.] But it’s the sins of omission, the missed opportunities, that haunt us the rest of our lives. We won’t regret the mistakes we made as much as the God-ordained opportunities we missed. In other words, what we’ll regret most at the end of our lives are the lions we didn’t chase.” “Lion chasers recognize a God-ordained opportunity when they see one. And, they are willing to chase opportunities halfway around the world if that is what God is calling them to do.”

Darkness is here,
but the Light of Jesus has overcome it!
Depression is here, but Jesus brings hope!
Death is here,
but Jesus opens the way to resurrection!
Addiction is here,
but when the Son sets you free,
you are free indeed!
War is here,
but the Prince of Peace is still on the throne!
Poverty is here, but Jesus is the Bread of Life!
Slavery still happens,
but Jesus unshackles the spirit!
It might be sunset right now,
but the prophet Malachi tells us (4:2),
“But for you who fear my name,
the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing
in his wings. And you will go free,
leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture.”

That’s what this valley, these mountains, and all the land on which we live was created to see. Let’s not miss the opportunity to do the greatest thing, not just the good thing. Let’s plan to not just win, but win displaying the character of Christ. During these next 8 weeks, let’s be lion chasers! Let’s make a conscious effort to put ourselves into the hands of the Potter! Let’s take the risk of allowing him to speak to us, to teach us, and to mold us into the kind of people who willingly, faithfully, and passionately carry the light into the darkness - the light whose name we bear as Christians – the everlasting light of Jesus! Amen.

Upper Path Valley Presbyterian Church

01-27-08