Isaiah 41:10 and Isaiah 33:20-22

Question:

These verses were given to my deceased son.

Comment:

I am truly sorry for your loss. Let's take each passage separately.

Isaiah 41:10

Do not fear, for I am with you,    do not be afraid, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you,    I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.

This was intended to encourage the Hebrews who had been exiled in Babylon to leave their comfort and return to their own land, now that it was allowed. I think it's important today because our spiritual path is all about change—letting go—and that's always kind of scary. We transition into this life experience, we move through many transitions in the course of the experience, and we transition out of this experience and back to pure Spirit when it's time. And through every step of the journey, there is nothing to fear, no need to be afraid. We are always one with God, and that divine strength is always protecting us.

Isaiah 33:20-22

Look on Zion, the city of our appointed festivals!    Your eyes will see Jerusalem,    a quiet habitation, an immovable tent, whose stakes will never be pulled up,    and none of whose ropes will be broken. But there the Lord in majesty will be for us    a place of broad rivers and streams, where no galley with oars can go,    nor stately ship can pass. For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our ruler,    the Lord is our king; he will save us.

'The Lord' in Hebrew scripture is the name given to the Divine as an indwelling Presence, the Truth of who we are—expressions of the Divine. Again, the prophet is urging the people to move fearlessly forward; and again we claim and own the promise for ourselves, through the Lord of our beings. I think this is a beautiful description of our spiritual home. It's a place of peace that mortal ships cannot approach. The prophet relates it to an image that would be familiar to them—the tents they erected to celebrate their festivals. But the tent he's describing isn't temporary. It's our eternal home, our eternal Truth. 

Blessings!

Rev. Ed