Prepare the Way of the Lord
Scripture
Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.
A voice of one calling:“ In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken” (Isaiah 40:1–5).
Reflection
While in Saskatoon, Canada, to celebrate a wedding, I had the pleasure dining with the groom’s elderly mother. In our conversation, she shared her unforgettable childhood memories of the first ever visit of a reigning monarch in 1939. It was an exciting time; the entire province readied itself to welcome King George VI and Queen Mary. School choirs prepared special songs and children readied to present flowers. Roads were repaired and flowers and shrubs were planted along the route of the king’s entourage. Saskatoon’s downtown was decorated with flags and the British colors.
In the earlier chapters of Isaiah, the prophet’s words were filled with judgement and warning. God’s people had failed over and over again to keep their promises to the Lord. They had turned to princes for their safety and forgotten that the only real safety came from their God. In this passage, Isaiah offers God’s needed words of comfort. God’s suffering people would be consoled by nothing less than the coming among them of God himself. He would not forget his covenant promises. Their triumphant King was coming—every obstacle had to be removed—hearts needed to be ready.
We, too, are waiting for a king! We, too, should prepare to welcome him when he comes. We await the King of Heaven of whom Isaiah speaks in the above passage. The King we wait for brings comfort to his people. The Hebrew word for comfort in this passage is na ham, and it connotes consoling someone experiencing grief or sadness.
So, the Lord instructed his prophet, “Speak tenderly…” that is, speak to the heart of God’s people, to the place where guilt, fear, doubt, and hopelessness take root. Speak this message into their hearts and minds: all is forgiven, payment has been made for your transgressions. You don’t have to come to God; no, God is coming to you, and when he comes the glory of the Lord will be revealed to all people.
So we must prepare for the coming of the Lord. How can we make the highway of our hearts ready? We wait to welcome him, repenting for our sins and doing his will. We love him with our heart, mind, and strength, and love our neighbors as ourselves. We live lives of forgiveness; we love our enemies, do good to those who hate us, and pray for those who mistreat us. We do God’s will when we care for his beloved little ones: the sick, the poor, the broken-hearted, the lonely.
Prayer
Lord, speak tenderly to us and remind us that your love for us is greater than our sinfulness, failures, and fears. Your Son, Jesus, has taken on our flesh and blood, and he has shown us what it is like to be fully human and fully alive: it is to be fully in tune with your divine will and plan. Remove the obstacles of our bad habits and selfish ways and make us ready to receive your Son when he comes in glory to bring healing, wipe the tears from all faces, and usher in the new creation.
Activity
Prepare for the Lord’s coming by fasting—not from food—unless you’d prefer to do that; fast from other things. Why not fast from TV and Facebook, from being glued to your smart devices. Whatever your sacrifice, replace it with something that points you to your coming King.
Watching and Waiting For the Lion of Judah: Advent Day by Day
Rev. Richard Hasselbach