This past Sunday was the beginning of Advent. Advent is the time in the church calendar that covers the four Sundays before Christmas. Typically a church will light four purple candles, one each Sunday until all four are lit. Then on Christmas a fifth white candle is lit. The four purple candles remind us of Christ’s majesty, the white candle speaks of his purity and holiness. In some traditions the third candle is pink for joy. While joy is the theme of week three, not all churches use a pink candle. This is an old tradition that goes back to the practice of the Pope giving out flowers on the third week in a very solemn Advent feast.
The purpose of Advent is prepare the church both for Christmas, and to renew our hope in the second coming of Messiah. Just as Israel waited patiently for Messiah which culminated in Jesus’ birth, so now the church awaits Christ second coming. While Christmas is the celebration of Jesus’ birth, Advent is a reminder that God fulfilled his promise to send Messiah, and we can be assured that God keeps his word and that he will send his Son again, just as promised.
For this reason the Advent celebration begins with Hope. Proverbs 13.12 says, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.” The greatest difference between hope in pagan worldly sense, and hope in Biblical perspective is perspective. For most, hope has always meant a desire that stands almost in opposition to the prevailing expectation; it is a wish for something better in spite of circumstances. Whereas Biblical hope is the time of waiting for what was promised. It is not in spite of circumstances, but patient confidence in God who promised. Biblical hope is expectancy in the face of circumstances, worldly hope is longing for a different outcome because of circumstances.
In Isaiah 9.1-7 we read one of the most famous prophecies about the first coming of Messiah, which speaks of Messiah as not only a deliverer of Israel, but also as the light of hope to the nations, to those who are in darkness. That the Messiah will break the staff and yoke of every oppressor, bringing justice to those oppressed. It promises that he shall come as a child, but even from birth all authority will be his, and he will establish his kingdom, and his rule will be extended to every people, and the passion of God, the same zeal that would send Jesus to begin with would also establish his kingdom. It is that kingdom rule that we now benefit from, our salvation, and it is that kingdom in fullness that we await now, when every knee will bow, and every rule and ruler will be subdued by his righteous rule. That is our hope. Our hope is built on Jesus’ blood and righteousness, and the evidence that God keeps his word is Jesus Christ.
But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.
The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,
on them has light shined.
You have multiplied the nation;
you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you
as with joy at the harvest,
as they are glad when they divide the spoil.
For the yoke of his burden,
and the staff for his shoulder,
the rod of his oppressor,
you have broken as on the day of Midian.
For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult
and every garment rolled in blood
will be burned as fuel for the fire.
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and of peace
there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this. (ESV)
The concept of salvation has been lost to most of the church in our day, traded for mental assent and religious sentiment; it has lost its power. For those early hearers the idea of salvation was being plucked from circumstances, delivered form an enemy, and certain peril. When Israel first heard of salvation it was under the oppressive hand of Pharaoh, as they awaited a deliverer. It meant that they would be rescued from a life of slavery, it meant escaping with their lives. For those first listening to Isaiah, those words, “No gloom for those in anguish,” was not just about escaping a prison of the mind, but the Israelites need to escape eminent danger. In this passage in Isaiah, Israel is in decline, and Assyria is breathing down their neck with threats, ready to devour them. They need saving. They are in anguish. They are in their darkest hour. And to them Isaiah speaks of a time when there will be no more gloom, a time when from Galilee by the sea, that those who are in darkness would see a great light.
The imagery of light in the darkness is generally one of hope, but what is interesting is that Galilee is the gateway to the nations. The invasion of Assyria would have come down from the north and through Galilee. To us, this side Messiah’s first coming, the picture of Galilee of the nations, has other significance, because of Jesus’ ministry in that countryside. For us Galilee is the place where people of other ethnic backgrounds would see the light in the darkness.
The promise for those in anguish that in the coming of Messiah they would be freed from impending gloom was a ray of hope in the darkness of their hour. For us, it is a reminder that God delivers.
The second promise was that the government would be on his shoulders. For those Israelites it was a commentary on the injustice of their own government, it was a commentary on their rejection of God as their king, and the threat of (Gentile) Assyrian rule. A Wonderful Counselor, one who fights for justice. That he is not just a god like the gods of the nations but Mighty God, one who is actually able to deliver from the oppressor. To a people surrounded by gods, and with an enemy like Assyria who spoke of Yahweh being unwilling to deliver them, Mighty God was the promise of being an able and willing deliverer. Everlasting Father one who does not leave or disappoint, who is present. And Prince of Peace, not just the conqueror who brings peace but he is the champion and sustainer of peace. Then he ends with the romantic ideal of every Israelite, God will establish the righteous rule of David, but this time it will not fade with a spoiled heir. This righteous ruler will sit upon his throne forever, doing what is right and just. And how would he accomplish all of this, by the zeal of Yahweh of Hosts. God put his name on the line, his character was the guarantee that he would deliver as promised.
In as much as God sent his Son, we too can have confidence. Our hope is not wishful thinking but trust that God will bring the ultimate fulfillment of this passage to pass. Already God established Jesus’ rule, his reign over those whose hope is in him, how likely then is it that our hope will not disappoint us?
As we participate in Advent, this first week, our goal is to renew our hope. Remember the words of 2 Peter 3.9, “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” (ESV) I pray that as you meditate on the messianic promises of old that your hope in Christ return will be renewed this Advent season.
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