March 18 - Who is my adversary?

Contributed by Sasha Dyck, sophomore biology major from Montreal, Quebec, Canada on Sunday March 17

Scripture

Isaiah 50: 4-9a - The Lord God has given me the tongue of a teacher, that I may know how to sustain the weary with a word. Morning by morning he wakens - wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught.
The Lord God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, I did not turn backward. I gave my back to those who struck me, and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard; I did not hide my face from insult and spitting.
The Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame; he who vindicates me is near. Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together. Who are my adversaries? Let them confront me.
It is the Lord God who helps me; who will declare me guilty?

Devotion

Last month, I got into a spot of trouble with our friends down in Student Life, and they called me in to a meeting of the Residence Hall Council. Usually I serve on the Residence Hall Council, so now I was on the other side of the table.

It was a rough meeting. They picked at my story and tried to poke holes in it. They called into question my honour and character, and in general put me on the hot seat. In other words, they did exactly what I would have done-and the whole time, all I could think of was Isaiah 50:4-9.

I thought this must be a learning experience. My ear was "being awakened to hear as the learned", and learning a valuable lesson in how I could help others thrust in the same situation. I was definitely reconsidering the way people in front of Residence Hall Council are treated, and how I could better help them through the process.

But I found it hard not to identify with the spat-upon narrator and feel as though it was my beard (I do have one) that was being plucked out by inquisitors. At this point, however, I remembered what happens at the end of the passage: the accused gets self-righteous and the Lord eats his enemies like a moth.

"Goodness," I realized, "I don't really want anybody to get eaten by moths," and then the message of the penultimate verse struck me.

Before anybody can get eaten, the narrator cries out: "Who is my adversary? Let him come near me." As I sat there, chastised, I understood that I had to turn this council, this perceived enemy, into a friend, that we might stand together and call "Who is my adversary?" for then there would be no enemies left - they would be gone, as if eaten by a moth.

So I tried to reconcile with Residence Hall Council. I told them how I understood their situation, and asked them to understand mine. After a long discussion, we could appreciate each other's position. Well, happy day! "Who is my adversary?" My enemy has been transformed, as have I, and suddenly we realize that in a way, we are on the same side of the table again.

Even in difficult, badgering times, oppressive situations can be transformed by loving and appreciating your perceived enemies and inviting them to understand your point of view. Only then can both groups look out together and ask, "Who is my adversary?" The answer, thanks to Isaiah 50:4-9, is "Right by my side, for now we are friends."