Burunche’s Blog

Isaiah 54:4-17 “Do not fear, for you will not be ashamed; neither be disgraced, for you will not be put to shame; for you will forget the shame of your youth, and will not remember the reproach of your widowhood anymore. For your Maker is your husband, the Lord of Hosts is His name; and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel; He is called the God of the whole earth. For the Lord has called you like a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, like a youthful wife when you were refused,”
Says your God.
“For a mere moment I have forsaken you, but with great mercies I will gather you. With a little wrath I hid My face from you for a moment; but with everlasting kindness I will have mercy on you,” says the Lord, your Redeemer.

“For this is like the waters of Noah to Me; for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah would no longer cover the earth, so have I sworn that I would not be angry with you, nor rebuke you.
For the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed, but My kindness shall not depart from you, nor shall My covenant of peace be removed,” says the Lord, who has mercy on you.

“O you afflicted one, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay your stones with colorful gems, and lay your foundations with sapphires. I will make your pinnacles of rubies, your gates of crystal, and all your walls of precious stones.

All your children shall be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children. In righteousness you shall be established; you shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; and from terror, for it shall not come near you. Indeed they shall surely  assemble, but not because of Me. Whoever assembles against you shall fall for your sake.

“Behold, I have created the blacksmith who blows the coals in the fire, who brings forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the spoiler to destroy.

No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord,
And their righteousness is from Me,” says the Lord.”

Matthew 23:37-39 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! See! Your house is left to you desolate; for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’”

At first you might wonder what the promises in Isaiah 54 have to do with Jesus’ lament over Jerusalem recorded in Matthew 23. The promises recorded in these verses from Isaiah refer to Israel and especially to Jerusalem. While Isaiah was simply a prophet, Jesus came as prophet, priest, and king. Matthew records a time when Jesus is prophesying over Jerusalem, for Jesus knows that the Romans will eventually attack Jerusalem in 70 AD and destroy Herod’s temple, as well as much of the rest of the city. Jesus is also foreseeing the time when Jerusalem will finally acknowledge him as Messiah and King. Isaiah prophesied that the Messiah, the Redeemer would come and would transform His people and Jerusalem itself.

We are still waiting for the fulfillment of this promise; however, many of the other predictions in Isaiah have already come true. Several years ago, an elderly friend told me that she became a Christian when she watched the State of Israel being established and the Jews streaming in from all over the world, just as Isaiah had prophesied.

God’s prophecies work on many different levels. The comforting words from Isaiah 54 are meant for us just as much as they were meant for those waiting for the Messiah. We have a Redeemer; His Name is Jesus, (Savior), Emmanuel, (God with us.) Because God is with us and has sent Jesus to redeem us, we can celebrate, not only at Christmas, but at all times.

We can claim the promises of Isaiah 54:17 when those around us mock us for our beliefs. We can claim the promises regarding our children; in fact, we can pray these promises over our children, begging God for their salvation and their peace.

We can rest in this promise: For the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed, but My kindness shall not depart from you, nor shall My covenant of peace be removed,” says the Lord, who has mercy on you.” (Isaiah 54:10)

2024 has been a difficult year for many people. Economically, things have been bad in many places. Storms, drought, floods, etc. have all taken their toll on many parts of the world. This Christmas, we need God’s promises as much as we ever have. The great news is that God keeps His promises and God provides, even when we see no way of His doing so.

As we approach Christmas, let us worship the One who is our Redeemer, our Savior, our Master, and our Lord. Let us worship Jesus!

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, many of us are suffering. Please meet us at our point of need and show Yourself mighty on our behalf. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Isaiah 53:1-12 The Sin-Bearing Messiah

“Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, and as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness; and when we see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him.
He is despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and  the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment,
and who will declare His generation? For He was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgressions of My people He was stricken. And they made His grave with the wicked—But with the rich at His death, because He had done no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth.

Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand. He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, for He shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, and He shall divide the spoil with the strong, because He poured out His soul unto death, and He was numbered with the transgressors, and He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.”

If you are familiar with Jesus’ life and ministry, you realize that these verses written by Isaiah hundreds of years before Jesus’ birth describe Jesus quite accurately. Jesus grew up in the small village of Nazareth in the region of Galilee, an area previous described by Isaiah as “the people who walked in darkness.” Rather than coming from a priestly family, Jesus was born into a poor working class family and worked as a carpenter and possibly a stone mason until age 30.

During Jesus’ three years of ministry, he never owned a house, a boat, or even a donkey. Jesus and his disciples walked everywhere and when they crossed the Sea of Galilee, they may have done so on borrowed boats.

Although there are hundreds of paintings depicting Jesus as tall, blond, and blue-eyed, it is far more likely that Jesus was short and swarthy. None of the Gospel writers bothers to describe Jesus physically because they were so impressed by him spiritually.

When Jesus eventually suffered through a mockery of a trial, he never reproached nor defended himself, despite urging. As Jesus was dying on the cross, he was begging his Heavenly Father to forgive those who were crucifying him. And when Jesus died, his body was placed in a borrowed tomb.

