Focus

Take a moment to slow your breath. Breathe in to the count of three, hold for a count of three and then blow out for a count of three. Repeat three times. This will help you relax and prepare for study.

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Read

Isaiah 9:8-17 (NRSV)

The Lord sent a word against Jacob,
and it fell on Israel;
and all the people knew it—
Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria—
but in pride and arrogance of heart they said:
“The bricks have fallen,
but we will build with dressed stones;
the sycamores have been cut down,
but we will put cedars in their place.”
So the LORD raised adversaries against them,
and stirred up their enemies,
the Arameans on the east and the Philistines on the west,
and they devoured Israel with open mouth.
For all this his anger has not turned away;
his hand is stretched out still.

The people did not turn to him who struck them,
or seek the LORD of hosts.
So the LORD cut off from Israel head and tail,
palm branch and reed in one day—
elders and dignitaries are the head,
and prophets who teach lies are the tail;
for those who led this people led them astray,
and those who were led by them were left in confusion.
That is why the Lord did not have pity on their young people,
or compassion on their orphans and widows;
for everyone was godless and an evildoer,
and every mouth spoke folly.
For all this his anger has not turned away;
his hand is stretched out still.

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Reflect

This passage from Isaiah comes right on the heels of the prophecy of a Messiah. These words come after learning that there will be one called “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (verse 8b). It may seem odd that after such words of hope and praise come these words of justice and judgment. However, Isaiah was making the point that God would send a Messiah, but the people would not be ready.

We can see this tension throughout the Gospel accounts of Christ’s interactions with God’s own chosen people. But I would dare to say we see evidence of these same reactions in our own lives today.

Too often we live as if the Christ has not come. We are self-sufficient to a fault. We try to do things our way. We act often as if the redeeming God has not set foot on this earth and declared our freedom from the very sin to which we cling so tightly.

Think of your own life for a moment. What parts of your life do you live as if the Messiah has not freed you? How do these areas affect other parts of your life? How can you live more intentionally into God’s gift of Jesus today?

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Pray

Lord God, thank you for the gift of Jesus to me and to this world you love. Help me to open my eyes to the places where I try to keep you and your redemption out. Allow me the strength to open up even my darkest places to your complete and healing love. Then, Lord, let me share that same love with others so that they, too, may rejoice in the freedom you bring. Amen.

Go with God.