Advent Devotional, December 21st

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.