But Jesus’ life was a triumphant one. Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand. He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, for He shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, and He shall divide the spoil with the strong, because He poured out His soul unto death, and He was numbered with the transgressors, and He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.”

Jesus fulfilled the perfect will of his Heavenly Father and succeeded in his ministry. Because of Jesus, there is hope for eternal life who all will believe. There is a beloved carol that expresses this joy and hope.

Good Christian men rejoice
With heart and soul and voice!
Give ye heed to what we say
News! News!
Jesus Christ is born today!
Ox and ass before Him bow
And He is in the manger now
Christ is born today!
Christ is born today!

Good Christian men, rejoice
With heart and soul and voice
Now ye hear of endless bliss
Joy! Joy!
Jesus Christ was born for this
He hath ope’d the heav’nly door
And man is blessed evermore
Christ was born for this
Christ was born for this

Good Christian men, rejoice
With heart and soul and voice
Now ye need not fear the grave:
Peace! Peace!
Jesus Christ was born to save
Calls you one and calls you all
To gain His everlasting hall
Christ was born to save
Christ was born to save

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, there are no words sufficient to thank You for living for us, for dying for us, and for taking away our sins. Help us to follow You and to serve You for the rest of our lives. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Isaiah 52:13-15 The Sin-Bearing Servant

“Behold, My Servant shall deal prudently; He shall be exalted and extolled and be very high. Just as many were astonished at you, so His visage was marred more than any man, and His form more than the sons of men; so shall He sprinkle many nations. Kings shall shut their mouths at Him; for what had not been told them they shall see, and what they had not heard they shall consider.”

John 1:29-34 The Lamb of God

“The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is He of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who is preferred before me, for He was before me.’ I did not know Him; but that He should be revealed to Israel, therefore I came baptizing with water.”

And John bore witness, saying, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him. I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.”

If your only ideas about Christmas center around eggnog, presents, Christmas trees, and parties, then these verses from Isaiah and John will come as a terrible shock. God is always intentional and always up to far more different things than we can possibly imagine. Boiled down to its elements, the Christmas story actually begins in shame, for Mary the virgin suddenly turns up pregnant, even though Joseph and she are only betrothed and are supposed to wait to have sex until after the wedding. Encouraged by an angelic visitation, Joseph braves the jeers of his friends and neighbors, most of whom assume that Joseph simply lacks the self-control necessary to wait out the year of betrothal. Mary’s parents may be heart-broken, despite her descriptions of the Angel Gabriel appearing to her. Anne, Mary’s mother, has been planning Mary and Joseph’s wedding, and is undoubtedly grief-stricken that her plans must be abandoned.

Due to the demands of the Roman government, Joseph and Mary have no choice but to travel to Bethlehem and struggle to find a place where Mary can give birth. Then after visits from the shepherds, the new parents take their son to the temple in Jerusalem where Simeon prophesies over the infant. But the last part of Simeon’s prophesy foretells the suffering that Jesus-and Mary-will eventually endure.

Through the years, there have been lots of myths regarding the flocks outside Bethlehem, the kind of manger used, and whether or not the lambs from these flocks were specially raised to become sacrifices. Chad Bird discusses a number of these ideas in a fascinating article entitled “Debunking Popular Christmastime Myths: Temple Shepherds, Migdal Eder, and Swaddling Lambs.” https://www.1517.org/articles/debunking-popular-christmastime-myths-temple-shepherds-migdal-eder-and-swaddling-lambs

Bird, a distinguished Hebrew scholar, goes back into the ancient Jewish literature, proving that these were ordinary flocks with ordinary shepherds who treated their lambs in an ordinary fashion. But Bird goes on to say that the story of Christ’s birth is already so rich that it needs no embellishment.

In many respects, the Christmas story is awful or awe-full, engendering awe when we realize how many different aspects had to be coordinated for everything to happen as it did. But what also should fill us with awe is the realization that even from the beginning, Mary knew that something terrible would eventually happen to Jesus. Isaiah’s predictions had been read in synagogues for hundreds of years, and Mary may have remembered those words. Was Mary there when John the Baptist made his pronouncement about Jesus being the Lamb of God who would take away the sins of the world? In a Jewish context, the only way a lamb could take away sins was for that lamb to die as a sacrifice. We don’t know if Mary heard John’s announcement, but we do know that Mary was standing at the foot of the cross watching Jesus suffer and die because Jesus turned Mary’s care over to John the disciple. At that moment, Mary may well have remembered Simeon’s words and realized that a sword WAS piercing her heart.

Eventually, Jesus’ visage and body will be marred, for the Roman soldiers will beat him unmercifully. Jesus will struggle to carry his cross, anointing the streets of Jerusalem with his blood. Those in the crowd who are close enough may even find themselves sprinkled with that blood as Jesus staggers through the streets. Eventually, that blood will not merely flow in the streets of Jerusalem or on Calvary’s hill, but that blood will spiritually anoint believers throughout the world.

There’s nothing wrong with celebrations, but let’s remember the greatest celebration of Jesus’ life-the moment that Jesus ascended into heaven and was reunited with his Heavenly Father. No more prayers at midnight. No more suffering. And let’s think about something else.

