Isaiah 35:1-10 (NRSV)
Read Isaiah 35:1-10 on biblegateway.com
Chapter 35The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom; like the crocus Verse 2it shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the Lord, the majesty of our God. Verse 3Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Verse 4Say to those who are of a fearful heart, "Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God. He will come with vengeance, with terrible recompense. He will come and save you."
Verse 5Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; Verse 6then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy. For waters shall break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert; Verse 7the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water; the haunt of jackals shall become a swamp, the grass shall become reeds and rushes. Verse 8A highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Holy Way; the unclean shall not travel on it, but it shall be for God's people; no traveler, not even fools, shall go astray. Verse 9No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it; they shall not be found there, but the redeemed shall walk there. Verse 10And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
Devotion
For the Advent season we are looking back and reflecting on the previous week's readings.
In Isaiah this week, the path or highway of God's people is called a holy way. On this way no one shall go astray, no one will be lost, no one will be without a home; the burning sand under the feet will become a pool and there will be springs of water. God's way, God's holy way for which we hope is not an illusion or dream. This way expresses God's own hope for us. God does not want human beings wandering helplessly, fleeing war, fleeing bombs and destruction, struggling to find a way even to the point of selling themselves into slavery simply for the possibility of crossing the Mediterranean in a clandestine ship. God does not want children washed up, drowned, on the shore. Hope in the one who comes is hope made active in seeking ways of peace, of welcome. Hope calls us into service so that the weak, the feeble, the homeless, sing for joy.
Prayer
O God, pour out your joy upon all people that all sorrow and sighing and searching and wandering flee away. Grant everyone a home. Amen.