St Giles’ Cathedral, Edinburgh
Midweek Devotion 24th November 2022
Led by Rev Sam Nwokoro
Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion,
which cannot be moved but abides forever.
As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
so the Lord surrounds his people
from this time on and forevermore.
(Ps. 125)
Scripture Reading Isaiah 41: 17-20
17When the poor and needy seek water,
and there is none,
and their tongue is parched with thirst,
I the Lord will answer them,
I the God of Israel will not forsake them.
18 I will open rivers on the bare heights
and fountains in the midst of the valleys;
I will make the wilderness a pool of water
and the dry land springs of water.
19 I will put in the wilderness the cedar,
the acacia, the myrtle, and the olive;
I will set in the desert the cypress,
the plane and the pine together,
20 so that all may see and know,
all may consider and understand,
that the hand of the Lord has done this,
the Holy One of Israel has created it.
Reflection
The words of prophesy presented in this text are filled with speech in the first person: ‘I’. The Lord is speaking through the prophet Isaiah. He makes promises of direct willingness to meet the needs of people. ‘I will answer…I will open…I will make…I will set’. The promises are about meeting the most natural and practical needs. Water for the thirsty and the blooming of good trees in dry land.
There are many parts of the world where these words hold urgent meaning. Many impoverished communities around the world, ravaged by drought and famine, would hear these words, and yearn for its fulfilment. What does the promise of God’s word, written many years ago, mean for us as Christians today? The promise of scripture continues to remind us of our common humanity and basic needs. Yet, some are able to meet these needs more than others.
We are nourished by faith in a God who pledges to meet all our needs. We are also called to live out this faith by responsible and sustainable life choices, even as we think of those who suffer in difficulty. Our recent assent to being an ECO congregation, makes St Giles a congregation of conscience, willing to take important steps toward reflecting and participating in the conversations about our environment. As we explore what this decision means for us, may we find the wisdom of our ECO God who upholds and sustains each and every one of us. Amen.
Prayer
ECO God,
We rejoice in your creation
The beauty of the earth you have made
We rejoice in your sustained preservation
May we show our gratitude to you
In real and practical ways
As we do more to leave
a better earth for those who come after us
ECO God,
We remember all who suffer directly and indirectly
As a result of natural and man-made disasters
We pray that you inspire us and those who lead
To do right by our planet and to support those we can
Show us how to be content and how to share
Help us to live in caution and hope
Bless our efforts and willingness for change
Amen
Blessing
May God, who is the ground of hope,
Fill you with all joy and peace
And as you lead the life of faith
May the power of the Holy Spirit
overflow with hope in you
May the Lord bless you and guard you
May the Lord make his face shine on you
And be gracious to you
May the Lord look kindly on you and give you peace
Amen
Organ Music
Dieterich Buxtehude Nun bitten wir den Heiligen Geist