Advent Meditations Week 1--Hope

November 30: Isaiah 40:9-11

• Isaiah invites us to “go tell it on the mountain” that God (Jesus) is coming in power to reward and take care of his people.

• How are you planning to share the good news this Christmas: take a friend out to lunch, sponsor a Christmas open house at your place for unchurched friends, invite friends to a church service or event, etc. 

Isaiah 40:9-11English Standard Version (ESV)

The Greatness of God

9 Go on up to a high mountain,
    O Zion, herald of good news;[a]
lift up your voice with strength,
    O Jerusalem, herald of good news;[b]
    lift it up, fear not;
say to the cities of Judah,
    “Behold your God!”
10 Behold, the Lord God comes with might,
    and his arm rules for him;
behold, his reward is with him,
    and his recompense before him.
11 He will tend his flock like a shepherd;
    he will gather the lambs in his arms;
he will carry them in his bosom,
    and gently lead those that are with young.

Advent Meditations Week 1--Hope

Isaiah 52:7-10

• When was the last time someone told you some really good news? What was it about? Did you share it with anyone else?

• Who told you the good news of the gospel? How long did it take before you believed and received it?

• Good news is hard to keep secret. Do you still believe the gospel is good news? Who do you need to tell about it?

Isaiah 52:7-10English Standard Version (ESV)

7 How beautiful upon the mountains
    are the feet of him who brings good news,
who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness,
    who publishes salvation,
    who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”
8 The voice of your watchmen—they lift up their voice;
    together they sing for joy;
for eye to eye they see
    the return of the Lord to Zion.
9 Break forth together into singing,
    you waste places of Jerusalem,
for the Lord has comforted his people;
    he has redeemed Jerusalem.
10 The Lord has bared his holy arm
    before the eyes of all the nations,
and all the ends of the earth shall see
    the salvation of our God.

Advent Meditations Week 1--Hope

Isaiah 40:1-5

• When Isaiah spoke these words Jerusalem still had 100 years of trouble before the city would fall and then 70 years of exile. The seeds of comfort may take root in the soil of adversity. 

• Are you anxious and stressed about something? Are you feeling overwhelmed or trapped in your circumstances?

• God has prepared a way in your wilderness. Ask Jesus to lead you through it and give you hope.

Isaiah 40:1-5English Standard Version (ESV)

Comfort for God's People

  40 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.
2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
    and cry to her
that her warfare[a] is ended,
    that her iniquity is pardoned,
that she has received from the Lord's hand
    double for all her sins.

3 A voice cries:[b]
“In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord;
    make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
4 Every valley shall be lifted up,
    and every mountain and hill be made low;
the uneven ground shall become level,
    and the rough places a plain.
5 And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed,
    and all flesh shall see it together,
    for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”