Isaac loved Rebekah

A Sermon for the Proper 9 A – RCL (7-3-2011)

Offered by Nathan Ferrell for Trinity Episcopal Shared Ministry

Texts:             Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67; Song of Solomon 2:8-13;

                        Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30

Themes:         marital love and intimacy, enjoyment of life, pleasure

Title:               Isaac loved Rebekah

Isaac loved Rebekah.

My friends, did you notice that one little line which was added at the end of this ancient story which describes how Isaac was given a wife from among Abraham’s own people? The text says: “Isaac took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her” (Genesis 24:67). 

Did you catch it? “He loved her.” That little sentence is completely unnecessary for this story to work. In a purely utilitarian view, those three words make no difference at all.

And yet, in fact, that sentence makes all the difference. Isaac loved Rebekah! And it mattered! And it was important, important enough to be included in our sacred scriptures.

And just after this story, we read responsively a passage from the Song of Solomon about the passion between lovers. Why is this love poem included in the Bible?

Once again, from a practical point of view, what do we gain by hearing and reading this ancient love poem? It seems so unnecessary, and yet, my friends, God deems it otherwise.

All of this is a clear witness, my friends, that God intends for us to live a life that is full of love, enjoyment and pleasure.  

Just two weeks ago, we heard here in worship the story of creation from the first chapter of Genesis. After each aspect of the universe was created, God observed what was there and declared that it was good.

And at the end of the sixth day, when all living beings, including humans, had been created, the text states this:

“God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good” (Genesis 1:31).

There is a clear sense in this text that God delights in the beauty of the universe.

Indeed, it is hard to imagine that it would not be so!

Nearly every human astronaut has remarked on the breath-takingly beautiful view of the earth from space, and on all of the beauty of the stars and the galaxies that they observe on their journey. And so can we even begin to imagine the extent of beauty that God observes every second millions and millions of times over?

It is true: God delights in the universe. And it is also true that God wants us to delight in the gift of life as well.

It is not enough just to do our duty. It is not enough to just to follow the rules and the commandments and the guidelines of God for life.

That can never be enough, because duty leaves us cold and lifeless.

Duty is never enough, because what God wants more than anything else is passionate people who love deeply: people who deeply love God, and one another, and who love those who are special to their heart.   

The Westminster Shorter Catechism, a puritan teaching tool from the 17^th century, is quite famous because it begins with this first question and answer,

Q. What is the chief end of man?
A. Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.

To glorify God and to enjoy God forever! To enjoy God.

Have you ever thought about enjoying God, about enjoying the ability to be in God’s presence? Just soaking up the beauty and goodness and faithfulness and creativity and generosity of God?

It is clear that many people enjoyed being in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Not everyone, that’s for sure. Not the Pharisees, not those who were so concerned with making sure that all of the rules were followed, that all of the traditions were carefully maintained. Not those who were anxious and afraid of making a mistake.

But many others did. “The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ (Matthew 11:19).

You can see why this charge was leveled against him! After all, his first public act of ministry was to create 150 gallons of good wine for a wedding feast!

And what happened when he healed Peter’s mother? They had a feast.

And when he called Zacchaeus out of the tree? They had a feast.

And remember the feast when Mary Magdalene came and anointed the Lord’s feet?

And what was, in fact, the last time that he gathered with his closest friends? It was around a table, eating and drinking.

And what did he leave to his people as the primary way for us to remember him when we gather together?

We call it the Eucharist, of course, and it is a simple feast which is meant as a foretaste of the great wedding banquet to come.

And what does the Bible say about God’s plan for the future of humanity? The goal toward which God is directing the movement of human history is described as a feast, the great wedding feast of the Lamb in the new Jerusalem, where the tree of life will provide food in abundance for all. 

This is a deep truth, my friends, one that we all need to take to heart.

We are beings of flesh and blood, and this is the way that God intended it to be.

We are meant to enjoy the pleasures of the flesh: the love of those close to us, the intimacy of passion, the myriad of food and drinks from the earth, music and the arts and all of the creative gifts of humanity.

All of this is good, part of the creation which God has called “very good.”

But, of course, a word of warning is needed.

This is not to say that the way to a full and abundant life is simply through partying, eating and drinking and sensual pleasures! Hedonism is what we call that, and it is most often a way of life for those who do not want to face the fact of their own mortality.

It is a very different thing when we enjoy the goodness of love and the beauty of creation in a spirit of gratitude to our Creator, and in joyful celebration of God’s faithfulness and goodness.

When celebrated in this way, as a foretaste of the greater joy which we will have one day in the nearer presence of God, then all of these gifts of love, enjoyment and pleasure are sanctified by our true motivation and intention to glorify and enjoy God forever.

Isaac loved Rebekah. And God loves us. And we are here to glorify God and to enjoy God here in this good and beautiful world, and even in the life beyond the grave.

Thanks be to God. Amen.