Advent Day 20: A Poop Lesson

I love my dog.  I really do.  But, there are times....

Last night, I took Charlie out for his final potty trip of the day.  It was dark, and I did not have the foresight (pun intended) to bring a flashlight with me.  We wandered around to his usual spots beside the road, where he "did his business".  On the way back down the driveway, he veered off.   I rightly assumed he had more "business" to conduct. 

However...as I held to my end of the leash and stepped with him into the woods on the outskirts of our property, I felt my boot mire up into something suspiciously mushy.  I could not see what it was, of course; but, I strongly suspected.

Sure enough, when I got back into the light, the mysterious material was revealed.  Yep, it was animal poop.  Needless to say, I was less than thrilled.

What is the point of my relating that sordid tale?  And, in an Advent post, no less?

At Advent, we remember the importance of light. 

There is so much spiritual darkness today, seemingly increasing by leaps and bounds.  Lost people are stumbling and falling at every turn.  At Advent, we light candles to symbolize the Light of the World condescending to us.  Without Him, regardless of our boastful pronouncements to the contrary, we are merely stumbling around in the woods, lost, walking in circles, stepping in poop, because we can't see where we are headed.

Last night, I was thinking about this and about The Law of the Old Testament.  Why?

Because The Law was given to show us our sinfulness before a holy God, who knew we would be unable to fully "keep it" in our daily lives.  Too often, we "step in the poop".  The Law was given to point people to God, to show them how needful they were (and we still are today), in desperate need of Light, the Light of the World, the Savior of the World - - Jesus.

JESUS was given to BE that Light Who Saves.  Unlike The Law, Jesus does more than shine a light on our sinfulness.  He takes care of it, paying our sin debt on our behalf. It is Messiah Jesus (Yeshuah HaMashiach) whose coming was prophesied in Isaiah 9.

2^c The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,
on them has light shone.

Isaiah 9:2

The Jews rightly believed this prophecy applied to them, and it does!  But, it also applies to Gentiles, "to ALL people" as the angel heralds proclaimed on the night of His birth, when light filled the sky over Bethlehem.  Isaiah prophesied that the nation of Israel would not be the only recipients of God's mercy. Even then, hope was given to the Gentiles ("goyim", in the Orthodox Jewish Bible).  Hallelujah!

And nations (Gentiles) shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. 

Isaiah 60:3

Today, I am so thankful The Light of the World lives in me.  His light shines into my darkest places, exposing my sin and calling me to confession, purification, restoration.  He calls me deeper into relationship with Him, so that when I do see Him at last, He won't be a stranger.  In the clear light of that heavenly day I will recognize Him as, not only the Light of the World, but as my dearest Friend.

Advent Day 21: Break Forth!

Isn't the morning a precious time?  It is for me.  I am a "morning person".  Used to be I was always the first one up at our house.  Now that younger son has a J.O.B., he gets that title.   This time of quiet, as the morning light creeps over my little corner of the earth...such a blessing!

Today's text is Isaiah 9:2-7, one of my very favorite Christmas prophecies.

2^c The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,
on them has light shone.
3You have multiplied the nation;
you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you
as with joy at the harvest,
as they are glad when they divide the spoil.
4For the yoke of his burden,
and the staff for his shoulder,
the rod of his oppressor,
you have broken as on the day of Midian.
5For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult
and every garment rolled in blood
will be burned as fuel for the fire.
6For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon^d his shoulder,
and his name shall be called^e
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7Of the increase of his government and of peace
there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.

Isaiah 9:2-7 ESV

A couple of years ago, my older son took the dog out to potty and reported excitedly that there were people walking around in the deep, steep woods behind our house. He could hear them and see their flashlights. This was at around 10:00 p.m.  Such news was unsettling to me, to say the least.  We don't live in a densely populated area, per se.  While there could have been neighbors from across the creek out for an evening stroll, it was unlikely.  Son #1 kept watch over them for a little while.  He said that they seemed to be walking in circles.

This comes to mind when I consider the first part of today's passage.  "The people who walked in darkness"....

There is so much spiritual darkness today, seemingly increasing by leaps and bounds.  Lost people are stumbling and falling at every turn.  At Advent, we light candles to symbolize the Light of the World condescending to us.  Without Him, regardless of our boastful pronouncements to the contrary, we are merely stumbling around in the woods, lost, walking in circles, getting nowhere.

Isaiah, given this prophecy in today's text approximately 600 years before Jesus was born, was told that "the zeal of the LORD of Hosts will accomplish this."  And, He did. 

The first few verses speak of the battle between Satan and Yahweh God, the LORD of Hosts, the GOD of Angel Armies: the battle of darkness against Light.  To break the hold of darkness on this world, reeling from the sin that enslaves it, God Himself sent His Son, the Light who dispels all darkness.

You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy.  They rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest.

Isaiah 9:3

What does that mean?  What nation?  Isaiah prophesied later, in 60:3, that the nation of Israel would not be the only recipients of God's mercy. Even then, hope was given to the Gentiles ("goyim", in the Orthodox Jewish Bible).  Hallelujah!

And nations (Gentiles) shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. 

Isaiah 60:3

Johann Sebastian Bach, a German, a Gentile and very devout Christian, wrote the majestic hymn "Break Forth O Beauteous Heavenly Light", as part of his work Christmas Oratorio, nearly 375 years ago (1641).

"Break forth, O beauteous heavenly light,
And usher in the morning;
O shepherds, shrink not with afright,
But hear the angel’s warning.
This Child, now weak in infancy,
Our confidence and joy shall be,
The power of Satan breaking,
Our peace eternal making."1

Yes, He came to break the power of Satan and to enable us to have eternal peace with a holy, sinless God.  He came to gather us to Himself, to be "God With Us" not just for Jesus' earthly lifetime, but forever.  As earthly dawn "ushers in the morning", so Jesus ushers His Light into Our Lives.

In verse 6 of Isaiah 9, some titles are listed for this coming Messiah.  I don't think that it is any accident that the first title in the line-up is "Wonderful Counselor".  If you know the famous chorus from Handel's Messiah, you may have it in your head to make this title two separate words/titles: ("Wonderful"....."Counselor".....).  No, it is written as one title - - - a Counselor who is Wonderful! (One version translates the title as "Extraordinary Strategist", another says "Awesome Advisor".)

He is our Glorious Savior, yes! But, in the Person of His Holy Spirit, He is our Awesome Advisor. You ask me how I know that Jesus is alive today?  He lives in me.  His light shines into my darkest places, exposing my sin and calling me to confession, purification, restoration.  He calls me deeper into relationship with Him, so that when I do see Him at last, He won't be a stranger.  In the clear light of that heavenly day I will recognize Him as, not only the Light of the World, but as my dearest Friend.

Oh Father, I confess that You, God of Angel Armies, and my Savior, the Everlasting Father, and the Holy Spirit, are One.  You are GOD, and there is no other.  You are Light, and in You is no darkness at all.  Thank you for taking pity on us, the sons of men, and banishing our darkness when we call on You to save us, Awesome Advisor.  You offer to us the wisdom of our Father; none teaches like You.  In Jesus' name, amen.

Source:

1     https://youtu.be/7aUW6aDDRNQ