Sunday Praise & Worship 10:00
Christian Education - 10:00 - Casual Dress - Loving Childcare
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Several signal events mark the history of the nation of Israel. King David reigned from approximately the year 1000 BC. After David’s son, Solomon died (930 BC), the Israelites divided into two nations, the northern kingdom (ten tribes), called Israel, with its capital in Samaria, and the southern kingdom (the tribes of Benjamin and Judah), called Judah, with its capital in Jerusalem. Israel was crushed by King Sennacherib of Assyria in 722-720 BC. The ten northern tribes were exiled and lost to history as a people (the book of Esther describes some of these exiles). In 586 BC, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon conquered Judah, destroyed the Temple, and exiled most of the people to Babylon. The book of Daniel describes this time of exile. King Cyrus of Persia conquered Babylon in 538 and decreed that the Jews could return to their homeland. You can read about their return and the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the Second Temple in the books Ezra and Nehemiah. The prophet Isaiah served God in the Kingdom of Judah (the southern kingdom) from 742-687 BC, under three kings, Jotham (742-735), Ahaz (735-715), and Hezekiah (715-687). He witnessed the fall of Samaria to Assyria, and prophesied the same fate for Judah if the people refused to repent and return to God. The Assyrian army of Sennacherib did lay siege to Jerusalem in 701 BC (you can read about it in Isaiah 36-39), but withdrew. Isaiah 1-39 reflect events of eighth century Judah, during the prophet’s lifetime. Isaiah 40-55, sometimes called Duetero- or Second-Isaiah, reflect events from the time of the end of the Babylonian exile, 150 years after the life of the prophet. These passages contain the Servant Songs which speak so powerfully to followers of Christ. Isaiah 55-66 contain material composed after the return of the exiles to Jerusalem. All of the prophecies subsequent to Isaiah 39 are attributed to disciples who inherited the spirit and continued the work of Isaiah. Chapters 34 and 35 connect the first and latter portions of the prophetic book. Chapter 34 reads like a nightmare, describing God’s judgment (in this case of Edom) of rebellious people. It reflects much of the dire prophecies in Isaiah 1-39, and particularly those in chapters 13-27. The 35th chapter of Isaiah reads much like the post-exile oracles and poems of comfort and salvation at the Lord’s hand. Our key verse (35:10) is repeated verbatim in Isaiah 51:11 (from Second Isaiah). On this third Sunday of Advent, traditionally a time of focus on the joy of the Lord, this dream of Isaiah 35 calls us to reflect on the nature of the kind of joy that God brings into our lives, when we open our hearts to God’s healing touch. The poem begins a celebration of God’s healing of the land (the opposite of God’s destructive judgment recorded in the previous chapter) and moves to sing of God’s healing the people. When John the Baptist asked from his death row prison cell if Jesus was the Messiah they had waited for (in Matthew 11:2-6), Jesus answered by pointing to the healing signs in his ministry that echoed the dream of Isaiah 35:5-6. Jesus sums up all of our hopes and dreams. Walking with him on a highway of safety to God’s home, we cannot help but shout songs of joy. This is no dream. In Jesus, all of our dreams have come true. Questions for Reflection 1. In what ways do you observe that our environment reflects both our sinful separation from God and also the ways in which Jesus brings healing and joy to us? Why would God’s healing of the land have anything to do with God’s healing of the people? (Take a look at Psalm 19:1-6 and 96:11-12; Isaiah 55:12, and Romans 1:19-20.) 2. Jesus uses the metaphor of a “narrow way” to describe a life of righteousness that leads to salvation (Matthew 7:13-14). How does this symbol compare with the “Highway of Holiness” in Isaiah 35:8-10 (see also Isaiah 40:3-4, 42:16, 49:11-12, 57:14, and 62:10). 3. Note the marks of joy in this dream passage. Wasteland becomes a marshland, pregnant with life and beauty. Those who are weak receive encouragement and healing – they join the restored creation with dancing and singing – together on a highway to God’s heart. How does your life compare to this dream? What is significant to you about the joy that comes from the journey rather than the arrival? What kind of joy is this? For Next Week – Please read 1 John 4:11-19. Our theme is “Experiencing The Love of Jesus” and the key verses are 4:18-19. What does your love for other people say about your love for God? |
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Key Verse: Isaiah 35:10 “Those
who have been ransomed by the LORD will return to Jerusalem, singing songs of
everlasting joy. Sorrow and mourning will disappear, and they will be overcome
with joy and gladness.”