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Bible - OT - Isaiah Theology - Liturgical: Baptismal meditation

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Isaiah 8:6-8: Inasmuch as these people refused the waters of Shiloah that flow softly, and rejoice in Rezin and in Remaliah’s son; now therefore, behold, the Lord brings up over them the waters of the River, strong and mighty— the king of Assyria and all his glory . . . He will pass through Judah, he will overflow and pass over, he will reach up to the neck; and the stretching out of his wings will fill the breadth of Your land, O Immanuel.

Yahweh says that Judah will have water, or it will have water. It will enjoy the gentle and life-giving streams of Shiloah, the water of Yahweh Himself, the stream that flows peacefully into Jerusalem and turns the city into a garden. Or, Judah will face the tsunami of the Euphrates that will sweep through the land, pushing everything before it and nearly drowning Judah. Choose this day whom you serve.

Yahweh says that Judah will have wings, or it will have wings. If they don’t seek refuge under the wings of Yahweh in His sanctuary, under the wings of the cherubim that form the Lord’s throne and overshadow His footstool, then the Lord will send in wings from the north, winged demons from the Gentiles, eagles and vultures of Assyria that will pick at the corpses of Judah that will litter the land.

Atticus’ baptism today is a water event, but it’s different in important ways from the prophecy of Isaiah. Isaiah issues an announcement to the nation, but this baptism is a personal address to your son. Baptism comes with a name attached, two names in fact, the Triune Name of God and the name Atticus. The two are mingled in this water, joined so that Atticus bears the Triune name and our God writes the name Atticus on His hands and over His heart.

Baptism is not a threat. If Atticus rejects the gentle waters of Shiloah, he will be drowned in the curses of the covenant. That’s true. Still, baptism is not a threat; and baptism is not neutral. Baptism is the gift of Shiloah. The water that pours over him today is the water of the Spirit, the water that will make Atticus, who is made of dust, flourish like the rose in the desert.

So whenever the waters threaten his life; whenever he has sunk in deep mire, and there is no foothold; whenever he comes into deep waters, and a flood overflows him; the raging waters swept over his soul; whenever the water comes up to his neck – he can cling to the promise made by this water, the promise that the God who strides upon the waters will deliver him from the great waters.

To Judah, Yahweh said, water or water. To Atticus, the Triune God, the Father, and Yahweh incarnate, and His Spirit, gives the water of salvation, and promises by this sweet water to rescue him from the raging torrent.

posted by Peter J. Leithart on Sunday, March 13, 2011 at 6:08 am

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Bible - OT - Isaiah Theology - Liturgical: Baptismal meditation

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