Lectionary Reading Advent 1
Restore to us, O God, the light of your face, that we may be saved. Psalm 80:3
Reading. Isaiah 64:1-9
The book of the prophet Isaiah is filled with hope for the future, a future where the God of Israel would be in charge. Like others before him, in this passage Isaiah is longing for the day when God will intervene in a powerful way and it will be a time like it was as the people crossed the wilderness. The powerful presence of God would be demonstrated and the whole creation would take notice. However even as the prophet pleads with God to intervene there comes the recognition that God’s absence is due to a lack of faithful obedience on behalf of the people. Indeed the prophet poses the question, “Can a people like us be saved”: In other words are we beyond hope? Isaiah doesn’t know the answer but he does know that God is faithful and like a gracious father will reform them. Thus the prophet looks forward with hope towards the future and the restoration of that familial relationship again. Thinking about this reading in the context of Advent we see that it is well balanced; on the one hand longing, indeed pleading for a close intimate relationship with a holy God. While on the other hand recognising the many failures to live as obedient children, failing to honour the inheritance that God has given to them. Isaiah highlights what we all know; how painful it is when God does not seem to answer when we call out: As psalm 104 says. “When you hide your face, they are dismayed; when you take away their breath, they die and return to their dust”. Psalm 104:29 (NRSV) Surely a reminder that without God we are lost.
Yet there is this constant promise of hope that is also embedded in the passage, the opportunity to be remade: Nevertheless, to be remade we first have to face up to what we are. Isaiah’s remedy is not to “try harder” for he reminds us that to God even our righteous deeds offend. The only remedy is to trust in the goodness and grace of God and as we plead for God to “come down”; we pray expectantly, remembering our need to be ready.
Prayer. Lord Jesus Christ. Our true advocate before the throne of Almighty God, your endless mercy fills us with wonder and hope. You alone can rescue us from sin and death, and so to you alone we turn and confess that we have been ignorant of your gracious will and have chosen to follow our own ways. We have wandered far from the truth, using you as a safety blanket rather than accepting you as our Lord and Saviour. Forgive our foolishness and indeed our arrogance. Lord as we reflect on the reality of our lives we are humbled before you for we know that only through your mercy will we find health and strength again. Restore in us a true and constant spirit, a spirit which relies on you alone. And in your mercy give to us that right relationship with which to praise and adore you in sincerity and truth. We ask through Jesus, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit; One God for ever more. Amen
Reading. Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19. The psalmist recognises very well that God is sovereign and omnipotent; nothing is beyond the control of this enthroned God. God is the Shepherd who can and does gather together the sheep. Indeed the psalmist is almost pleading for God to shake them into action. Their only hope will be for God to return to them. “O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved”. Psalm 80:3 (NRSV) The life that they once enjoyed has been lost and so there is now the recognition that the people are in need of restoration.
As a significant step along this journey the psalmist calls out for a leader who will lead through God’s strength and power: The one God has prepared. Always this future hope; this hope of a Messiah, was what sustained the nation despite its many trials. The safety of the Promised Land had proved illusory and even though they knew this was due to their back sliding yet their hope remained. The nation’s hope in God’s promised rescue helped them to cling on. It also helped them to hear the words of rebuke that the psalmists and the prophets pronounced from time to time. God had called them from slavery to freedom and though they often chose to be disobedient somehow they always believed that God would once more come to the rescue. As we reflect on both of the readings for this week we wonder at God’s faithfulness toward prodigal Israel. There is much emotion in the heartfelt prayer of both the psalmist and the prophet and we sense just how much is at stake. With Advent in mind we can understand afresh how wonderful it is that God sent his Son. God’s Son did come down and pitched his tent with us. Jesus was the shepherd who came to gather in the lost and what is even more remarkable this Shepherd rescued even those who never knew him.
Prayer. “Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also”, Romans 3:29 (NRSV) Gracious Lord, we together with all people give honour and glory to you, for you are the great Creator, you sustain all things and are the one before whom all will one day bow. In humility we offer our prayers with thankful hearts and recognise again and again how good you are. We thank you for the freedom that is ours through Christ Jesus, who by his great mercy had set us free to know and honour you. Great is your faithfulness amazing King of kings and Lord of lords. Now and for ever. Amen
Collect. Almighty God, you have promised to make all things new. Graciously enable us to prepare for the coming of Christ your Son that he may find us waiting eagerly in joyful prayer. He lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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