Jeremiah 1:4-10 and Psalm 71:1-6; Isaiah 58:9b-14 and Psalm 103:1-8; Hebrews 12:18-29; Luke 13:10-17
Wyatt recalls a trip to Israel where dusty ruins and lush wetlands stood side by side. She uses that experience of stark contrast to illuminate Isaiah 58’s vision: a people going through the motions of piety while ignoring the poor. Wyatt emphasizes the message from Isaiah: Salvation is communal – and about justice. It’s how God turns parched places into flourishing gardens and rebuilds what was lost.
Rev. Dr. Stephanie Wyatt is the associate pastor of Immanuel Baptist Church in Nashville, Tennessee. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, a master of divinity from Wake Forest University, a master’s degree in Hebrew Bible from Vanderbilt University, and a doctorate in biblical interpretation from Texas Christian University.