For those of us who believe in Jesus Christ as the Lamb of God who takes away our sins, some day we too will leave our physical bodies behind, joining our Lord in heaven. And for each of us, that will be the greatest celebration of all.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, please help us to remember that the shadow of the cross also falls across the manger and that Jesus truly is Your Lamb who takes away the sins of the world. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.  

Isaiah 49:1-9 “Listen, O coastlands, to Me, and take heed, you peoples from afar! The Lord has called Me from the womb; from the matrix of My mother, He has made mention of My name.
And He has made My mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of His hand, He has hidden Me,
And made Me a polished shaft; in His quiver He has hidden Me.”

“And He said to me, ‘You are My servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified.’ Then I said, ‘I have labored in vain; I have spent my strength for nothing and in vain; yet surely my just reward is with the Lord, and my work with my God.’”

“And now the Lord says, Who formed Me from the womb to be His Servant, to bring Jacob back to Him, so that Israel is gathered to Him (For I shall be glorious in the eyes of the Lord,
And My God shall be My strength), Indeed He says, ‘It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, that You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ”

Thus says the Lord, The Redeemer of Israel, their Holy One, to Him whom man despises, to Him whom the nation abhors, to the Servant of rulers: “Kings shall see and arise, princes also shall worship, because of the Lord who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel; and He has chosen You.”

Thus says the Lord: “In an acceptable time I have heard You, and in the day of salvation I have helped You; I will preserve You and give You as a covenant to the people, to restore the earth, to cause them to inherit the desolate heritages; that You may say to the prisoners, ‘Go forth,’ to those who are in darkness, ‘Show yourselves.’

Luke 2:25-35 Simeon Sees God’s Salvation

“And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. So, he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said:

“Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word; for my eyes have seen Your salvation which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel.”

And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him. Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

Reading the verses from Isaiah, we might wonder if Isaiah is really speaking about the Messiah or about himself. Although Isaiah was from a priestly family, this did not guarantee instant popularity; in fact, tradition says that eventually Isaiah was slaughtered by wicked King Manasseh, the son of righteous King Hezekiah. But we must remember that God’s Word always works on many different levels, so this can be a “both/and” situation, not an “either/or.”

What must Joseph and Mary have thought when this wise old man suddenly walked up to them in the temple and began prophesying over their infant son? All Joseph and Mary wanted to do was to present Jesus as the Mosaic Law demanded. This little family had already suffered a great deal by delivering the baby in a stable in Bethlehem; now all they wanted to do was to get out and have peace. We can’t be certain how old Jesus was when Herod decided to murder all the baby boys in Bethlehem who were two years or less, but Joseph was undoubtedly concerned. By this point, the shepherds had spread their stories all over Bethlehem, and Joseph wanted to maintain as low a profile as possible.

How well known was Simeon? Obviously, Simeon was a fixture in the temple, worshiping sincerely and regularly. Perhaps Simeon had very little money; that would certainly prevent the Scribes and Pharisees from noticing him. Perhaps Simeon was self-effacing and stood off to the side or in a corner during worship. If Simeon was not well known, this would help preserve Joseph and Mary’s anonymity.

The important thing about Simeon is that God and Simeon were friends and God had promised Simeon that Simeon would see the Christ, the Chosen One of God, before he died. For years, Simeon searched the streets and the temple, thinking that perhaps today would be the day the Christ would reveal Himself. Time passed, and Simeon continued to age. By now, Simeon might have wondered if he had heard God correctly or if he was simply deluding himself. Each night when Simeon laid down to sleep, he would beg God to allow him to live to see the Christ. Now, today God was fulfilling that promise, and Simeon was thrilled.

How loudly did Simeon speak when he was pronouncing blessings over the baby Jesus? Did Simeon murmur softly, or did he cry out for all those in the temple to hear? It’s likely that Simeon spoke softly but intensely, crying out in his heart but maintaining the privacy of this little family. And what did Mary think of all this?

MARY DID YOU KNOW

Mary, did you know that your baby boy will one day walk on water?

Mary, did you know that your baby boy will save our sons and daughters?

Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new?

This child that you’ve delivered will soon deliver you.

Mary, did you know that your baby boy will give sight to a blind man?

Mary, did you know that your baby boy will calm a storm with His hand?

Did you know that your baby boy has walked where angels trod?

When you kissed your little baby, you’ve kissed the face of God

The blind will see, the deaf will hear and the dead will live again

The lame will leap, the dumb will speak the praises of the Lamb

Mary, did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation?

Mary, did you know that your baby boy will one day rule the nations?

Did you know that your baby boy is Heaven’s perfect Lamb?

This sleeping child you’re holding is the great ‘I Am’

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, thank You that You keep Your promises, no matter how long they take to be fulfilled. Praise You for sending Jesus to be born as a baby and to become Your perfect Sacrifice for the sins of the world. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen

Isaiah 44:21-23 Israel Is Not Forgotten

“Remember these, O Jacob, and Israel, for you are My servant; I have formed you, you are My servant; O Israel, you will not be forgotten by Me! I have blotted out, like a thick cloud, your transgressions, and like a cloud, your sins. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you.”

