“And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.” – Isaiah 6:8
There is one hymn that I have loved since I was a youth in my home church in Lawton, OK. The hymn is “Here I Am Lord,” by Dan Schutte. It is a beautiful song, and each time I sing it my spirit is lifted by the beautiful words of this hymn. The hymn begins:
I, the Lord of sea and sky,
I have heard my people cry,
All who dwell in dark and sin
my hand will save.
I, who made the stars of night,
I will make their darkness bright.
Who will bear my light to them?
Whom shall I send?
Refrain: Here I am, Lord. Is it I Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go, Lord, if you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.
I first heard the hymn,” Here I Am Lord” when I was in high school. This ‘new’ hymn in my church became an instant favorite of mine. First, I say it was a ‘new’ hymn because it was written by Dan Schutte in 1981. In hymn standards that is brand-new. Many favorite hymns of the church were written at least a century before that.
The reason this hymn became an instant favorite of mine was its reflection of the calling of Isaiah. In the book of Isaiah, the prophet experiences a vision of the throne room of God. Isaiah seems to be somehow transported to heaven where he sees God in all His majesty. The room is filled with God’s glory. Around God the prophet sees heavenly beings. In the midst of this vision, God asks the question, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Thankfully, Isaiah answers, “Here I am, send me!” God was searching for someone to share His words of warning and hope with the world. Isaiah takes God’s word and from this vision shares with Israel the Word of the Lord.
This story and this song spoke so strongly to me because I had experienced my own call into the ministry early in high school. I did not know what ministry would mean, but I knew that God had put on my heart that I would serve. Much like Isaiah, I did not know where I would go or exactly what I would say, but I was willing to say, “Here I am, send me!” I have never regretted answering God’s call to serve and share His words of hope. It is the great privilege of my life.
Each of us are called by God to share God’s words of hope. That is why we ask each member of St. Luke’s, when they join, if you will share God’s love and bring hope to the world. This happens in so many ways. Perhaps it’s by delivering a meal to someone in need. It might be reading to a child or volunteering with a student who needs an adult to care for them. You may be called to share the love and hope of God with a friend, family member or co-worker who has questions about faith and you have a story to share. When that time comes, I hope you boldly say, “Here I am, send me!”
– Rev. Keith King, Pastor of Worship
