Isaiah, Advent, and Children

As the season of Advent bids good night and candles lean in to kiss green boughs, I find my thoughts returning to the Word spoken through the prophet Isaiah. I love this book, don’t you? It is my favorite of all the writings God has given to us. I don’t know why this book draws me so ….I suppose, it has to be the richness of meaning within the words that intrigue me….

Take a moment and ponder the depth of meaning as well as the descriptive phrases contained in these verses:

“For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress; instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle; and it shall make a name for the LORD, an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off…”, Is 55:12-13

“I will give in my house and within my walls a monument and a name better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that shall not be cut off. And the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD, to minister to him, to love the name of the LORD, and to be his servants, everyone who keeps the Sabbath and does not profane it, and holds fast my covenant, these I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.” Is 56: 5-7.

“Thus says God, the LORD, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people on it and spirit to those who walk in it: “I am the LORD; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness”… Isaiah 42: 5-7.

“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn in Zion– to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified. They shall build up the ancient ruins; they shall raise up the former devastation’s; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastation’s of many generations”…, Isaiah 61: 1-4.

More than anything, I think the words that Isaiah used… words breathed by God… remind me of children or what it means to be child-like. Children look at the world so simply. They imagine mountains and trees coming to life and singing or better yet, clapping in joyful abandonment. Can you hear the children sing God’s message for you?

“The Messiah is coming! The Messiah is coming! Come, see! God’s kingdom on earth! Everyone is invited! Come to God’s house. It is a house for all people! Come on, take my hand. I will show you! I know the way”.

“Come…look and see, the door to your dark room is open. Don’t sit alone in the darkness. Come to God. He is light. He can heal. You will see, God will anoint you with gladness. Come, see. He can raise you up and give you favor. God is good at favors…Come and see.