Judgment, Forgiveness, and Mission - Second Week of Advent

We've been joining together for weekday prayer and thanksgiving services during the three full weeks of Advent. Each service has a meditation followed by an extended prayer time, with options for kneeling, journaling, and candle lighting. Had I thought about it before now, I would have posted this earlier.

Isaiah 40:1-11

     Forgiveness and redemption follow judgment. This is perhaps the simple outline for the Book of Isaiah. The first 39 chapters of Isaiah deal primarily with God’s judgment of Israel and Isaiah’s call for the people of Israel to repent because it’s their sin that has caused the Assyrians to attack them. The 40th chapter of Isaiah starts something new – a message of God’s good news for the people. Perhaps Isaiah spent 39 chapters bearing messages of God’s judgment of the people’s sins, so that they could see their need for forgiveness and redemption. God’s good news for creation is always that redemption and salvation are continually being offered through Jesus Christ – God among us – in the Spirit. But, forgiveness and redemption follow judgment: this applies to us too.
     During Advent, as well as Lent, God invites us to a season of introspection and self-examination, so that, seeing where we have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, we can repent, receive forgiveness, and be redeemed. Ask yourselves the hard questions today and in the coming weeks. What things ought I to repent of? In what specific ways do I stand under the judgment of God? What part of me stands in most need of redemption? To put it bluntly, What sins do I continue to commit, or in what ways do I participate in the systemic sins of the fallen world? What does the Lord require of me? What does the Lord say to me?
     Isaiah’s message for today is one of comfort and hope: “Comfort, O comfort my people” (v. 1). This is a prophetic message for Israel that they will not always live in exile. It is a future promise, yet in Christ it is also a present reality and a challenge to those who claim his name. Indeed, God offers each and every one of us forgiveness and redemption. In Christ’s coming, Isaiah’s prophecy of comfort came true, and continues to come true for people of every age. Yet, Isaiah does not leave us with the message of comfort and hope.
     Instead, Isaiah says, “A voice cries out: ‘In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord,’ ” and, “Get you up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good tidings” (v. 3, 9). After judgment and redemption, we’re sent out to prepare the way of the Lord as bearers of glad tidings, otherwise known as “good news” or “gospel.” We’re sent out in “the wilderness” – those places where people are unaware of God’s presence – to proclaim God’s love. We’re sent out to be God’s comfort to God’s people. We’re sent out with authority given by the Son through the Spirit to offer God’s forgiveness and redemption to all we meet and to live as witnesses of God’s now and not-yet kingdom of peace. Where are you in your journey? Where would you like God to lead you? Do you know someone who needs you to bring God’s comfort?