Finding Freedom From Fear
- davidwperk
- Dec 12, 2024
- 7 min read
Devotional Reflection, Thursday, December 12, 2024
The week of the second Sunday in Advent
The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D.
Key phrases for reflection from today’s Hebrew Scripture reading:
In the days of Ahaz son of Jotham son of Uzziah, king of Judah, King Rezin of Aram and King Pekah son of Remaliah of Israel went up to attack Jerusalem, but could not mount an attack against it. 2When the house of David heard that Aram had allied itself with Ephraim, the heart of Ahaz and the heart of his people shook as the trees of the forest shake before the wind. 3Then the LORD said to Isaiah, Go out to meet Ahaz, you and your son Shear-jashub, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool on the highway to the Fuller's Field, 4and say to him, Take heed, be quiet, do not fear, and do not let your heart be faint because of these two smoldering stumps of firebrands,
You will find the full text of this reading at the end of this reflection.
Daily Office Lectionary Readings (BCP, 931)
AM Psalm 37:1-18; PM Psalm 37:19-42
Isa. 7:1-9; 2 Thess. 2:1-12; Luke 22:1-13
Today we celebrate the Feast of Francis de Sales and Jane de Chantal. (See below.)
David's Reflections
In Shakespeare's Richard II, King Richard expresses fear of the rebel Bolingbroke, but the Bishop of Carlisle responds by saying:
"To fear the foe, since fear oppresseth strength,
Gives in your weakness strength unto your foe,
And so your follies fight against yourself.
Fear, and be slain. No worse can come to fight;
And fight and die is death destroying death,
Where fearing dying pays death servile breath."+
Remember the last time you felt so powerless that the fear seemed unbearable? Perhaps you are responding to these lines from “Richard II” by saying to yourself, "I've never been that powerless or afraid." Well, I have felt quite powerless and fearful at least once, maybe comparable to Shakespeare’s Richard. Perhaps that is why this reading from Isaiah is one of my favorite Scriptures.
The new king Ahaz faced a considerable threat. The powerful Assyrian Empire was expanding to the south. Ahaz had maintained his throne in Judah by becoming their vassal and paying tribute. His neighbor kingdoms, Israel and Syria, wanted to revive an old alliance of smaller countries against Assyria. Ahaz refused. Syria and Israel and their allies invaded to depose Ahaz and place a more pliant person on the throne, someone who would become their ally against Assyria.
Ahaz was inspecting the defenses and the water supply of Jerusalem when God sent Isaiah to encourage him. Isaiah took his son, Shear Jashub, at God's instruction. Shear Jashub’s name in Hebrew means "a remnant shall return." That symbolic name was meant to be an encouragement to Ahaz with the message that the nation would endure. Isaiah's words also were meant to encourage.
God was fighting against Ahaz's enemies, Isaiah assured Ahaz. Their schemes would not succeed. Isaiah challenged Ahaz to trust in God rather than appeal to Assyria for assistance. Isaiah knew that an appeal to Assyria could prove devastating for Judah by giving them an excuse to invade.
I'm not sure I know how Ahaz felt, but the memories of how I felt in one specific crisis moment are rather vivid. Isaiah told Ahaz to be "quiet," a rather tall order when one feels themselves being squeezed by adversarial people or circumstances. Our hearts feel anything but quiet in such moments; rather, they thrash like a tree tried by the wind.
Isaiah also told Ahaz not to let his heart be faint. Another tall order. Being surrounded, squeezed, and threatened evidently reduced Ahaz's sense of strength. His heart quivered. Has yours felt like jello in threatening moments?
Isaiah's appeals for faith and courage and inner strength tell me at least one thing. Our emotions do not have to determine our behavior and responses. We have choices. When we’re gripped by fear, feelings of weakness, and feelings of being swept away, we can choose not to be ruled by those feelings. We can choose to trust God and to look for those inner rocks of strength in our souls. They were put there by God's Spirit. And, we can borrow strength and courage from others, those in our circle we trust. Ahaz could have borrowed courage and strength from Isaiah.
