We had a lunch date yesterday, just the two of us, in the parking lot of a plaza.  The little restaurant has moved its tables and chairs outside, safely distanced from one another, shaded by umbrellas. It was a delightful lunch. I decided to walk home, where my sermon for Sunday sat waiting to be completed.  After a quick stop for a few groceries, which I put in my backpack, I was on my way. The first part of the journey felt fine but soon, I wanted shade.  I found myself moving off the sidewalk into the shade of the trees. Out of the sun that beat down and into the cool of the shadows. Out of my discomfort, misery and ‘suffering’ into relief, rest, and solace.

Our God is the one who has continually brought his people ‘out of and into.’  He acts to bring us out of the unsatisfying and lifeless into that which is a position and place of peace, rest and life. 

For me, this image powerfully begins when Moses, under God’s direction leads God’s people “out of a land of slavery” into a position and place of freedom (Exodus 13:3, Micah 6:4, Acts 7:36).

Years after the Exodus, under Moses, Manasseh was king over God’s people in Jerusalem. He rejected God and his ways with high-handed rebellion. This choice resulted in the experience of deep sorrow and despair for “God directed the leaders of the troops of the king of Assyria to come after Manasseh. They put a hook in his nose, shackles on his feet, and took him off to Babylon” (1 Chronicles 33:13). Life without the Lord has no provision of shade. Rebellion against the Lord offers no rest. What we notice from this story is that Manasseh comes to this realization.  He prays to God. We read, “And when he prayed to him, the Lord was moved by his entreaty and listened to his plea; so he brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord is God.” (1 Chronicles 33:13).

God delights to bring his people out of and into, out of and back to.  We read that “God has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son (Colossians 1:13) and that those who follow Jesus “will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).  These images present sharp contrasts.  The song which follows continues with powerful contrasting images, reminding us of the beautiful ‘into’ realities which are ours in Christ Jesus.  Today as we sing or say these words may we be mindful of the Spirit’s voice which will reveal where we, like Manasseh, might bend our knee asking God to restore us, bringing us into a right relationship with him. 

472: Out Of My Bondage, Sorrow And Night

1. Out of my bondage, sorrow and night,
Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;
Into Thy freedom, gladness and light,
Jesus, I come to Thee;
Out of my sickness into Thy health,
Out of my want and into Thy wealth,
Out of my sin and into Thyself,
Jesus, I come to Thee.

2. Out of my shameful failure and loss,
Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;
Into the glorious gain of Thy cross,
Jesus, I come to Thee;
Out of earth's sorrows into Thy balm,
Out of life's storms and into Thy calm,
Out of distress to jubilant psalm,
Jesus, I come to Thee.

3. Out of unrest and arrogant pride,
Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;
Into Thy blessed will to abide,
Jesus, I come to Thee;
Out of myself to dwell in Thy love,
Out of despair into raptures above,
Upward for aye on wings like a dove,
Jesus, I come to Thee.

4. Out of the fear and dread of the tomb,
Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;
Into the joy and light of Thy Home,
Jesus, I come to Thee;
Out of the depths of ruin untold,
Into the peace of Thy sheltering fold,
Ever Thy glorious face to behold,
Jesus, I come to Thee.

Father in heaven, you have covenanted to bring us into a kingdom of light and love found only in Jesus.  We rejoice in this glorious truth and act of grace.  Today, Jesus we hear your words:

The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
    because he has anointed me
    to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
    and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,  Luke 4:18

Where we have sought our own rebellious ways, bring us into freedom.  Where we are in bondage bring us into life.  Where we are in darkness bring us into light.  We pray this for ourselves and our neighbours.  AMEN

With care and in prayer,