Advent Reader - 1st December

1st December 2019

Isaiah 9: 1-7

For to Us a Child Is Born

9 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.

2 The people who walked in darkness
    have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,
    on them has light shone.
3 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.
4 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.
5 For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult
    and every garment rolled in blood
    will be burned as fuel for the fire.
6 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.
7 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.

Dawn banishes the dark

As we start this Advent season and the year draws to an end, we can all recount moments or even seasons of darkness in 2019. Darkness within yourself, for people close to you, dark fears for the future of the country, or even global scale issues. Darkness can be present in the form of loss, grief and fears, skulking in the shadows or covering over everything.

Darkness can seem suffocating, overwhelming, distorting, hopeless, and allconsuming.

I love the picture of light dawning and bringing joy in verse 2. Sunrise happens slowly. Gradually, light fills the whole sky illuminating everything and changing the perspective. A new day begins. There is an end to dark times and there is hope. The passage goes on to describe the light as the gift of a Prince of Peace, coming to us as a child. The Message describes Him as ‘Prince of Wholeness’. Rather than feebly trying to defeat darkness ourselves, this reminds us that this ruler ushers in a beautiful new Kingdom of light and wholeness into even the darkest situation. It is not through our own merit or efforts, but only by our invitation, and His nature can’t do anything other than bring goodness and light into any situation.

As we see beautiful lights and candles this Christmas time, may we be reminded that ‘the true light has dawned’ and has, and will, overcome any darkness that may be trying to engulf us, or those around us.

David and Emma