Branch Of Peace And Restoration
Sunday, December 7
Isaiah 11:1-5
The context of the prophet Isaiah’s ministry was similar to our time. Major powers were rising to devour vulnerable nations with the latest military equipment. People were afraid. Isaiah seeks to assure the people that God is going to do something new. It will not be through militaristic might, but rather through a nondescript Branch. An ancient translation of the Bible, the Aramaic Targum Jonathan, interprets this branch to be the humble King Messiah. This King Messiah will be a nonviolent, wise king, unlike the violent militaristic kings of the world. He will bring about the “fear of the Lord” (v. 3). This is a good kind of fear that does not lead to anxiety or depression; rather, it leads to a calm spirit. He will bring about justice and equity for the weak and vulnerable—those who are experiencing much trepidation and fear. The prophet Isaiah is telling the people, “Don’t be fearful. He is faithful!”
O Lord, in this season of Advent, in the midst of wars and oppression, we look to you. Give us your wisdom, O Messiah. Bring about your justice and restfulness in the world today. We thank you for your faithfulness to us. Amen.
Peace Of Eden
Monday, December 8
Isaiah 11:6-9
Genesis 1:2 sets the stage for God’s act of creation, saying the whole universe was “tohu vavohu.” The Hebrew words describe a state of utter destruction and disarray, as if a cosmic tornado or flash flood had destroyed the whole universe. So God did a miracle. He transformed the whole universe. He created the world. It became good, indeed, very good. It was peaceful. Human beings hugged the animals. Animals hugged each other. There was no violence, killing, or devouring of each other. Sadly, as we know, something happened in human history to destroy that Edenic peacefulness. It is called sin. Peace and love were replaced by violence and devouring.
The prophet Isaiah proclaims that the Messiah will eventually transform the world to be like Genesis 1–2. Human beings will hug animals and form relationships with them. Instead of the Jurassic garden, the new heaven, and the new earth, the new Jerusalem will come down out of heaven (Revelation 21). This is the message of Advent!
O King Messiah, we look forward to that time when you will radically transform the world, when there will no longer be any violence and devouring of each other. Even so come, Lord Jesus! Amen.
From Fear To Rejoicing
Tuesday, December 9
Isaiah 41:14-20
In today’s passage the prophet is offering encouragement to people who are enslaved in a distant land in Babylon. In Hebrew the word for exile is גָּלוּ (ga.lu), גָּלָה (ga.lah). God says, “Do not fear! Fear only leads to anxiety and depression. I will be your Redeemer” (v. 14). In Hebrew the word is גָּאַל (ga.al). He continues, “When the Redeemer Messiah brings history to fruition, you will rejoice” (v. 16, in Hebrew, גִּיל [gil]). This is the same worship response of the church in Revelation 19:7: “Let us rejoice…for the marriage of the Lamb, the Messiah, has come, and his bride, the church has made herself ready.” The Hebrew Bible stresses a global mental health progression from oppression, fear, and anxiety in the exile, to rejoicing in the new messianic world. This happens because of the redemption brought by Jesus, our Redeemer, King, and Messiah.
O Redeemer, King, Messiah Jesus, may your kingdom come soon so that the world may truly rejoice! Amen.
Redemption And Renewal
Wednesday, December 10
Genesis 15:1-18
The context of this passage is global violence committed by the Aryans (“noble ones”) of the Pontic–Caspian Steppes in the Caucasus. Their armies, called the Hittites, captured present-day Turkey and South Asia; huge numbers of people fled. In this tumultuous context God reveals himself to Abram. “After these things, the word of the LORD came to Abram” (v. 1, NIV). Abram came to realize, “The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever” (Isaiah 40:8). God says, “Do not fear! Do not let anxiety overcome you!” God revealed himself to Abram saying, “I am the LORD who rescued you from Ur” (v. 7). This God, unlike the deities of the Hittites, is the everlasting I AM (Exodus 6:2). This same God reveals himself as the Word—Lord Jesus the Messiah. Just as God’s presence passed between the pieces of the sacrifice in today’s passage, Jesus himself became the sacrifice, or, as Isaiah put it, “He was pierced for our systemic sins and transgressions” (Isaiah 53:5).
O Lord God, Jesus the Messiah, Word of God, thank you for becoming the sacrifice for our systemic sins and transgressions! Amen.
Bread From Heaven
Thursday, December 11
Ruth 1:1-22
Ruth is one of the five women underlined in the birth narrative of Jesus in Matthew 1 (along with Tamar, Rahab, the wife of Uriah, and Mary). Each of these women are “othered” and were subjected to much pain. In today’s passage, Naomi laments, “Do not call me Naomi, the one who has experienced pleasantness in life. Call me Mara. I have experienced nothing else but Mara—bitterness and pain!” (vv. 20–21). That bitterness began in Bethlehem, whose name literally translates to “house of bread.” Rather than a place of plentiful bread, Bethlehem became a place of famine, and Naomi’s family fled to Moab. After her husband and sons died, Naomi wept with Orpah and Ruth for ten years and then returned to Bethlehem with Ruth. Thankfully, this same place, Bethlehem, became, many years later, the birthplace of the Bread of Heaven, the Lord Jesus the Messiah (John 6:32-35).
O Lord Jesus, Messiah, thank you for becoming the Bread from heaven. Amen.
Redemption And Renewal
Friday, December 12
Ruth 4:1-17
The last chapter of Ruth is a beautiful picture of re-creation. Boaz is a go’el, a redeemer person. A go’el redeems weak and vulnerable people, usually orphans and widows. They rescue them, buy property for them (Leviticus 25:47–49, 25), and provide shelter, so that no one could take advantage of them. This is what Boaz does for Ruth, a foreigner. He says to the guardian-redeemer, “On the day that you recreate the land, you are also recreating Ruth the Moabite” (v. 5). This word, recreate, קָנָה, qa.nah, also describes God as the Creator of heaven and earth (Genesis 15:19). When the guardian-redeemer (or “fake” redeemer) person refuses, Boaz redeems and recreates Ruth into a new person. She becomes the great ancestor of Jesus the Messiah, the Great Redeemer!
O Lord Jesus, the Messiah, thank you for redeeming and recreating us. Amen.
Hear The Women Sing
Saturday, December 13
1 Samuel 2:1-10
The central character of the Bible is God; yet women like Hannah—who have endured deep pain and bitterness—bear powerful witness to His faithfulness. She has endured the ridicule of other women, such as Peninnah (1 Samuel 1:6). She has endured the lack of empathy of men, such as her husband (1 Samuel 1:8). And she has endured the taunt of the spiritual leader Eli while she was praying in deep bitterness (1 Samuel 1:10). However, God hears her prayer and answers. Hannah sings, “My heart rejoices in the LORD!” (v. 1). Many years later another woman, Mary, would sing, “My soul glorifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!” (Luke 1:46–47). Both Hannah and Mary rejoice that God brings down the powerful and lifts up the oppressed and humiliated (vv. 6–7; Luke 1:52). Both rejoice that God cares for those who are poor because of systemic injustices done to them (v. 5; Luke 1:53). Both acknowledge that God is holy; therefore, he will bring about holistic salvation (v. 2; Luke 1:49). Both rejoice in the salvation, Yeshua, Jesus, of God! (v. 1; Luke 1:47).
Lord, in this season of Advent we thank you for women like Hannah and Mary. Thank you for teaching us deeply meaningful lessons from their lives. Amen.
