Advent
December 12, 2016
Scripture Reading: Isaiah 7:10-16
Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, saying, Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven. But Ahaz said, I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test. Then Isaiah said: ‘Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary mortals, that you weary my God also? Therefore 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. He shall eat curds and honey by the time he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. For 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.
One needs a course in Hebrew history to understand our scripture today. At first read, it seems it was placed in the lectionary because it refers to the prophet Isaiah referencing the birth of a child to a young woman. The child is to be named Immanuel, which means God with us and is the name Christians ascribe to Jesus. I guess that makes it an appropriate scripture for Advent.
Ahaz is the king of Israel besieged by the threat of other nations. He does not know what to do. God’s guidance is to ask for a sign but Ahaz refuses to put the Lord to the test falling back on a familiar scripture,
Deuteronomy 6:16. Jesus quotes this same scripture in the story of his temptations (Luke 4:12) in a response to Satan. In Hebrew history (see Judges 6-8) we know that Gideon not only asked God for a sign but asked twice and God seemed to be patient with his fear of misunderstanding. Fast forward to the New Testament (Luke 11:29-32) where Jesus tells the evil generation they do not deserve a sign when they ask for it.
What are we to make of all of this? The story of Gideon tells of a sincere man asked to do an extraordinary task. He needed fortification to step out and faith and God gave it. God encourages Ahaz to ask for a sign and Ahaz quotes Hebrew law back to God as his reason for not asking for a sign. Do we ever let out piousness get in the way of our relationship with God?
Prayer: Lord, as we once again prepare for your coming, forgive us when we get so caught up in being right that we fail to be one with you. Amen.