(The following questions are taken from my brief guide to Law and Gospel preaching, Afflicting the Comfortable, Comforting the Afflicted. They are not meant to be exhaustive, but only offered as a way of opening up the Word and the way it functions in the text. My guide is available from wipfandstock.com or amazon.)
1. How does the Word function in the text? There can be little doubt that the Word is functioning primarily as Gospel here. One after another, tumbling forth, we hear announcements of good news: a shoot is coming forth from the stump of Jesse; the Spirit of Yahweh will rest on this one, causing this new sovereign to judge the world with equity, righteousness, and faithfulness. And then, as though the Spirit that has settled upon this one is overflowing into the whole cosmos, peace reigns, and "the earth is full of the knowledge of Yahweh". What good news this is!
2. How is the Word not functioning in the text? There seems to be little evidence of the Law in this text, unless one notes what is implied in the text. In the first half of the text we read of the poor and the meek who need justice done, as well as the wicked who shall be killed by the breath of this sovereign one's lips. Also in the second half of the text we read that no one "will hurt or destroy" any longer, implying that violence has been a part of the world. The upshot is that all this good news to the cosmos also means that the wicked will be judged.
3. With whom are you identifying in the text? We are those to whom this Word is spoken. We are like Israel, waiting and watching for the reign of God to break forth. We are those who rejoice at this gospel word.
4. What, if any, call to obedience is there in this text? The call to obedience is always the call to live in a certain way in response to the gospel. This text does not include this. The 2nd reading appointed for this day from Romans 15 is a good example of a call to obedience: "May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." (Rom. 15:5-6)
5. What Law/Gospel couplet is suggested by this text? Although the Law side of the equation is scant in this text, with a little imagination, we can come up with several couplets: ignorance/wisdom and understanding; wickedness/faithfulness; violence/peace; despair/hope.
6. Exegetical work: Because this text has such vivid images, it is no surprise that a variety of artists have been inspired by this text. Edward Hicks, a 19th century painter, and John August Swanson, a 20th century painter, have both produced multiple images of "the peaceable kingdom." They show, in their work, what this vision of Isaiah looks like in their mind's eye. Ancient writers also have been taken by this text. The 4th century bishop of Elvira, Gregory, imagined that Isaiah's vision meant a return to Eden: "In his kingdom, God will recreate the world as wonderfully as it was made at the beginning, before the first man sinned." The 6th century pope, Gregory the Great, finds that it is the Church itself that God uses for the fulfilling of this vision: "It is through the organs of holy charity that the wolf will dwell with the lamb, since those who were plunderers in the world now rest in peace with the meek and the tame... One who prepares himself as a daily sacrifice to God through a contrite heat, and another who once raged with cruelty like a lion, and yet another who remains in the simplicity of his innocence like a lamb have all come together in the fold of holy church." (Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture, OT, Vol. X, pp. 107-108). Matthew Henry, in his commentary, also sees this vision: "[Persons] of the most fierce and furious dispositions, who used to bite and devour all about them, shall have their temper so strangely altered... Those that inhabit the holy mountain shall live as amiably as the creatures did that were with Noah in the ark...The more there is of [knowledge of the Lord] the more there is a disposition of peace." (Matthew Henry, via textweek.com)
7. Consider the insights of the pioneers of the New Homiletic? Fred Craddock always urged preachers to help listeners experience the text in all of its fullness. An aspiration of any preacher for this text might be that our listeners experience the grandeur of this vision, and exalt in it.
Blessings on your proclamation!
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