Isaiah 40:23 … Homage to the Power of God (04/06/17)
“[The Power of God, that] brings princes to naught,
and makes the rulers of the Earth as though nothing.”
~ unknown (Isaiah 40:23)
This is a most important verse if for no other reason than it comes from “Isaiah II” – the author of chapters 40-55 of the Book of Isaiah; the Hebrew Bible author Jesus seemed to cherish above all others. Indeed, Jesus either specifically quotes or directly alludes to passages from Isaiah II over 50 times in the Gospels. And this is no accident, as archaeological evidence to date shows that Isaiah was by far the most popular of the “2nd Temple prophets” (those who prophesied in the days between the destruction of the first Temple in 586 BCE & the destruction of the second Temple in 70 CE) …
More importantly, the concepts found in Isaiah II form the foundation for Jesus’ entire theology – with Isaiah II seemingly serving as the inspiration for Jesus’ revolutionary stance towards human authorities (see Isaiah 40:17 + Isaiah 40:23 + Isaiah 41:12 et al), … for Jesus’ seeing himself as a shepherd for the lost (Isaiah 40:11), … for Jesus encouraging others to “be not afraid” (Isaiah 41:10 + Isaiah 43:5 + Isaiah 44:8 et al), … for Jesus’ message being called a “light to the nations” (Isaiah 42:6-7 + Isaiah 49:6 et al), … for Jesus being the messenger of a New Covenant that transcended the old (Isaiah 43:18-19), … for that message being one of unconditional forgiveness of sins (Isaiah 43:25-27 + Isaiah 44:22 et al), … for Jesus’ claim that our true Treasure resides within us (Isaiah 45:3), … for Jesus’ teachings on Loving the enemy and turning the other cheek (Isaiah 50:4-6), … for Jesus’ summons for us all to go forth and shine the Light of The Way for others (Isaiah 50:11 + Isaiah 51:4 + Isaiah 52:7 et al), … and for Jesus’ belief in an all-Loving God and a Joy-filled redemption for all (Isaiah 55:12-13).
As such, the “power of God who brings princes to naught” mentioned here is – at least as far as Jesus was concerned – The Way of Selfless Love alluded to in Isaiah II – a Way that calls for a Humility that allows “princes” (i.e. each and every one of us) to abdicate their own “power” (i.e. the inclination we have to care first & foremost for ourselves), and a purity of Love within our Hearts that inevitably throws down all man-made, fear-based “power structures” — in all those moments the same is enlivened for the benefit of others.
Amen … Let it be so.
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