Daily Prophets
Day 165
“Turn to me and gain success, all the earth! For I am God and there is none else. By Myself I have sworn, from My mouth has issued truth, a word that shall not turn back: To Me every knee shall bend, every tongue swear loyalty. Only through God will I find strength and righteousness When people trust in God, all their adversaries are put to shame.”(Isaiah 45:22-24)
This chapter begins with God speaking to Cyrus, who would defeat Babylon and allow the Jews to return and rebuild Jerusalem. The first verse above shows God’s universality, God is God of all people, not just the Jews. This is a departure from the norm of the time, there were Greek gods, Roman gods, Assyrian gods, etc. only among the Jews was there One God who is God of all people, One God who created the earth, One God who wants humankind to enjoy success and wants to help make success in their worthy endeavors a reality. We are in need of these words again-too many nations are worshiping false gods again, too many states are turning to “people of the lie”, as M. Scott Peck defines this type, and they are worshiping the false gods of power, race, privilege, anger, fear, mendacity, etc. There is only one God, the prophet is reminding us and we have to leave our own mendacity and self-deception in order to “turn to” God and be free and successful.
The second verse above is the key to success, as I understand all the prophetic literature and, the entire Hebrew Bible: hear the truth that God gives us, know that God’s ‘word’ is good and, most importantly, surrender to God, to decency, to a way of life that is compatible with being called by God. Bending of our knees is not just a way to pray, as some people believe, it is, in my opinion, a way of surrendering to God’s will and, as to paraphrase Pirke Avot, nullifying our will before God’s will so God’s will can become our will. Bending one’s knee is crucial to surrendering and acknowledging a “power greater than ourselves”. In this acknowledgment, we also have to swear our loyalty to God, not ourselves. We have to surrender to the fact that we are not God, just trusted servants who’s first loyalty is to principles, to ensure that the interests of another(s) are our concern, to swear to be of service to God and humanity, not to our own self-interest and power, to commit to live in truth and discontinue our mendacious ways. Beware of the charlatans who preach the word of God and do the bidding of power for their own sake, not God’s.
The last verse above is subtle and hidden, yet self-evident and on display for all to see. We cannot know what righteous behavior without God, without hearing and doing the words that God give to us and the path God has laid out for us. While many people preach God’s words, not as many actually live the ones they speak. When we surrender to God’s ways, will and path we find a strength and power to overcome the greatest of obstacles, to act decently, truthfully and righteously. Looking at the leaders of the major rebellions that were for God and the needy, poor; we see the surrender of the leaders to God and the defeat of their adversaries. God cares, God helps and God wants us, yet we have to decide to surrender.
Rabbi Heschel teaches: “The Father of all men is committed to all men. Second Isaiah not only conveys the Lord’s invitation and commitment to every man on earth; he proclaims that God has sworn that all men will worship Him.” I read this and once again realize that our being chosen is not some privilege we can lord over another, rather it is an obligation that we get to fulfill. God is God of all people, not just Jews and not just Christians and not just Muslims, God is God of and for all of humanity! Even non-believers, God is God for, yet we have so many charlatans claiming God loves only them-it is hogwash and bullshit as I read Rabbi Heschel’s words. It makes me angry at how these liars, deceivers and practicers of mendacity have co-opted God’s words, God’s path and God’s desire for our return with their words, their path and their desire to dominate every one else. Surrender you charlatans!
In recovery, we are aware of our need for and to surrender. It brings us to God, to joy, to live with dignity, awe, wonder, and knowing we are graced by God with this gift called life. In recovery we continue to seek ways to serve God, responding to the needs of another(s) and constantly cleaning our side of the street and letting go of resentments and the lies we tell ourselves.
My surrender is a daily experience, some days better than others! I do know that my knee bends to God and it doesn’t to another person. I know that God has provided me with both righteousness and strength to face any and all situations. I know that my imperfections harm me and another(s) and I know that people use my vulnerabilities against me at times. I know that pain of not surrendering and I have turned to God and the successes I experience are all the same-living well. God is God to all of us, God’s ways are ways of success and we each can find our own path without ruining the path and place another(s) is meant for. If we all could only stop with the lies, the need to harm another to feel better about oneself and bend our knees to God-our world would be so much better. God Bless and Stay Safe, Rabbi Mark