Advent is the time of the church year that concentrates on the future. The theme of our Advent Midweek sermon series this year is “Await God’s Future.” It is God’s future that we are yearning for based on what God Himself has announced. God’s future is our hope, not human-made futures, not human-concocted utopian dreams, not future visions built on technology, engineering, and science. This series will enable people to hear some of the future-tense announcements of the ancient prophet Isaiah, so that these ancient words will instill in our hearts and minds repentance, faith, and hope in the coming of Yahweh. Isaiah bids us: “Await God’s Future.”
The texts come from the prophet of ancient Israel named Isaiah son of Amoz, from parts of his book generally unfamiliar to people because they are not covered in our assigned lectionary readings. In this series we want to practice a double hearing, to hear the prophet preaching to his original listeners and to hear his words continue to speak to us through Christ now 2700 years later in our context as 21st century Christians in North America.
Isaiah originally preached to various kinds of people who were part of significantly different audiences. One historical audience was the king and advisers in the palace in Jerusalem. Another historical audience was the people of Israel who would gather at the temple site. A third historical audience was comprised of envoys from Gentile nations seeking associations and alliances with the Jerusalem palace and Gentile traders and merchants. While we have no record of Isaiah traveling abroad, we do know that other lands had dealings in Jerusalem. Eighth-century B.C. Jerusalem was no isolated, backwoods town. It was a bustling city full of activity and well known in the ancient Near East.
Isaiah’s prophecies were the true Word of God then, and they remain the true Word of God now. The season of Advent is a good time to listen to the prophets of ancient Israel as they announce the future. In this series we will let Isaiah move us and lead us to respond properly to the future he was announcing. We now live in the time between the times, in the “now” of the age of fulfillment and in the “not yet” waiting for the future consummation. Isaiah’s passages have already been fulfilled in Jesus the Messiah and we already enjoy these blessings now by faith. At the same time, we await its full, visible realization when Jesus returns in glory. Isaiah can help us prepare and wait for that future.
We invite you to join us for all our special holiday services this month:
Advent Week 1 – Wednesday, December 1st, 6:30 p.m. Isaiah 36–37
“Yahweh Will Save His Zion”
Advent Week 2 – Wednesday, December 8th, 6:30 p.m.
Isaiah 13:9–13, 19; 14:1—“The Day of Yahweh Will Come”
Advent Week 3 – Wednesday, December 15th, 6:30 p.m. Isaiah 19:23–25
“Gentiles Will Belong to Ancient Israel’s God”
Advent Week 4 – Wednesday, December 22nd, 6:30 p.m. Isaiah 25:6–9
“Death the Swallower Will Be Swallowed Up”
Christmas Eve Candlelight Services – Friday, December 24th, 5 and 7 p.m.
Isaiah 9:2-7—“The King is Born”
Christmas Day Divine Service – Saturday, December 25th, 9:3 0 a.m. Isaiah 16:4 -5
”The Righteous King on David’s Throne”