Christian Reflection and Prayer

(Day 18 of Advent)

Scripture:

Read Isaiah 9:1-7. For to us a Child is born, to us
a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His
shoulder, and His Name shall be called Wonderful
Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of
Peace (Isaiah 9:6).

At the very beginning of the Old Testament, the Word
of God was there with the Father and Holy Spirit,
creating all things. As we have seen, all through the
history of the Old Testament God's promise to send
His Son was repeated and revealed ever more clearly
from generation to generation. Today we pause at one
last Old Testament promise before returning to John's
account of the first Christmas.

King Ahaz did not trust God's promise to deliver Judah
from Israel and Syria, but God was faithful. He handed
those two nations over to the dreaded Assyrian Empire.
The northern kingdom of Israel was hauled off into
captivity and dispersed throughout the Assyrian Empire.
It was a time of great anguish for believers who lived in
Israel.

But God speaks to these believers through His prophet
Isaiah. He singles out two of the northernmost tribes of
Israel-Zebulun and Naphtali-and promises, "The people
who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those
who dwell in a land of deep darkness, on them has light
shined. ... For to us a Child is born" (see Isaiah 9:1-7).

As we return to the Gospel of John, we note a young
virgin living in the northern region of Galilee in a town
called Nazareth. This virgin will miraculously conceive a
child and travel south to the city of David in the land of
Judah. And on a very special night the Virgin Mary will
give birth to her firstborn Son and lay Him in a manger.

THE PRAYER: 

Holy Father, thank You for sending Jesus and fulfilling
Your many promises throughout the Old Testament.
Give me faith that You will keep all Your other promises
as well. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)