First Reading:  Isaiah 2:1-5

See What the Lord Will Do

How does doubt and depression keep us from looking forward to the holidays? What can we do to address these emotions?

Isaiah was a court prophet in Judea during the reign of kings Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah (701 to 740 B.C.) His court service began with a peaceful, independent Judea. But it ended with the domination of the small state by the rising Assyrians. Isaiah saw the glory and the shame of Judea under four different kings. His writings (chapters 1-39) reflect the extent of those experiences, but not in sequential order.

This reading is a case in point. While the passages lay early in the book, the prophet's point of view seemed to be the destruction of Jerusalem. After an introductory title [5:1], Isaiah looked ahead into what scholars call the "theological passive." In later days (a reference to the Day of Yahweh?), the house of the LORD would be established on the highest of mountains [5:2b]. Who would establish it? God, of course (hence, the "theological" passive). After God raised up the house (a reference to the Temple or to the royal "house" of the king?), peoples from every nation would come to hear the divine teachings and learn the divine way of life [5:3]. His teachings and ways would be peaceful (in the famous verse about turning instruments of war into farming tools) [5:4]. Finally, Isaiah shifted away from his vision to an appeal to the king. The prophet appealed to the "house of Jacob" (i.e., the royal line) to live a pious life ("walk in the way of the Lord").

So, Isaiah wrote words of encouragement for a king and a people in a spiritual funk. "Look up to see what will happen," Isaiah seemed to say. "See what the Lord will do. Walk with him and he will bring you glory!"

Advent is a time of anticipation. These few verses from Isaiah should fuel our spiritual anticipation. For beyond the presents and the lights and the festivities of the holidays, there is a deeper truth. We have a bright future that God will provide. All we have to do is look and walk in faith.

See what the Lord will do!

How can faith help us fight off negativity and keep us focused on the positive?