Isaiah 7: 14 (King James Version)
14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”
Immanuel… “God with us.” That name and the verse that proclaims it prompt a whirl of emotions: Rejoicing for the prophecy of our Savior’s coming; Humility and recognition of our smallness in contrast to the Lord’s omniscience; and, most strongly, Gratitude – with a strong serving of awe – for this message of incredible love. Seven and a half centuries before the birth of Christ, God made clear his vision and his love for us.
That first reaction as I reflected on what to share in this devotion was natural, immediate, and heartfelt. Being much more at home with the New Testament, however, I wanted to read what scholars said and see what a deeper understanding of the verse might reveal. That decision dropped me down a bit of a rabbit hole. Debate over Isaiah 7:14 ranges from the familiar belief that this verse does foretell Jesus’ birth, to a counter-argument that the prophecy was completed within 2-3 years of its making – with some theologians further asserting that the Greek translation of the Old Testament used by Matthew was incorrect in stating the mother would be unmarried and a virgin, and finally, to a synthesis that sees Isaiah 7:14 as having a dual fulfillment: initially, within a few years of the prophecy, and then again in Jesus’s birth. These competing arguments weren’t what I had anticipated, and they created uncertainty as to my path forward.
The Methodist Church offers a model for thinking and praying about questions like this. The “Wesleyan Quadrilateral,” consisting of four theological guidelines, states that our faith is informed by 1) Scripture – the foundation of the other three, 2) Tradition, 3) Reason, and 4) Experience. As described above, with regards to Isaiah 7:14, knowledgeable theologians debate the correct interpretation of Scripture. Methodist Tradition maintains that the prophecy is fulfilled by Jesus’s birth. (I would think that Methodism also acknowledges dual fulfillment of the scripture, but couldn’t find a clear statement to that effect.) That leaves us turning to Reason and Experience.
Reason supports the idea of dual fulfillment. God isn’t restricted by time or by our understanding, so fulfilling prophecy both immediately and then more completely 700+ years later isn’t even a stretch. This also tallies with understanding the Old Testament as a foreshadowing of the New Testament. Additionally, Reason would suggest that Matthew, who obviously knew the Old Testament(!), is a credible source; we can have confidence in his interpretation (Matthew 1:22-23). And that leaves Experience.
Experience, as I understand it in this context, is not simply life experience but rather how one sees God at work in the world. My Experience was very strongly shaped by my parents – Don and Norma McWilliams, my older sisters and brother, and this Church. I grew up enveloped in love, knowing Jesus and secure in the certainty that God loves us and that he wants us to love him and to act with love towards each other. With adulthood came doubts and a loss of the childlike acceptance, but the foundation of my faith and trust in God’s love remained firm. Over time, questioning strengthened my faith. It invited me to listen more closely to the Holy Spirit, to hear past the white noise of my fears and petty thoughts and recognize what is important and true. It taught me to trust my faith. Viewed through the lens of how God relates to us and how he expresses his love for us, my faith and Experience tell me that Jesus’ birth was indeed the ultimate fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy. Experience also then redirects the focus away from the theological discourse and back to the gem at the heart of Isaiah 7:14: Immanuel… “God with us!” And so this excursion comes full circle to end where it began, as a celebration filled with love, wonder, and gratitude.
Gracious Father we rejoice in your love for us and return that love to you with all our being. As you sent Jesus – Immanuel, to light our way, please work within us so that we are beacons of your love to everyone we encounter. Help us listen more fully to you so that we use our intellect and our hearts together for your glory. Make us a blessing to others. In gratitude and humility, we sing your praises. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment