Living in Hope

Isaiah 62:1  For Zion's sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until her vindication shines out like the dawn, and her salvation like a burning torch. 2  The nations shall see your vindication, and all the kings your glory; and you shall be called by a new name that the mouth of the LORD will give. 3  You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God. 4  You shall no more be termed Forsaken, and your land shall no more be termed Desolate; but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her, and your land Married; for the LORD delights in you, and your land shall be married. 5  For as a young man marries a young woman, so shall your builder marry you, and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you. 6  Upon your walls, O Jerusalem, I have posted sentinels; all day and all night they shall never be silent. You who remind the LORD, take no rest, 7  and give him no rest until he establishes Jerusalem and makes it renowned throughout the earth. 8  The LORD has sworn by his right hand and by his mighty arm: I will not again give your grain to be food for your enemies, and foreigners shall not drink the wine for which you have labored; 9  but those who garner it shall eat it and praise the LORD, and those who gather it shall drink it in my holy courts. 10  Go through, go through the gates, prepare the way for the people; build up, build up the highway, clear it of stones, lift up an ensign over the peoples. 11  The LORD has proclaimed to the end of the earth: Say to daughter Zion, "See, your salvation comes; his reward is with him, and his recompense before him." 12  They shall be called, "The Holy People, The Redeemed of the LORD"; and you shall be called, "Sought Out, A City Not Forsaken."

This passage is a statement of hope. Those who worship the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob have been carried off into exile in Babylon. But the Prophet Isaiah speaks of the hope that  “You shall no more be termed Forsaken, and your land shall no more be termed Desolate; ...for the LORD delights in you, and your land shall be married”. As a sign of their confidence that God will restore their land, the people who remained in the land are to “prepare the way for the people; build up, build up the highway, clear it of stones, lift up an ensign over the peoples.” While their new world is not yet visible – they are to act as if it is on the way.

Ever since then the people of God have appropriated this passage to their own historical context. Each generation has reclaimed the hope that we are not abandoned by God but instead we can look forward to “the end of the earth” and our salvation as “the Redeemed of the Lord”. This is not to be confused with those who call for the destruction of this planet in favour of a human transplant to heaven elsewhere. Instead, this captures the intention of Isaiah – God will save his people from oppressive, cruel Babylonian governors. And the people are to live as if this is a present reality.

This Advent offers yet again a promise of renewal: the Saviour is coming who will enable his people to throw aside the Babylonian chains of injustice and establish the rule of God. So let us begin preparations that express this as a confident hope:

·         Nationally we will live lives of integrity in the midst of corruption and greed

·         In Community we decorate our homes in defiance of those who would tear them apart through robbery or violence against women and children, and the inner demons of jealousy and disrespect.

·         Personally we will speak words of love and joy in the face of cynicism, anger and despair

For Thought

Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light. 

Be Thou My Vision is a traditional Irish hymn attributed to Dallán Forgaill, the sixth century Irish poet. The music is based on the music of the Irish folk song 'Slane' which is about St. Patrick defying the pagan King Lóegaire of Tara by lighting candles on Easter Eve.

First Sunday in Advent

2. Preparing the Way

The Scripture passage for the day is drawn from Reuben Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and other Servants, (Nashville, The Upper Room 1983), 20.

This reflection is from my own devotional exercises for the day.