Isaiah’s Letter to the Nations

CHAPTER FOUR

The Thirteenth Year Journeymen

Under the heavens there is another sorrow, true and heavy. The most unrecognized and unappreciated in their field are often without honor among those to whom they were sent.

In them people search for faults where there are none, and where there is strength it is made of no effect. Where there is weakness, they boast in it, so that their own flaws remain hidden.

They glory not in my prosperity, but they glory in the day of my defeat. Both defense and offense rise up against me as though I were one against nine, yet still I shine.

Though false calls are made against me, the Lord Almighty is my heavenly referee. He calls each shot, every miss and every make is in his hand.

Though my dream shake fails, though I badly miss, though the point guard shows his disdain as I drive into a wall of defenders — the Lord my referee gives me the benefit of the doubt.

The defense and the offense complain and shout together with equal strength. But am I their enemy? By no means! For the Lord, who never sleeps, never misses a call. He is faithful and just, doing no wrong. His name is Yahusha Tsedeq — the Lord of Justice.

Win or lose, the outcome is clear: the year of his redeemed is near. I came to my own, and they did not receive me. Though we are neighbors, though we are kindred, still you rejected me.

I offered countless gifts of my strength and stature. Though I do not always leap for the rebound, when the ball comes back to me I return it for a basket.

When I missed, you said, “Why did you miss, with all your strength and height?” Yet when I asked, “Why did you miss your defensive assignment, hoping I would cover you in grace and mercy while my own opponent remained active?” you only deflected and accused.

So I departed from your ungrateful hearts, and I was found by those who did not seek me. And I hoped that when I return to you, my people, you would recognize me, that you would see the salvation of the Lord, that you would call me friend, Isaiah.

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From time to time you sang, “Hosanna, blessed be the Rock,” yet just as often you condemned me, only for me to rise again in the glory of the Lord Almighty.

I journeyed to many places and was accepted. There they sang, “Blessed be Bynum, for he has great might and power, according to him who lives forever.” Their hearts rejoiced at my appearing. Yet when I returned to you, my own people, you looked down on me when I failed.

Even as I ate with gladness, you sought reasons to make me vomit it out. You claimed my advantage was unfair, yet your complaint was only pride and rebellion.

You whisper in my courts, asking, “Who is worthy to sit beside the greatest, upon the throne of the Mount of Rushmore?” But I tell you, who shall ascend that mighty hill? The league and its players, the coaches and commissioner, all belong to me.

It was founded upon the lake of Michigan and sealed in the year nineteen ninety-six. Who shall ascend my holy hill, and who shall stand before the Most High of the league?

It is written: Who may go up the hill of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift his soul to vanity or swear deceitfully. He shall receive blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God who saves him. This is the generation of those who seek him, who seek the face of Jacob. Selah.

So in this parable it shall come to pass that the Lord, the God over all Israel, will establish his kingdom on earth.

Then my lament will be turned into triumph. And in that day the Thirteenth Year Journeyman, from the Bronx, of whom it was once said,

Can anything good come out of the Bronx?

will be known as

Least Acknowledged, Most Beloved.

The Lamb over all the league.

For the goats have been separated by the angels,
and they are remembered no more.

For the Lord has spoken it, and he will perform it in his time.