The Third Sunday in Lent (OT)

Isaiah 51:1-8
1 “Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness,
you who seek the Lord:
look to the rock from which you were hewn,
and to the quarry from which you were dug.
2 Look to Abraham your father
and to Sarah who bore you;
for he was but one when I called him,
that I might bless him and multiply him.
3 For the Lord comforts Zion;
he comforts all her waste places
and makes her wilderness like Eden,
her desert like the garden of the Lord;
joy and gladness will be found in her,
thanksgiving and the voice of song.
4 “Give attention to me, my people,
and give ear to me, my nation;
for a law will go out from me,
and I will set my justice for a light to the peoples.
5 My righteousness draws near,
my salvation has gone out,
and my arms will judge the peoples;
the coastlands hope for me,
and for my arm they wait.
6 Lift up your eyes to the heavens,
and look at the earth beneath;
for the heavens vanish like smoke,
the earth will wear out like a garment,
and they who dwell in it will die in like manner;
but my salvation will be forever,
and my righteousness will never be dismayed.
7 “Listen to me, you who know righteousness,
the people in whose heart is my law;
fear not the reproach of man,
nor be dismayed at their revilings.
8 For the moth will eat them up like a garment,
and the worm will eat them like wool;
but my righteousness will be forever,
and my salvation to all generations.”
The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 (Is 51:1-8). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

This text seems to scream out what is your origin? Where have you come from and who brought you to life? This is different for each of us. We all seem to come from different places. Some of us where born in hospitals and some where born at home or maybe in some other great way. Most of us were conceived in our mother's womb, some in petri dishes. But Isaiah seems to have the rock or dirt in which we where formed and the garden of Eden.

We all came from Adam and Eve created by God. God has created all of us. But this text also talks about salvation. God is not only our creator but also our Salvation. All humans have come from Adam and Eve. We live as fallen human beings who do not act righteous. We are sinners who should be dismayed. We have the Law written upon our hearts, it reminds us of the many ways we fall short.

Some may even reflect upon each of us as broken rocks. We have been split from the origin of perfection. We have been hewn from the quarry of God. He has built these living stones upon a solid foundation. Jesus Christ and our confession in his name is the foundation on which we rest. This is our solid rock. Christ is the corner stone on which he rests these broken rocks.

But to bring this back to you. Christ Jesus is your righteousness. He has died for the forgiveness of all your sins. The righteousness of God has been brought near to you through Christ Crucified.