Friday 2 December 2022

Today is Friday the 2nd of December, in the first week of Advent.

Salt of the Sound sings, ‘Come To Us (Abide)’. As you listen, you might like to get in touch with the longing for Christ that’s in you now.


The night the world lay waiting
Silent stars drifted by
New life, new light for the darkness
Lord with us abide
Once again the world is hoping
Longing, searching for something more
We seek you, though the light is dim
Humbly we come, O enter in…
O come to us! (Abide)
Come to us! (Abide)
O holy Child of heaven (Dwell with us we pray)
We welcome You here (Be born in us this day)
O listen to the angel song (Gloria!)
Lord with us abide (In the heavens)
O come to us, abide with us…
O come to us, abide…
O come to us, abide…
Emmanuel!
O come to us (Gloria!)
Come to us (In the heavens)
Oh come…
Oh come… (Gloria!)
O come to us, abide in us…
O come to us, abide…
(Abide)
Lord, in us, abide

Today’s reading is from the prophet Isaiah.


Isaiah 29:17-24

Shall not Lebanon in a very little while
become a fruitful field,
and the fruitful field be regarded as a forest?
On that day the deaf shall hear
the words of a scroll,
and out of their gloom and darkness
the eyes of the blind shall see.
The meek shall obtain fresh joy in the LORD,
and the neediest people shall exult in the Holy One of Israel.
For the tyrant shall be no more,
and the scoffer shall cease to be;
all those alert to do evil shall be cut off—
those who cause a person to lose a lawsuit,
who set a trap for the arbiter in the gate,
and without grounds deny justice to the one in the right.
Therefore thus says the LORD, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob:
No longer shall Jacob be ashamed,
no longer shall his face grow pale.
For when he sees his children,
the work of my hands, in his midst,
they will sanctify my name;
they will sanctify the Holy One of Jacob,
and will stand in awe of the God of Israel.
And those who err in spirit will come to understanding,
and those who grumble will accept instruction.

In today’s reading, we hear God’s words of hope for the future through the voice of the Prophet Isaiah, spoken to a people in exile. He writes about what life will be like when the Holy one of Jacob, the Messiah comes.

He speaks of fruitfulness… healing… fresh joy… the end of evil deeds …and justice.


Which of these do you most long for today?

Spend a few moments sharing these longings with the Lord.

Isaiah also describes the changes that will happen between God and the House of Jacob:

They will be no longer ashamed…they will sanctify my name…they will stand in awe…those who err will come to understanding… those who grumble will accept instruction.

How might your heart change towards the Lord as you wait for his coming this Advent?

As you listen to the reading again, invite the Holy Spirit to illuminate a word or sentence to encourage you.

“They will stand in awe of the God of Israel.”

Take a moment now to be humble before the Lord, seeking the Holy One of Israel in awe and expectancy.

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