The RSV in verse 16...
Illustration
The RSV in verse 16 states that the Lord "wondered that there was no one to intervene." The Today's English Version has it, "He is astonished to see that there is no one to help the oppressed."
Two events in church history on this day show how inexcusable it is not to intervene some times. To mention Michael Servetus is to be reminded of probably the bleakest event in Protestant history. Servetus did not believe in infant baptism and the Trinity, but he did believe that he was restoring true Christianity. Sound familiar? Servetus, fleeing a charge of heresy from the Roman Catholic Church, found himself in Calvin's Geneva.
He was recognized and arrested. Servetus almost seemed to like to be controversial. Servetus was backed by Calvin's enemies and Servetus went so far as to call Calvin a false accuser, that Calvin be run out of Geneva, and that Calvin's goods be given to him, Servetus. Strange as it may seem to us, persons who did not believe in infant baptism and the Trinity were subject to be executed. Let it be said that Calvin urged a lesser punishment. Still, on October 27, 1553, Servetus was burned at the stake. And we wonder why there was no one to intervene.
In our own country on October 27, 1659, two Quakers were hanged in Massachusetts for returning after they had been run off. And we wonder that there was no one to intervene. May these two incidents prompt each of us to be willing to intervene to save someone.
-- Richardson
Two events in church history on this day show how inexcusable it is not to intervene some times. To mention Michael Servetus is to be reminded of probably the bleakest event in Protestant history. Servetus did not believe in infant baptism and the Trinity, but he did believe that he was restoring true Christianity. Sound familiar? Servetus, fleeing a charge of heresy from the Roman Catholic Church, found himself in Calvin's Geneva.
He was recognized and arrested. Servetus almost seemed to like to be controversial. Servetus was backed by Calvin's enemies and Servetus went so far as to call Calvin a false accuser, that Calvin be run out of Geneva, and that Calvin's goods be given to him, Servetus. Strange as it may seem to us, persons who did not believe in infant baptism and the Trinity were subject to be executed. Let it be said that Calvin urged a lesser punishment. Still, on October 27, 1553, Servetus was burned at the stake. And we wonder why there was no one to intervene.
In our own country on October 27, 1659, two Quakers were hanged in Massachusetts for returning after they had been run off. And we wonder that there was no one to intervene. May these two incidents prompt each of us to be willing to intervene to save someone.
-- Richardson
