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Today's reading

December 25, 2024

Picture: A Warriors Advent

Isaiah 60:19-22; Isaiah 61:1-4; Luke 4:21b

A Warriors Advent
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As the city of Jerusalem began to take shape so did the prophecies directed towards this generation of Jewish people. Isaiah had used a poetic form to help them understand that God's goal was to see all nations walk in His light. He revealed through, that the people of Israel brought darkness and the oppression of sin with them out of Babylon which kept this from happening. In the midst of this problem he revealed the solution. A mighty Warrior would cast down the power of sin once and for all. As Isaiah weaved his way through stanza and verse he arrived at the center of this structure. He paints a pristine picture of a world that completely embraces the Lordship of this mighty warrior.  

    "The sun shall be no more

your light by day,

nor for brightness shall the

        moon

give you light;

but the LORD will be your

       everlasting light,

and your God will be your

      glory.

Your sun shall no more go

      down,

nor your moon withdraw

      itself;

for the LORD will be your 

     everlasting light, 

and your days of mourning

     shall be ended.

Your people shall all be

     righteous;

they shall possess the land 

    forever,

the branch of my planting,

    the work of my hands,

that I might be glorified.

The least one shall

    become a clan,

and the smallest one a 

    mighty nation;

I am the LORD;

in its time I will hasten it."

​

Isaiah 60:19-22 (ESV)

This is the world that they had longed for. A place where all oppression would cease. Where affliction was swallowed by honor, and shame exchanged for community and renown. At the center of it all would be the mighty warrior who stepped into history contenting for His people and earning a decisive victory over sin. The results of his endeavor form the very center of the Chiasm and the crux of the entire message of Isaiah as the Warrior speaks for himself as chapter 61 opens.

    "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 devastations;

they shall repair the ruined

      cities,

the devastations of many

     generations."

​

Isaiah 61:1-4 (ESV)

​

Isaiah had cast a captivating vision but they were left rebuilding a dime store version of Jerusalem from the hardscrabble ruins of their former glory. They were the ones rebuilding the ancient ruins. When would oppression cease? When would the warrior appear? For hundreds of years, they waited. Watching for signs that would mark his advent. Generations passed and empires rose and fell. Until one silent night in a little town called Bethlehem, the word became flesh and dwelt among us. He lived in obscurity, watching his half siblings grow up and his earthly father pass away. Then one day, he walked into the synagogue in his home town of Nazareth and read the exact words that Isaiah had written. As he rolled up the scroll His piercing eyes scanned the room and he simply said,   

   "Today this

Scripture has been fulfilled

in your hearing. "

​

Luke 4:21b (ESV)

He would go on to enthrall the masses with his teaching and miracles. He would be convicted of a crime he didn't commit and die a criminal's death on the cross which would be the moment where the warrior dealt a death blow to the oppression of sin once and for all. He would rise again and spark a flame in His people that would burn across the entire world. He is the strong arm of the Lord, the root of Jesse, the shoot that would grow out of the charred husk of Judah, the suffering servant, the Mighty Warrior that would liberate His people. Immanuel, God with us. His name is Jesus. He is everything Isaiah promised and exactly what mankind needs.

As we celebrate Christmas he is the gift of salvation to you.

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