The Old Testament Reading, for the first Sunday of Advent, is perfect! Perfect because, I think, it fore-shadows why God finally came to earth, in the skin of that precious baby boy, on the first Christmas Eve. It also is a perfect example of what happens when people begin to feel the consequences of their action!
It is interesting how it worked in those days. The people expect -- actually demanded -- God’s care! They took God’s care for granted! They felt that no matter what, God was to be on their side and take care of them. Regardless!
And, to be clear! God did/does promise to be with us and watch over us always and forever.
However! That does not mean that God will approve of behavior that is dangerous for us and/or our neighbor. It also does not mean that God’s people can be disrespectful to God; and not have God respond.
This is where we pick up the story in Isaiah 63 and 64. In chapter 63 we hear of the great rebellion, and unacceptable thinking, of the people. They have done a terrible thing! They know it! They admit it! However their actions have all too often been opposite to God. And God has had it! To the point of turning his face against them. The people react with indignant accusations! How dare God turn his face against them!
The glitch here is at the very point of humanness! They want to do what they want! They want to act in ways opposite of God’s ways! Actually they intentionally choose to do so!
And then they expect God to pat them on the head with a gentle reprimand.
But God is not buying their ungrateful behavior! They have taken his steadfast love and mercy for granted for far too long. This time he takes a stand! He turns his face away in great disappointment. And they whine! Not fair!!
1 O that you would tear open the heavens and come down, so that the mountains would quake at your presence— 2 as when fire kindles brushwood and the fire causes water to boil— to make your name known to your adversaries, so that the nations might tremble at your presence! 3 When you did awesome deeds that we did not expect, you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence. 4 From ages past no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who works for those who wait for him. 5 You meet those who gladly do right, those who remember you in your ways. But you were angry, and we sinned; because you hid yourself we transgressed. 6 We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy cloth. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. 7 There is no one who calls on your name, or attempts to take hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us, and have delivered us into the hand of our iniquity. 8 Yet, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand. 9 Do not be exceedingly angry, O Lord, and do not remember iniquity forever. Now consider, we are all your people. 10 Your holy cities have become a wilderness, Zion has become a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation. 11 Our holy and beautiful house, where our ancestors praised you, has been burned by fire, and all our pleasant places have become ruins. 12 After all this, will you restrain yourself, O Lord? Will you keep silent, and punish us so severely?(Isaiah 64:1-12)
I’m not at all clear on the timing of the Bible. It has always confuse m! I am easily confused when it comes to any kind of numbers. But is was this repetitive cycle of behavior in the relationship between the people and God, that I believe, caused God to come to earth. And when he came the repetitive game, of crime and punishment. changed drastically. Actually ended!
When Jesus came the game was simple! Believe me! Or not! Follow me! Or not!
Live with the consequences of your choices.
Unfortunately, all too often people’s choices, when opposite of God, effect those who choose to follow.
How are we suppose to react to that?
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