Sing, O heavens, for the Lord has done it! Shout, you lower parts of the earth; break forth into singing, you mountains, O forest, and every tree in it! For the Lord has redeemed Jacob, and glorified Himself in Israel.

Isaiah 44:24-28 Judah Will Be Restored

“Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, and He who formed you from the womb: “I am the Lord, who makes all things, Who stretches out the heavens all alone, Who spreads abroad the earth by Myself; Who frustrates the signs of the babblers, and drives diviners mad; Who turns wise men backward, and makes their knowledge foolishness; Who confirms the word of His servant, and performs the counsel of His messengers; Who says to Jerusalem, ‘You shall be inhabited,’ To the cities of Judah, ‘You shall be built,’ and I will raise up her waste places; Who says to the deep, ‘Be dry! And I will dry up your rivers’; Who says of Cyrus, ‘He is My shepherd, And he shall perform all My pleasure, saying to Jerusalem, “You shall be built,” And to the temple, “Your foundation shall be laid.” ’

Matthew 1:18-21 “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”

Galatians 4:4-5 “But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.”

Here Isaiah is prophesying about King Cyrus by name; however, Cyrus won’t even be born for another 100 or so years. When we study the Scriptures, we realize that God precisely timed the return of the Jews and the rebuilding of the temple, preparing the way for the coming of Jesus. For Jesus to come, Jerusalem and the temple both needed to be rebuilt and the land needed to be re-settled after the Babylonian conquest. King Cyrus of Persia lived between 600 B.C. and 530 B.C., ruling for much of that time.

Now God is promising to redeem Israel. There are several differing kinds of redemption. There are several meanings of the word “redeem” as defined in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary: to buy back : repurchase, to get or win back, to free from what distresses or harms: such as to free from captivity by payment of ransom, to extricate from or help to overcome something detrimental, to release from blame or debt : clear, to free from the consequences of sin, to change for the better : reform, repair, restore, to free from a lien by payment of an amount secured thereby, to remove the obligation of by payment, for example, the U.S. Treasury redeems savings bonds on demand, to exchange for something of value, redeem trading stamps, to make good : fulfill, to atone for : expiate, redeem an error, to offset the bad effect of to make worthwhile : retrieve.

Decades ago, Americans used to receive trading stamps when they shopped. These stamps could be put into a book and then turned in or “redeemed” for many kinds of items. Some newly weds purchased their first silverware and dishes by saving these stamps. God has a much larger problem with Israel, for Israel as a nation has split into two smaller nations and the citizens of both nations have pursued idolatry, despite all God’s warnings through His Word and the prophets. Sins demand a blood sacrifice for redemption, but no mortal has ever been good enough for their blood to wipe out the sins of the world. This is why in the fullness of time, God has sent His Son Jesus to live and die as a sinless man and to be raised from the dead after conquering death, hell, and the grave. There is a wonderful old British carol that expresses the joy of the coming Redeemer.

See Amid the Winter’s Snow

See amid the winter’s snow, born for us on earth below,

See the tender Lamb appears, promised from eternal years.

Chorus: Hail, thou ever-blessed morn! Hail Redemption’s happy dawn!

Sing throughout Jerusalem, Christ is born in Bethlehem.

Lo, within a manger lies, he who built the starry skies

He, who throned in height sublime sits amid the cherubim.

Chorus: Hail, thou ever-blessed morn! Hail Redemption’s happy dawn!

Sing throughout Jerusalem, Christ is born in Bethlehem.

Say, ye holy shepherds, say, what your joyful news today
Wherefore have ye left your sheep on the lonely mountain steep?
Chorus: Hail, thou ever-blessed morn! Hail Redemption’s happy dawn!

Sing throughout Jerusalem, Christ is born in Bethlehem.

As we watched at dead of night, lo we saw a wondrous sight!

Angels singing “Peace on earth” told us of the Savior’s birth.

Chorus: Hail, thou ever-blessed morn! Hail Redemption’s happy dawn!

Sing throughout Jerusalem, Christ is born in Bethlehem.

Sacred infant, all divine, what a tender love was thine
Thus to come from highest bliss down to such a world as this.
Chorus: Hail, thou ever-blessed morn! Hail Redemption’s happy dawn!

Sing throughout Jerusalem, Christ is born in Bethlehem.

Teach, O teach us, holy Child, by thy face so meek and mild,
teach us to resemble thee, in thy sweet humility.

Chorus: Hail, thou ever-blessed morn! Hail Redemption’s happy dawn!

Sing throughout Jerusalem, Christ is born in Bethlehem.

Sing through all Jerusalem Christ is born in Bethlehem!
Hail, thou ever-blessed morn! Hail Redemption’s happy dawn!

Sing throughout Jerusalem, Christ is born in Bethlehem.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, we cannot possibly understand the glories of heaven that You left when You came to be our Redeemer. We can only thank and praise You forever. In Your mighty and precious Name, King Jesus. Amen.

Isaiah 43:10-15 “You are My witnesses,” says the Lord, “And My servant whom I have chosen,
That you may know and believe Me, and understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, nor shall there be after Me. I, even I, am the Lord, and besides Me there is no savior. I have declared and saved, I have proclaimed, and there was no foreign god among you; therefore you are My witnesses,” says the Lord, “that I am God. Indeed before the day was, I am He; and there is no one who can deliver out of My hand; I work, and who will reverse it?” Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “For your sake I will send to Babylon, and bring them all down as fugitives—The Chaldeans, who rejoice in their ships. I am the Lord, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King.”

The Lord God of Heaven and Earth chose the descendants of Abraham for His own people and brought them out of Egypt. But God warned the Israelites that they must worship Him alone, forsaking all idols. When the nation split into two parts, Israel, the Northern Kingdom, quickly descended into gross idolatry and was eventually conquered by the Assyrians, who devastated the land, slaughtering many and carrying the remainder into captivity, a captivity from which they never returned as a group. The Babylonians conquered the Southern Kingdom of Judah; however, the prophet Jeremiah foretold that these exiles would return to Judah after 70 years.

Ezra 1:1- 4 “Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying,

Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: All the kingdoms of the earth the Lord God of heaven has given me. And He has commanded me to build Him a house at Jerusalem which is in Judah. Who is among you of all His people? May his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem which is in Judah, and build the house of the Lord God of Israel (He is God), which is in Jerusalem. And whoever is left in any place where he dwells, let the men of his place help him with silver and gold, with goods and livestock, besides the freewill offerings for the house of God which is in Jerusalem.”

Miraculously, after 70 years, God moved King Cyrus of Persia to decree that the temple in Jerusalem should be rebuilt. Cyrus even sent large quantities of gold and silver with the group led by Ezra. Ezra, the high priest for the exiles in Babylon, led a large group back to Jerusalem, taking four months to complete the trip. This journey was very dangerous, exposing the cavalcade to attacks from all kinds of bandits and wayward armies.

Isaiah 43:16-21 “Thus says the Lord, who makes a way in the sea and a path through the mighty waters, Who brings forth the chariot and horse, the army and the power (They shall lie down together, they shall not rise; they are extinguished, they are quenched like a wick): “Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. The beast of the field will honor Me, the jackals and the ostriches, because I give waters in the wilderness and rivers in the desert, to give drink to My people, My chosen. This people I have formed for Myself; they shall declare My praise.”

While Ezra may have known these prophecies from Isaiah, he also might have wondered if those prophecies would really apply to his group. When the returning exiles fasted and prayed, God honored the promises He had made by Isaiah.

Ezra 8:21-23 “Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from Him the right way for us and our little ones and all our possessions. For I was ashamed to request of the king an escort of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy on the road, because we had spoken to the king, saying, “The hand of our God is upon all those for good who seek Him, but His power and His wrath are against all those who forsake Him.” So we fasted and entreated our God for this, and He answered our prayer.”

So, the exiles returned, and a modest temple was built in Jerusalem. (This temple was later completely rebuilt under Herod the Great.) Under the leadership of Nehemiah, the city walls were rebuilt and the gates also hung, indicating that Jerusalem was now a proper city. But something more was required before Messiah would come: a government that would efficiently organize the known world, creating excellent roads and communication.

Luke 2:1-2 “And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria.” The Romans might have worshiped idols, but they were ace administrators and builders. All over Europe and Great Britain, Roman roads, aqueducts, and stadia still exist as silent witnesses of the skill of their Roman creators.

Why was it necessary to bring Jews back from Babylon? Even though the Jews had failed to serve God as they should have, God still kept His promises. God knew that after 70 years, the Jews would have gotten a much broader experience of the horrors of paganism and would be far more willing to serve Him. No matter how bad things got spiritually in either Israel or Judah, God always had a remnant of believers who truly worshiped Him. Now God returned the Jews from Babylon, fulfilling His promises in Isaiah 43 by protecting them on the way. God brought in the Romans with the pax Romana, the Roman Peace, so that the Gospel could spread swiftly and effectively.

No matter how chaotic things appeared, God always knew what He was doing and His timing was perfect. What do these observations mean for us? Frequently, we feel as if we are caught in a tornado. We feel overwhelmed by the stresses from family, jobs, finances, etc. We are terrified that we will fail and that everything will fall apart. But God has not changed, and God is still on the throne, working everything out. No matter the trials, God remains with us and will continue to help us.

There is an old hymn whose words can reassure us.

GOD IS WORKING HIS PURPOSE OUT

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cr3goa3DXsw

God is working his purpose out as year succeeds to year:
God is working his purpose out, and the time is drawing near;
nearer and nearer draws the time, the time that shall surely be,
when the earth shall be filled with the glory of God
as the waters cover the sea.

From utmost east to utmost west, wherever foot hath trod,
by the mouth of many messengers goes forth the voice of God;
give ear to me, ye continents, ye isles, give ear to me,
that earth may filled with the glory of God
as the waters cover the sea.

What can we do to work God’s work, to prosper and increase
the brotherhood of all mankind–the reign of the Prince of Peace?
What can we do to hasten the time–the time that shall surely be,
when the earth shall be filled with the glory of God
as the waters cover the sea.

March we forth in the strength of God, with the banner of Christ unfurled,
that the light of the glorious gospel of truth may shine throughout the world:
fight we the fight with sorrow and sin to set their captives free,
that earth may filled with the glory of God
as the waters cover the sea.

All we can do is nothing worth unless God blessed the deed;
vainly we hope for the harvest-tide till God gives life to the seed;
yet nearer and nearer draws the time, the time that shall surely be,
when the earth shall be filled with the glory of God
as the waters cover the sea.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, many of us are hurt, confused, lost, and afraid. Please enter every trembling heart and bring Your peace. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Isaiah 43:1-4 “But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
I gave Egypt for your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in your place. Since you were precious in My sight, you have been honored, and I have loved you; therefore I will give men for you, and people for your life.”

Jewish Believers Disobey the King. Daniel 3: 8-29 “Therefore at that time certain Chaldeans came forward and accused the Jews. They spoke and said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “O king, live forever! You, O king, have made a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, shall fall down and worship the gold image; and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. There are certain Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego; these men, O king, have not paid due regard to you. They do not serve your gods or worship the gold image which you have set up.”

Then Nebuchadnezzar, in rage and fury, gave the command to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. So they brought these men before the king. Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the gold image which I have set up? Now if you are ready at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, and you fall down and worship the image which I have made, good! But if you do not worship, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?”

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”

Saved in Fiery Trial

“Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury, and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. He spoke and commanded that they heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated. And he commanded certain mighty men of valor who were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, and cast them into the burning fiery furnace. Then these men were bound in their coats, their trousers, their turbans, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. Therefore, because the king’s command was urgent, and the furnace exceedingly hot, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.

Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?”

They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.”

“Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.”

Nebuchadnezzar Praises God

Then Nebuchadnezzar went near the mouth of the burning fiery furnace and spoke, saying, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here.” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego came from the midst of the fire. And the satraps, administrators, governors, and the king’s counselors gathered together, and they saw these men on whose bodies the fire had no power; the hair of their head was not singed nor were their garments affected, and the smell of fire was not on them.

Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who sent His Angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and they have frustrated the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they should not serve nor worship any god except their own God! Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation, or language which speaks anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made an ash heap; because there is no other God who can deliver like this.”

God has allowed King Nebuchadnezzar to conquer Judah; however, he also conquered Egypt, Ethiopia, and all the other surrounding countries. Always on the lookout for talent, Nebuchadnezzar has identified Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego as bright young men who can help him rule effectively. But there’s a hitch: these men worship the One True Living God and refuse to worship any idol. Nebuchadnezzar has set up a golden idol 90 feet tall by 9 feet wide and is demanding that everyone come worship this idol when they hear music playing. Those refusing to worship will be thrown into a fiery furnace.

We don’t know how Daniel escapes this particular challenge, but the other three young men refuse to worship the golden idol. Nebuchadnezzar is so enraged that he orders the furnace to be heated seven times hotter than it ever has before, killing the soldiers who drag the young men with their hands tied to throw them into the furnace. But a miracle happens, for these three believers find themselves walking through the fire unharmed, and a fourth figure who looks like the Son of God” is walking with them. When the king calls the young men to come out of the furnace, they appear unharmed; in fact, they don’t even smell like smoke.

Nebuchadnezzar orders all his people to refrain from saying anything against this God, threatening to cut such blasphemers in pieces and to tear down their houses, “For there is no other god who can deliver like this.” Sadly, Nebuchadnezzar refuses to follow this God; instead, he persists in worshiping his traditional gods and himself. It will take a severe personal trial before Nebuchadnezzar will become a true believer.

There are arguments surrounding the identity of the fourth man walking in the fire; however, why should we doubt Nebuchadnezzar’s words, that this man appears to be the Son of God? And why doubt that this pagan ruler is speaking by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit? God used a donkey to speak to Balaam, so why can’t a world ruler with vast experience make an accurate observation?

What does this prophecy and the story from Daniel have to do with us? We can rest assured that when we go through any kind of trial, Jesus will be there with us. Remember that one of Jesus’ names is “Immanuel,” or “Emmanuel.” No matter how you spell it, that name still means “God with us.”

Should we deliberately enter a fire to test God? No! Jesus refused to test God, so we too should refuse. Does this story mean that believers will never be injured or die in fires? No. We should take all precautions to avoid becoming trapped in a fire anywhere; however, we might still be injured or killed. But we can trust that no matter what happens to us, no matter where we are, whether we live or die, Jesus is still with us.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to always remember that You ARE Immanuel, that You are always with us. That You are closer than our own heartbeats. We praise You and glorify You that You have redeemed us and that You will be with us throughout all our trials. We pray in the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus, our Immanuel. Amen.

Isaiah 42:1-9 “Behold! My Servant whom I uphold, My Elect One in whom My soul delights! I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles. He will not cry out, nor raise His voice, nor cause His voice to be heard in the street. A bruised reed He will not break, and smoking flax He will not quench; He will bring forth justice for truth. He will not fail nor be discouraged, till He has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands shall wait for His law.”

Thus says God the Lord, Who created the heavens and stretched them out, Who spread forth the earth and that which comes from it, Who gives breath to the people on it, and spirit to those who walk on it: “I, the Lord, have called You in righteousness, and will hold Your hand; I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people, as a light to the Gentiles, to open blind eyes, to bring out prisoners from the prison, those who sit in darkness from the prison house. I am the Lord, that is My name; and My glory I will not give to another, nor My praise to carved images. Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them.”

Matthew 12: 15-21” But when Jesus knew it, He withdrew from there. And great multitudes followed Him, and He healed them all. Yet He warned them not to make Him known, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: “Behold! My Servant whom I have chosen, My Beloved in whom My soul is well pleased! I will put My Spirit upon Him, and He will declare justice to the Gentiles. He will not quarrel nor cry out, nor will anyone hear His voice in the streets. A bruised reed He will not break, and smoking flax He will not quench, till He sends forth justice to victory; and in His name Gentiles will trust.”

Matthew 20:25-28 “But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

John 13:1-5, 12-17 “Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. Andsupper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God,rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself.After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded… So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.” If we study the life of Jesus, we realize that Jesus continually and persistently fulfilled these descriptions throughout his ministry.  

Who really wants to be a servant? In Jesus’ day, there were all kinds of servants, from the lowliest who brought water and washed the dirty smelly feet of guests, to those who were so trusted that their masters allowed them to manage entire households and to conduct business on their behalf. When Jesus told stories about servants who had been given large amounts of money to invest, people could relate because these things actually happened.

But generally, servants occupied a lower social standing than that of their masters. John 13 describes Jesus washing the disciples’ feet at the time of the last supper because nobody else had been willing to carry out such a loathsome task. Jesus acted deliberately to demonstrate servanthood leadership, the concept of leaders serving those following them and not the reverse. Jesus knew that if his disciples did not learn to serve one another, they would fail to spread the good news of his death and resurrection.

Of all the ideas that Jesus embodied and continues to embody, that of servanthood leadership might be one of the most radical. Certainly, the disciples weren’t interested in serving one another; in fact, they had continuing arguments about who would be the greatest in the kingdom of God. Mathew 20 describes the time when the mother of James and John tried to beg for special favors for her sons, enraging the rest of the disciples.

 Even today, servants occupy a lower place in social standings than do those whom they serve, and yet, they are the very people whom Jesus has commended. Nothing is more encouraging than someone willing to help cheerfully, patiently, and enthusiastically. There is another benefit to being a servant: when we serve, we are far less likely to be targeted for attacks than when we stand out as lording it over others.

One of the challenges of the Christian life is to remember our main purpose: to serve the risen Christ who has saved us by His blood and delivered our souls from hell. Perhaps few famous people have gained such popularity and respect as a small Albanian nun commonly known as Mother Teresa. “Mother Teresa founded the Missionaries of Charity, a religious congregation that was initially dedicated to serving “the poorest of the poor” in the slums of Calcutta. Over the decades, the congregation grew to operate in over 133 countries, as of 2012, with more than 4,500 nuns managing homes for those dying from HIV/AIDS, leprosy, and tuberculosis, as well as running soup kitchens, dispensaries, mobile clinics, orphanages, and schools. Members of the order take vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience and also profess a fourth vow: to give “wholehearted free service to the poorest of the poor.” (Wikipedia)

Only heaven knows how many millions of people have been inspired by Mother Teresa’s example. In 1979 Mother Teresa even received the Nobel Peace Prize and has since been made a saint by the Catholic Church. But all those honors meant little to Teresa, for her goal was to serve her Savior and the poor to whom He had called her. Here are a few quotes from Teresa:

• Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person.
• God doesn’t require us to succeed; he only requires that you try.
• Keep the joy of loving God in your heart and share this joy with all you meet, especially your family.
• Before you speak, it is necessary for you to listen, for God speaks in the silence of the heart.
• Little things are indeed little, but to be faithful in little things is a great thing.
• If we really want to love, we must learn how to forgive.
• Give yourself fully to God. He will use you to accomplish great things on the condition that you believe much more in His love than in your own weakness.
• Speak tenderly to them. Let there be kindness in your face, in your eyes, in your smile, in the warmth of your greeting. Don’t only give your care, but give your heart as well.

• Everybody today seems to be in such a terrible rush, anxious for greater developments and greater riches and so on, so that children have very little time for their parents. Parents have very little time for each other and in the home begins the disruption of peace in the world.
• There is a terrible hunger for love. We all experience that in our lives-the pain the loneliness. We must have the courage to recognize it. The poor you may have right in your own family. Find them. Love them.
• Like Jesus, we belong to the world not living for ourselves but for others. The joy of the Lord is our strength.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, give us servants’ hearts so that we will be more concerned about others than we are about ourselves. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Isaiah 41:1-16 “Keep silence before Me, O coastlands, and let the people renew their strength! Let them come near, then let them speak; let us come near together for judgment. “Who raised up one from the east? Who in righteousness called him to His feet? Who gave the nations before him, and made him rule over kings? Who gave them as the dust to his sword, as driven stubble to his bow? Who pursued them, and passed safely by the way that he had not gone with his feet?

