Advent - Week 3, Day 4: Joy In The World!

What2Say2Day? The last two days we've taken a closer look at Psalm 126 and how it spoke to a people that were looking for hope in the midst of despair. The Psalmist tried to remind us that God is with us in all aspects of our lives; sad or joyous. Psalm 126 reminded us that we need to go out and spread the seeds of goodness so that the weepings of heartbreak will turn into cries of joy. Today, as we continue our Advent weekly study on how to find joy in a tumultuous world, we'll be taking a look at a passage from Isaiah 61. Again, to recap the background to our passage we only need to remember that the Hebrew people were returning to a land that went from plentiful and joy-filled to desolate and bleak. Isaiah is writing to these people in an effort to remind them that God is with them and everything will be good once again. A closer look at Isaiah 61:1-4 shows us just what Isaiah may be trying to say. (It may help here to remember that a prophet is someone who speaks on God's behalf.)  

The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to provide for those who mourn in Zion —  t o give them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit. They will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, to display his glory. They shall build up the ancient ruins, they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.

I'll stop here for today so we can reflect on these words spoken by God through his prophet Isaiah and how it speaks to us about what it is God does for and can bring to us.