Hope In a Dark Place
Opening Prayer
As you come into God’s presence, recall what’s happening in your life and in the world. Tell God your honest feelings.
Read Isaiah 40:1-11
[1] Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. [2] 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. [3] A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. [4] Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. [5] And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.” [6] A voice says, “Cry out.” And I said, “What shall I cry?” “All people are like grass, and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field. [7] The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the LORD blows on them. Surely the people are grass. [8] The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.” [9] You who bring good news to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who bring good news to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, “Here is your God!” [10] See, the Sovereign LORD comes with power, and he rules with a mighty arm. See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him. [11] He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young. Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
What picture(s) of God do you see here?To achieve a good lawn, you can use a product that does two things at the same time: it kills weeds and it grows grass. The presence of God is like this. His glory destroys evil and showers blessing on righteousness. So when John the Baptist introduces the ministry of Jesus, quoting parts of this passage, he warns that the Messiah will baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire (Luke 3:16). In verses 1 and 2 a voice of comfort is introduced. But in verses 6 and 7 there is a voice of anxiety. The dawning of the glory of God brings life, but it could cause a weak and fallen humanity to wither. Should we hide from the glory of God? No. We should knock down anything that stands in the way of its coming so that, like the rising sun, the glory of God can come unimpeded by mountains or valleys (3-5). At the heart of God’s glory is a wonderful tenderness (2, 11). The awesome power of the rising sun is coupled with the gentle protection of a shepherd who carries his lambs in his arms. This is Good News.
Apply
If someone asked you the reason why Christians call the Gospel “good news,” what would you say?
Closing prayer
Lord, come like the sun. Burn up all that is not holy and bring life, I pray.
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