It’s Advent season, and we’re beginning on the first day of December this year. What ideas about the Christmas season have you been pondering?
I am pondering common threads, or themes, that repeat throughout the entirety of the Bible. Lately, I’ve been reading scriptures from different books of the Bible. Isaiah, who prophesied the coming Messiah, holds some favorite Advent selections. And of course, the Gospels, the books that chronicle the life of Jesus Christ from virgin birth to death, burial and resurrection. So I began with Matthew because it begins with a genealogy, which ties the Old Testament to the New Testament scriptures. But then I’m also reading through the book of Exodus in my devotional time, asking Jesus what He wants me to know.
That sounds like a real potpourri of scripture. Yet, as I read, a particular thread pops from the book of Isaiah that reminds me of a thread in Exodus, which leads me over to Matthew, and then back to Isaiah and Exodus. The Bible passages weave together God’s character, His promises, and His good plans to redeem all that has been lost.
So, I’ve narrowed down just a few scriptures for our review this first week of Advent. And I’m asking this question as I read, “What do these particular scriptures (Isaiah 6:5-9, 9:1-2, Exodus 14:10-20 & Matthew 1:20) have in common?”
Let’s read the scriptures together. Read below or open your own Bible and read along. (I do recommend reading chapters for context. Here I’ve included the highlighted selections. Please read more…)
““Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.” Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.” Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” He said, “Go and tell this people: “ ‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’”
Isaiah 6:5-9 NIV
“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 shone.”
Isaiah 9:1-2 ESV
“Then the angel of God who was going before the host of Israel moved and went behind them, and the pillar of cloud moved from before them and stood behind them, coming between the host of Egypt and the host of Israel. And there was the cloud and the darkness. And it lit up the night without one coming near the other all night.”
Exodus 14:19-20 ESV
“And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.””
Matthew 1:19-21 ESV
The threads I see today in these scriptures are:
- Light: God is light. He illuminates our path with truth. With revelation.
- Protection: God goes before us and hems us in behind. He conquers the enemy seeking to steal, kill and destroy us. He provides a way to bring us into safety and fulfill His good plans.
- The Lord Himself: God Himself went before and behind the Israelites to lead them out of captivity (a cloud and pillar of fire). An angel of the Lord directed Joseph, validating Mary’s testimony regarding the baby in her womb. The Lord Jesus, Himself, was with Joseph and Mary. And Isaiah, had been taken right into the Holy of Holies. He beheld the Lord on His Throne in heaven and became undone by His sin in the presence of God. He was purified and consecrated by the will of God. Isaiah was called by God to prophecy of Jesus, the Light, the coming Messiah.
More importantly, what do you see?
Come Holy Spirit and teach us what you want us to know about Yourself. Come and do in us what only You can do and be glorified.
We love you because You loved us first.
Amen.
Eyes on Jesus and Shine,
Lisa
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