Advent

December 17, 2019

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.

How and when do we learn to refuse the evil and choose the good? What does that even mean? Does being made in the image of God mean that we innately have the capacity to recognize the difference between good and evil? What is good or evil anyway?

Merriam-Webster dictionary defines good as something that possesses desirable qualities, promotes success, welfare, or happiness, or is otherwise beneficial*. Evil is defined as the totality of undesirable, harmful, wicked acts, experiences, and things and something that is injurious to moral or physical happiness or welfare**.

Strong’s describes good as used in Isaiah 7 as moral and evil as ethically bad, evil, wicked**.

It seems to me that goodness begets more goodness; evil begets more evil. Jesus made it simple. Loving God and loving are neighbors as we love ourselves grows more love. Failing to love in either instance smothers love. We all are gifted with the ability to love and we are all required to be intentional about loving ourselves and loving one another. Alas, we are also all capable of choosing evil.

Prayer: Lord write on our hearts the knowledge of how to refuse the evil and choose the good.

*http://unabridged.merriam-webster.com/unabridged/good

**https://biblehub.com/hebrew/2896.htm;  https://biblehub.com/hebrew/7451.htm

http://unabridged.merriam-webster.com/unabridged/evil

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.