Isaiah 7:10-16 (NRSV)
Read Isaiah 7:10-16 on biblegateway.com
Verse 10Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, saying, Verse 11Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven. Verse 12But Ahaz said, I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test. Verse 13Then Isaiah said: "Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary mortals, that you weary my God also? Verse 14Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel. Verse 15He shall eat curds and honey by the time he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. Verse 16For before the child knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land before whose two kings you are in dread will be deserted.
Devotion
For the Advent season we are looking back and reflecting on the previous week's readings.
Isaiah prophesies about God’s surprising advent amongst us as a child. This prophecy occurs as an apparent confrontation with King Ahaz—who didn't have a very good reputation. God acts. God acts in a world that is turned in upon itself. God disrupts us in situations where we think more about ourselves and our own comfort rather than the good of our neighbor, where we build walls rather than bridges. God irrupts in our midst, not in a threatening way, not in condemnation, but as a child who is named God-with-us. The Advent Litany refers to this child as a sign who will shut the mouths of rulers, who will turn "business as usual" inside out, who will direct our gaze away from ourselves and towards the many humble, gentle, surprising ways God is already acting in the world. We are reminded again and again about that vigilant hope that marks a whole life of faith.
Prayer
O root of Jesse, standing as a sign among the peoples; before you rulers will shut their mouths, to you all peoples make their prayer: Come and deliver us, and delay no longer! Amen.