Thursday 2 December 2021

Today is Thursday the 2 December in the first week of Advent.

Josh Garrels sings, ‘O Come, O Come, Emmanuel’.

Today’s reading is from the Prophet Isaiah.
 

Isaiah 26:1-6 
 
On that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: 
We have a strong city; 
   he sets up victory 
   like walls and bulwarks. 
Open the gates, 
   so that the righteous nation that keeps faith 
   may enter in. 
Those of steadfast mind you keep in peace— 
   in peace because they trust in you. 
Trust in the Lord for ever, 
   for in the Lord God 
   you have an everlasting rock. 
For he has brought low 
   the inhabitants of the height; 
   the lofty city he lays low. 
He lays it low to the ground, 
   casts it to the dust. 
The foot tramples it, 
   the feet of the poor, 
   the steps of the needy. 
 
After two days of feasts, we return to the promises of Advent, as heard by Isaiah. He speaks of a city so confident in God
’s protection that it can afford to leave its gates open. Remember a time when you felt that kind of confidence in God
’s care for you. 
 
As so often, God promises to overturn things in the world as it is. The inhabitants of the height are brought down; the feet of the poor are powerful now. How does this kind of imagery, common in the Bible, strike you? 
 
As you listen again, notice especially the call in the middle of the passage to
“trust in the Lord forever”, and notice your immediate response to that call. 
 
These find of promises were
’t just made for Isaiah, they are made by God to you, today. What is it that you want to say to the God who addresses you in this way? 

O Wisdom
Lord and Ruler
Root of Jesse
 
Key of David
Rising Sun
 
King of the Nations
Emmanuel
Come, Lord Jesus