Read: Isaiah 35:1-10; Jeremiah 23:1-8; Matthew 11:2-11
This morning, Pastor Rick will present the message from a shepherd’s point of view.
3 I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply. 4 I will set shepherds over them who will care for them, and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall any be missing, declares the Lord.
5 “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. 6 In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’ (Jeremiah 23:3-6).
Have you ever thought how hard it would be to shepherd a flock of sheep in a desert? In the arid land of Israel, shepherds had a challenging task. During the rainy season there would be plenty of vegetation. Finding a place to graze was no problem.
As winter turned to spring and spring to summer, the rain would stop. Dry season would begin. Shepherds were forced to be more nomadic – sometimes walking miles to find a spring or pond that gave life to grass and plants.
Life can feel a bit like that. There are seasons of blessing and joy, but they are quickly followed by seasons of challenge. It can feel like hardship and difficulty are around every corner. It can feel like life is filled with sorrow and despair. There are wars and rumors of war. There are hurricanes and earthquakes. There are cancers and pandemics.
Imagine hearing the words of Isaiah 35 from a shepherd’s point of view. They, and all the people of Judah, knew weak hands and feeble knees (v. 3), anxious hearts (v. 4), blind eyes and deaf ears (v. 5), inability to walk or talk (v. 6). It is a picture of a body that is completely broken down and utterly overwhelmed by despair and weariness.
God speaks good news to those hurting. The ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away (v. 10). Silent tongues singing! Feeble knees walking! Fearful hearts filled with faith, hope, courage, and joy!
Even nature will be affected! The wilderness and desert will bloom like a flower (v. 1). Dry places throughout the land will become a paradise (v. 2)! The blind will see and deaf hear (v. 5), the lame will not just walk, they’ll leap and the mute will sing (v. 6)! Life and land will be transformed! It will be safe and secure – no lion or ravenous beast will be there (v. 9).
Through the prophet Isaiah, God promised a new and holy path for his people – for all who believe his promises and follow him. Though our lives can feel like deserts and the situations around us can seem hopeless, God is in the business of transformation. He turns mourning into dancing and despair into joy.
This is good news! We human beings are born in bondage to sin. We cannot free ourselves. We are by nature dead and deserving of eternal punishment. But God sent his Son. God broke into the world and did for us what we could never do for ourselves.
Advent offers us an opportunity to encourage one another. We don’t have to wander around looking for things that will relieve our pain or help us escape our circumstances. We don’t have to feel lost and hopeless. We can strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. We can: 4 Say to those who have an anxious heart, “Be strong; fear not! We can proclaim tell those who are feeling oppressed or attacked: Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you (vs. 3-4).
He already has! Jesus has come. His life and death and resurrection have brought forgiveness and life and hope. The promises of Isaiah 35 are promises for all who believe and the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away (v. 10).
Nehemiah wrote that the joy of the Lord is our strength (Nehemiah 8:10). It enables us to keep faith and hope in the hardest of circumstances. It reminds us that even when we’re lost in a desert, the grace and mercy of God never fails. His love for us is never ending.
Like a shepherd who rejoices when he finds water flowing in the desert, we rejoice because we have living water – God’s Holy Spirit – in every circumstance and situation! As the angels proclaimed to those shepherds it really is good news of great joy! Christ the Lord has come!
Questions for Reflection:
- When you feel anxious or overwhelmed who or what encourages you to have joy?
- When have you experienced a desert time that was transformed by the grace of God? What was that like?
- Who is someone you can encourage? Pray for an opportunity to strengthen the week hands and make firm the feeble knees of someone around you this week!
Advent readings for this week December 12-18
Monday – Isaiah 29:17-24; Acts 5:12-16
Tuesday – Ezekiel 47:1-12; Jude 17-25
Wednesday – Zechariah 8:1-17; Matthew 8:14-17, 28-34
Thursday – 2 Samuel 7:1-17; Galatians 3:23-29
Friday – 2 Samuel 7:18-22; Galatians 4:1-7
Saturday – 2 Samuel 7:23-29; John 3:31-36
Sunday – Isaiah 7:10-16; Romans 1:1-17; Matthew 1:18-25