It all begins by our accepting whatever we’re feeling, being self-honest, and listening beneath and beyond those feelings for God's initiative. As God came to Ahaz in the person of Isaiah, God certainly will come to us. We can count on that and respond with faith, faith mixed with fear and uncertainty, but faith in God. And, we can reach out to a trusted friend to borrow courage and strength. God’s coming and God's word bring the energy that enables faith and the freedom to choose the tough and challenging response.
We can refuse to let feelings of fear and powerlessness have the last word.
+William Shakespeare, "Richard II," 3.2, lines 176-181. See William Shakespeare: The Complete Works, 2d. ed. Gen editors, Stanley Wells and Gary Taylor (Oxford: Clarendon, 2005), p. 355.
Collect of the Day, The Second Sunday of Advent
Merciful God, who sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (BCP, 211)
Today we celebrate the Feast of Francis de Sales, bishop (died 29 Dec 1622 CE) and Jane de Chantal, monastic (died 12 Dec 1641 CE).
Collect of Francis de Sales and Jane de Chantal
Most gracious God, who has bidden us to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly before you; Grant that we, like your servants Francis and Jane, may see and serve Christ in all people, and know him as the giver of all good things; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
For Guidance
My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it. therefore I will trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone. Amen.
Thomas Merton, Thoughts in Solitude (Boston: Shambhala, 1983), p. 89.
A Collect for Protection
O God, the life of all who live, the light of the faithful, the strength of those who labor, and the repose of the dead: We thank you for the blessings of the day that is past, and humbly ask for your protection through the coming night. Bring us in safety to the morning hours; through him who died and rose again for us, your Son our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. (BCP, 124)
Of the Holy Eucharist (Especially suitable for Thursdays)
God our Father, whose Son our Lord Jesus Christ in a wonderful Sacrament has left us a memorial of his passion: Grant us so to venerate the sacred mysteries of his Body and Blood, that we may ever perceive within ourselves the fruit
of his redemption; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP, 252)
In the Order of Worship for Evening
Almighty, everlasting God, let our prayer in your sight be as incense, the lifting up of our hands as the evening sacrifice. Give us grace to behold you, present in your Word and Sacraments, and to recognize you in the lives of those around us. Stir up in us the flame of that love which burned in the heart of your Son as he bore his passion, and let it burn in us to eternal life and to the ages of ages. Amen. (BCP, 113)
A Collect for Mission
O God and Father of all, whom the whole heavens adore: Let the whole earth also worship you, all nations obey you, all tongues confess and bless you, and men and women everywhere love you and serve you in peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 124)
Daily Office Old Testament Reading, Isaiah 7:1-9
In the days of Ahaz son of Jotham son of Uzziah, king of Judah, King Rezin of Aram and King Pekah son of Remaliah of Israel went up to attack Jerusalem, but could not mount an attack against it. 2When the house of David heard that Aram had allied itself with Ephraim, the heart of Ahaz and the heart of his people shook as the trees of the forest shake before the wind. 3Then the LORD said to Isaiah, Go out to meet Ahaz, you and your son Shear-jashub, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool on the highway to the Fuller's Field, 4and say to him, Take heed, be quiet, do not fear, and do not let your heart be faint because of these two smoldering stumps of firebrands, because of the fierce anger of Rezin and Aram and the son of Remaliah. 5Because Aram—with Ephraim and the son of Remaliah—has plotted evil against you, saying, 6Let us go up against Judah and cut off Jerusalem and conquer it for ourselves and make the son of Tabeel king in it; 7therefore thus says the Lord GOD: It shall not stand, and it shall not come to pass. 8For the head of Aram is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin. (Within sixty-five years Ephraim will be shattered, no longer a people.) 9The head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is the son of Remaliah. If you do not stand firm in faith, you shall not stand at all.
Daily Prayer Offices in The Book of Common Prayer
Morning Prayer, Rite 2, page 75, Book of Common Prayer
Noonday Prayer, p. 103, Book of Common Prayer
Order of Worship for Evening (Vespers), p. 109, Book of Common Prayer
Evening Prayer, Rite 2, page 115, Book of Common Prayer
Compline (Night Prayer), Page 127, Book of Common Prayer
Daily Devotionals, page 136, Book of Common Prayer
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