Voices: A reflection on Isaiah 43:8-15

A Reflection for Friday, April 4 by Melanie Marie Myatt

Lectionary reading for 04/04/2025: Psalm 126; Isaiah 43:8-15; Philippians 2:25-3:1

Selected passage for reflection: Isaiah 43.8-15

Read 

Isaiah 43.8-15 NRSV

Bring forth the people who are blind yet have eyes, who are deaf yet have ears!

Let all the nations gather together, and let the peoples assemble.Who among them declared this and foretold to us the former things? Let them bring their witnesses to justify them, and let them hear and say, “It is true.”

You are my witnesses, says the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen,so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he.Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me.

I, I am the Lord, and besides me there is no savior.

I am the one who declared and saved and proclaimed, not some strange god among you;    you are my witnesses, says the Lord, and I am God.

Indeed, since that day I am he; there is no one who can deliver from my hand;    I work, and who can hinder it?

Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: For your sake I will send to Babylon and break down all the bars, and the shouting of the Chaldeans will be turned to lamentation.

I am the Lord, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King.

 for his steadfast love endures forever.

Reflect 

I am struggling with voices. With social media, podcasts, and newsletters, I feel like everyone has an opinion on just about everything. And they don’t just state their opinions humbly for my consideration. Instead I feel like they are shouting at me: Do something! Call someone! Make a change! Speak out! Speak up! Stay silent! Go! Stay! Act! Rest! Wait! Don’t wait!

I’m a little bit exhausted.

But when I read passages like the one given to us today, I can feel the voices getting quieter. Isaiah describes the voices of those who predict the future or make other prognostications. But it is only God’s voice that can predict the future, and only God can make the predictions come true.

I think some of our country’s problems result from wanting a strong leader who can be our savior. But God says in this passage, “I am the Lord, and besides me there is no savior.” We aren’t any different than the people of Israel when we look elsewhere for a savior for rescue. 

In Israel’s case, God explains that the plan is for Babylon to defeat Israel and carry them into exile. Isaiah predicted this years before it happened. But God’s plan is also to rescue Israel from Babylon through their defeat by Persia.

We may look at some of our world leaders and long for God to put someone else in their place. But God tells us to trust God’s plan. God alone is the one who declares and saves and proclaims. The best thing we can do is listen to God’s voice, and let all the other competing voices fade away. 

This won’t be easy. It won’t even necessarily be immediately satisfactory. But we can trust that God’s steadfast love endures forever. 

Respond 

Hold out your hands and imagine you are holding all your frustrations with everything that is wrong with our world. Show them to God. Now, turn your hands over. Imagine that you have given everything to God. Listen quietly for God’s response to you. 

Rest 

Oh Loving, Holy God. Everywhere we look we see chaos and confusion. But you are a God of order and certainty. Give us eyes to see all the ways that your hand is at work both in and through ourselves and in the world. Please bring peace to the places that have no peace. Bring order and light to the places that are disordered and full of darkness. Work in our hearts so we can trust in you even when all we can see are reasons not to trust. We know you are a good and loving God. Give us the ability to believe that is true and to share that truth with others who are struggling. 

About the Author 

Melanie Myatt currently works as a chaplain at a retirement community in Glenview, Illinois and as program assistant for the C. John Weborg Center for Spiritual Direction. She is also a spiritual director, writer, mom of four, and master of the 15-minute nap. If you like her writing, you can also find her on Substack.