Shall the Ax Vaunt Itself?--Dec. 17, 2010

We walk into the wilderness and don’t know what to look for.
We follow those who promise us freedom; we find slavery,
for we are slaves to whatever masters us. Our priorities
are upside down. We are like an ax that would vaunt
itself over the one who wields it, a rod that wants
to raise the one who lifts it up. You show us the
path of life. In your presence is fullness of joy;
in your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Lectionary Readings
Psalms 102, 148, 130, 16
Isaiah 10:5-19
2 Peter 2:17-22
Matthew 11:2-15

Selected Verses
Psalm 16:11
You show me the path of life.
      In your presence there is fullness of joy;
      in your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Isaiah 10:15
Shall the ax vaunt itself over the one who wields it,
      or the saw magnify itself against the one who handles it?
As if a rod should raise the one who lifts it up,
      or as if a staff should lift the one who is not wood!

2 Peter 2:19
They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption; for people are slaves to whatever masters them.

Matthew 11:7
As [John’s disciples] went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? … ”