Read Isaiah 33:17-22.
Do you remember that scene from The Lion King where Mufasa takes his son Simba to a high spot to look over the whole pride lands? It’s the iconic “everything the light touches is our kingdom” moment. As a kid, this was a mind-blowing moment!
Our reading today has one of these moments. Isaiah details a withering world that once was the reality and the shift that happens as the people lean into God. Isaiah looks out, and the righteous people will see a peaceful land and experience the beauty of the land’s ruler. The LORD is not only the king of this land, but also the judge, lawgiver, and savior. It is only under God’s rule that the land can go from withering and chaotic to peaceful and strong.
This Savior we anticipate in our final week of Advent is the perfect image of what love looks like. Humility and compassion do not compromise His power, but rather are main characteristics of what it looks like to be fully renewed by holy love. Isaiah’s image of a redeemed world that Jesus inaugurates. Love is the core of who God is. It runs after us before we could ever do something admirable or detestable. It meets us in our deepest wounds. It challenges us to work towards peace for our neighbor.
The loving God is the one who rules this land of peace. As we live in anticipation for Jesus’ return, we also anticipate what Isaiah has described: new life breathed onto a whole land, bringing peace.
Challenge:
Find a place where you can see your neighborhood or pull up a map of your area. After taking a deep breath, think about the challenges, strengths, and needs of your neighborhood. How does God’s love impact your neighborhood? As you talk to God, ask God to fill you with his love and guide you in sharing that love with your neighborhood.
Written by Pastor Lauren Miller
