Isaiah 49

I am trying to combine what i am learning about attachment theory with what i am learning about the fatherhood of God. At some time in the future i will try to do more to explain attachment theory. i am sort of developing what i casually refer to as "attachment theology". And i write as if i am writing to God. So you will notice that i refer to Him as You often.

Isaiah 49:8

“In a time of favor I have answered you; in a day of salvation I have helped you...”

1. In a time of favor, You answer. The word for favor means “pleasure, delight, favor”; in the special sense “to be favorably received”. It also contains the concept of “delight” or “acceptance” of an individual. Because You favor me, You answer me. That You favor me is an interesting idea. To rephrase it, You take pleasure in me. You delight in me. You are happy with me. You are overwhelmingly accepting of me. In attachment terminology, one of the key words is attunement. Attunement means pleasure and interest; joy and attentiveness. For You to delight in me and then to answer me is attunement. You attune to me. There is pleasure and there is interest. Sometimes it helps me to think about what the opposite of a word means. The opposite of pleasure would be displeasure or disgust. There is a lot out there that would make me think that You are disgusted with me. And frankly, there is plenty for You to be disgusted with. But it is obvious from this verse and many others that You are not disgusted with me. You take great pleasure in me. You enjoy me. I bring You happiness. I create in You delight. What look on Your face would I see if I could? What kind of face would show pleasure and delight and acceptance? I can imagine a smile that is a mile long; bright eyes with penetrating affection; raised eyebrows expressing engagement. That kind of face draws me toward You. Your face is the face of pleasure.
2. In a day of salvation, You help me. The Hebrew word for salvation is rich. “The root meaning in Arabic is ‘make wide’ or ‘make sufficient’; this root is in contrast to ‘narrow’, which means ‘be restricted’ or ‘cause distress’. That which is wide connotes freedom from distress and the ability to pursue one’s own objectives. To move from distress to safety requires deliverance. Generally the deliverance must come from somewhere outside the party oppressed. The one who brings deliverance is known as the ‘savior’.” I never heard this in a sermon. One of the key components in attachment theory is the distress that comes as a result of a break in attachment with the primary care-giver. As a matter of fact, the whole attachment theory was initiated by observing children experience distress and anxiety when a parent was removed from their presence for any one of a number of reasons, mostly unintended. Salvation then means the removal from the restricted environment of distress and anxiety to the unrestricted environment of peace and wholeness. Distress comes through detachment. The movement into peace comes through attachment. Salvation is You bringing about this movement. The Messiah came to bring me into an attachment bond with You. I was cleaned up for You by Him and now there is unrestricted access to You. I enter into what I refer to as “relational wholeness” with You. I can experience a deep and affectionate bond with You that will never end. I will always be able to see the face of pleasure whenever I turn Your way.