Who has performed and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? ‘I, the Lord, am the first; and with the last I am He.’” The coastlands saw it and feared, the ends of the earth were afraid; they drew near and came. Everyone helped his neighbor, and said to his brother, “Be of good courage!” So the craftsman encouraged the goldsmith; he who smooths with the hammer inspired him who strikes the anvil, saying, “It is ready for the soldering;” then he fastened it with pegs, that it might not totter.

“But you, Israel, are My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the descendants of Abraham My friend. You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called from its farthest regions, and said to you, ‘You are My servant, I have chosen you and have not cast you away:
Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’

“Behold, all those who were incensed against you shall be ashamed and disgraced; they shall be as nothing, and those who strive with you shall perish. You shall seek them and not find them—Those who contended with you. Those who war against you shall be as nothing, as a nonexistent thing.

For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you.’ “Fear not, you worm Jacob, You men of Israel! I will help you,” says the Lord and your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel. “Behold, I will make you into a new threshing sledge with sharp teeth; You shall thresh the mountains and beat them small, and make the hills like chaff. You shall winnow them, the wind shall carry them away, and the whirlwind shall scatter them; you shall rejoice in the Lord, and glory in the Holy One of Israel.”

Matthew 1:18-21 “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, (meaning Savior) for He will save His people from their sins.”

Poor Israel! After making a glorious beginning as a country under King David and King Solomon, things rapidly went downhill, spiritually and otherwise. Solomon started the mess by refusing to follow God’s commandments for kings recorded in the Mosaic Law. Solomon married hundreds of pagan women who demanded their shrines and practices, leaving a spiritual stain on Jerusalem and the rest of the nation. Then Rehoboam, Solomon’s weak son, attempted to hold power by imposing harsh demands on people who were already over-burdened. Rehoboam’s folly resulted in the Northern Kingdom of Israel splitting away; however, Jeroboam, the first ruler of Israel, established his own pagan religion, trying to prevent his citizens from traveling to Jerusalem to worship. Things steadily became worse in both countries.

Here God is reminding His people that He is the One who establishes rulers and who removes them, that conquerors can only succeed when He aids them. No matter how many idols men create or how ornate they are, those idols are worthless before the power of the One True Living God. But God is also holding out hope to Israel, for God promises to send a Redeemer, a Savior. When Redeemer comes, he will deliver Israel and the Israelites will “rejoice in the Lord, and glory in the Holy One of Israel.”

For centuries, the Jews awaited the coming of Messiah, expecting him to be an all-powerful military ruler who would crush all the nations around them. But the Jews failed to realize the they themselves had problems no military commander could solve, for they were sinners in need of a Savior. When Jesus began his ministry, religious authorities were hopeful, but rapidly became disenchanted when Jesus obviously showed no interest in sweeping away the Roman Empire to establish his own kingdom.

What those leaders failed to realize was that God would use the pax Romana, the Roman peace, and the common languages available (Latin and Greek) to spread the good news of the Gospel throughout the Roman Empire. The excellent Roman roads and the strong Roman administrative structure enabled the first Christians to travel throughout the Empire with relative speed and safety. For those who were Roman citizens, there was an additional measure of protection, for they could not be flogged or jailed without a proper trial. Paul took advantage of this fact on more than one occasion.

One of the fascinating things about Biblical prophecy is that it can operate at many levels. Consider the tiny size of the State of Israel when compared with the many nations included in the Arab world. Israel’s rise to nationhood was little short of miraculous to begin with, and Israel has continued to survive and thrive despite intense bombardments, persecution, and unprovoked attacks.  

What is the future of Israel? Will Israel eventually fulfill the political prophecies of Isaiah 41? Only God knows and only time will tell. But one thing is sure: Messiah has come and has laid down his life as the ultimate blood sacrifice for the sins of the entire world. The term “Gospel” means “good news.” All of us are sinners in need of a Savior and all of us need a Messiah. Today, let us worship the Holy One, the Redeemer of Israel-and of us-and make Him the Lord of our hearts and lives.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, we confess that we are sinners who cannot free ourselves from our wrong-doing. Thank You for shedding Your blood as the sacrifice for our sins. Help us to follow hard after You all the days of our lives. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

1 O come, O come, Immanuel, and ransom captive Israel
that mourns in lonely exile here until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel shall come to you, O Israel.

2 O come, O Wisdom from on high, who ordered all things mightily;
to us the path of knowledge show and teach us in its ways to go. Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel shall come to you, O Israel.

3 O come, O come, great Lord of might, who to your tribes on Sinai’s height
in ancient times did give the law in cloud and majesty and awe. Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel shall come to you, O Israel.

4 O come, O Branch of Jesse’s stem, unto your own and rescue them!
From depths of hell your people save, and give them victory o’er the grave. Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel shall come to you, O Israel.

5 O come, O Key of David, come and open wide our heavenly home.
Make safe for us the heavenward road and bar the way to death’s abode. Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel shall come to you, O Israel.

6 O come, O Bright and Morning Star, and bring us comfort from afar!
Dispel the shadows of the nightand turn our darkness into light. Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel shall come to you, O Israel.

7 O come, O King of nations, bind in one the hearts of all mankind.
Bid all our sad divisions cease and be yourself our King of Peace. Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel shall come to you, O Israel.