A Tale of Two Cities

Dear St Andrew’s,

Over the past twelve weeks, while we have been reading and preaching through Isaiah, I have also been reading Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities.

Dickens begins his novel with some of the most famous words in English literature:

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…”

Set against the turbulence of the French Revolution, the story moves between London and Paris. But as I read it alongside Isaiah, I found myself thinking about another tale of two cities.

Isaiah begins with Jerusalem as it was: outwardly religious, but inwardly rebellious. It was meant to be the faithful city, the place where God’s people lived under his good rule. Yet Isaiah describes it as corrupt, unjust and unfaithful: “See how the faithful city has become a prostitute!” (Isaiah 1:21).

And so, much of the first half of Isaiah is the worst of times. God’s people have turned from him. Their worship is hollow. Their leaders are proud. The poor are neglected. Powerful nations threaten. Judgement and exile are coming.

Yet even there, hope is not extinguished.

God promises that he will purify his people so that Jerusalem will once again be called “the City of Righteousness, the Faithful City” (Isaiah 1:26). In many ways, Isaiah’s sixty-six chapters tell the story of how the faithless city will become the faithful city.

That transformation could never be achieved by human effort. It required God’s gracious intervention.

And so, as the weeks went by, we met the great figures who stand at the centre of Isaiah’s hope: Immanuel, God with us; the promised King who rules with justice; and above all, the suffering Servant who is “pierced for our transgressions” and crushed for our iniquities.

Through his suffering, the Servant brings forgiveness, peace and restoration.

By the end of Isaiah, the vision has widened beyond the earthly city of Jerusalem. God promises a new heavens and a new earth, with a renewed Jerusalem at its centre—a city filled with joy, security, peace and the presence of God himself.

“There will be no more weeping,” God promises. His people will enjoy the fruit of their labour. The wolf and the lamb will feed together. God will answer before his people even call.

The story has moved from the faithless city to the Faithful City; from judgement to salvation; from exile to home; from the worst of times to the very best of times.

Dickens’ novel also ends with an act of sacrifice. Sydney Carton, a disappointed and deeply flawed man, gives his life to save another. As he approaches the guillotine, he imagines the better future his death will make possible and says:

“It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done…”

Carton’s sacrifice is fictional. But it points us towards the real and greater sacrifice at the heart of Isaiah’s story.

Jesus Christ, the sinless suffering Servant, did not merely risk his life for another person. He willingly gave himself for sinners. He endured the judgement we deserved so that we might be forgiven, welcomed and brought home.

Through Jesus, the gates of the Faithful City stand open.

As we finish Isaiah, may we thank God for all that we have seen: his holiness, his justice, his compassion, his faithfulness and his astonishing grace. And may we continue to live as citizens of the city that is still to come—trusting the Servant, seeking the Lord and holding firmly to the promise:

“See, I will create new heavens and a new earth.” (Isaiah 65:17)

Many blessings,

James