Today we will look at Isaiah 40 for this first day in our study of Advent. Ross did an excellent job of describing what Advent means for us in his post yesterday. As we study each day of this advent season may our hope and longing of knowing Jesus grow deep within us.
Did you make it through Turkey Day? All the preparations of food and drink, cleaning of the house, catching up with family? I always enjoy Thanksgiving evening, when all the prep is done, dinner is over, comfy clothes are on and everyone is relaxed and chatting. But, as soon as Thanksgiving Day is over we jump right into preparing for Christmas…Get the tree up! Hang the lights outside! Put out the nativity and decorations! Buy the gifts! Wrap the gifts! Make the cookies! If we aren’t intentional we will miss the real meaning of Christmas.
I am excited over these next four weeks to take a deep dive into the scriptures and focus on the meaning of Advent and the days leading to Christmas.
These words in Isaiah 40 are a guide for this first look into Advent. The words offer us hope. Though they were first meant to be God’s word to a people “who walked in darkness,” they are for us today. Matthew, Mark, and Luke all quote from Isaiah 40 when they refer to John the Baptist. (Mark 1:2-3, Matthew 3:3, Luke 3:4-6, and John 1:23). John is commissioned to be the one to proclaim the arrival of Christ. He became the voice crying out in the wilderness. A voice of one calling:
“In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
Isaiah 40:3
John the Baptist proclaimed that God will indeed be revealed to them. He was proclaiming that the long wait was over, that what Isaiah had predicted was finally here.
You who bring good news to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who bring good news to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, “Here is your God!” See, the Sovereign Lord comes with power, and he rules with a mighty arm. See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him. He tends his flock like a shepherd; He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.
Isaiah 40:9-11
The Lord is returning to Jerusalem. Jerusalem is to proclaim the exciting news to all the other cities that God once again is for them. “Do not be afraid” means that Zion need not fear being wrong about this and raising false hopes. The proclamation should be bold and heard by everyone, because there is no chance that it will not happen.
This is good news. Good news that will bring light and hope to people suffering in darkness; news that will fill people with peace and joy. Jesus came into our world as a fulfillment of the hope of Israel. We now wait with the same hope. God will fulfill our hope, and he does so in Christ Jesus.
We, the church are called now to proclaim the Good News. We need to tell people, “Here is your God.” He has come to reclaim what was his. He gathers the lambs in his arms (40:11). We see God work in history and in our lives today. Just as Israel longed for redemption in the midst of darkness we long for the return of Christ. Advent serves as a time to reflect and long for what God has done and will do. As our days are filled with Holiday fun and busyness, may we take time to focus on the joy and hope that Christ’s birth provides.