Isaiah 9:2–7
In these final days of Advent we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus our
Savior. Perhaps more than in some years we may identify just a bit more with
the prophet’s talk of walking in deep darkness and longing to see some light
at the end of the tunnel. We are ready to hear in a new key the prophet’s
announcement of the birth of God’s promised Messiah.
Even so it is good to be reminded that the people of Israel heard these
words while they were still threatened by captivity and exile. How ready
were they to really believe that the simple birth of a child could be the way
of God’s deliverance and salvation?
We, too, in this season need to hear again those words of promise—words
of hope for God’s Messiah, a Prince of Peace, who will come as an agent
of justice and righteousness to a world so longing and ready for such good
news. We also need to hear the prophet’s final promissory reminder that
this birth is not ours to control. It is a call to faith and trust: “The Lord of
hosts will do this.”
God of promise, as we await your coming in this Advent season, help us to hear your
words of hope in the gift of your Messiah with power to transform our world in the
ways of peace, justice, and righteousness. Amen.
