Barry G. Webb: Light pierces the darkness

Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will appear over you. Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn. Isaiah 30:1-3

“In a vision Isaiah sees the Lord Himself rising over Zion like the sun and filling the whole city with His glory, so that it becomes a magnet drawing all nations towards it. Although it is focused on Zion, the vision of this magnificent chapter is world-wide in its scope. It begins with thick darkness covering the whole earth, as at the beginning of creation itself. But here it is spiritual darkness, the darkness of moral evil and spiritual blindness…But then, as in Genesis, the scene is transformed as light pierces the darkness and a whole new world begins to emerge.”

Barry G. Webb in The Message of Isaiah (Bible Speaks Today; Downers Grove: IVP, 1996) 231.

Jenni and I woke up at 2:50am MT to catch our flight back to Colorado. Looking outside our hotel “darkness” shrouds the city, but the text adds that “thick darkness” covers the people. Think about it. The reason things are so awful in this world is because people are lost in the blackness of sin.

There is nothing more generous than light that pierces the thick darkness and spiritual blindness that people experience and shows them the way. Who will see it? Isaiah adds that the Lord will arise and nations, that is, the peoples of the world and their leaders will come to your light.

Sitting in our nation’s capital this morning and reading this gives us comfort. The light of the world, the Christ of Christmas, can light the way and draw people from darkness (in Webb’s words) like a magnet. Do it Lord! That’s our proverbial grown up Christmas wish today!

A shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots a bud shall blossom. The spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him. Isaiah 11:1-2a

“Our salvation comes from something small, tender, and vulnerable, something hardly noticeable. God, who is the Creator of the Universe, comes to us in smallness, weakness, and hiddenness.

I find this a hopeful message. Somehow, I keep expecting loud and impressive events to convince me and others of God’s saving power; but over and over again I am reminded that spectacles, power plays, and big events are the ways of the world. Our temptation is to be distracted by them and made blind to the “shoot that shall sprout from the stump.”

When I have no eyes for the small signs of God’s presence – the smile of a baby, the carefree play of children, the words of encouragement and gestures of love offered by friends – I will always remain tempted to despair.

The small child of Bethlehem, the unknown young man of Nazareth, the rejected preacher, the naked man on the cross, he asks for my full attention. The work of our salvation takes place in the midst of a world that continues to shout, scream, and overwhelm us with its claims and promises. But the promise is hidden in the shoot that sprouts from the stump, a shoot that hardly anyone notices.”

Henri Nouwen (1932-1996) in “Reflection for the Second Sunday of Advent” from the Henri Nouwen Society.

Do we have eyes to see the small signs of God’s presence this Advent? Nouwen suggests we must look for “something hardly noticeable” to avoid the shouts of despair that fill our world. In my meetings today and wherever you find yourself, let us together remember that God’s generosity through can be found in even the smallest miracles of life.

God give us eyes to see the tiny signs of Your presence, so that as we behold You at work all around us, our waiting in a world of despair becomes a watchful hope and unswerving confidence that You are with us, and faithful to all Your promises. Hear our prayer in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.

A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” Isaiah 40:1-5

“Here the directness and the power are to remind the people of God’s ultimate tenderness and kindness…This tone of kindness and gentleness is reinforced in several ways. The opening words themselves are not mighty words, but homely, common ones…Furthermore, these are the words spoken to my people by your God…

The cause for encouragement is solely the activity if the Lord, His coming into the sphere of human activity. Neither Israel nor any other human agency is the cause of the comfort here extended. It is the coming of God, the revelation of Him in human sight…

The one thing the people can do is to prepare the way for the coming King…it speaks of an act of faith on the part of the people. They do not yet see the King, but they dare to believe that He is coming.”

John Oswalt in The Book of Isaiah: Chapters 40-66 (NICNT; Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1998) 49-52.

As the second week of Advent begins our waiting deepens and the watchful theme of hope comes into view. How we live reveals what we “dare to believe” about hope. Will we prepare the way of the Lord, so that all people will see it together?

Take five minutes today and reflect on where you would be without the generous gift of the hope of Christ in a world filled with despair. Conclude your time by asking God to reveal one person to you to comfort with the hope of Christ this week. Dare to believe that the Lord may reveal Himself to them through you this Advent.

Today is my last scheduled trip of 2015. I have meetings at the ECFA offices outside of Washington D.C. tomorrow followed by the annual Christmas celebration. Jenni will accompany me. It will be a special time. We feel as excited as little children on Christmas eve.

The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” Genesis 12:1-3

“Abram’s part is expressed in a single though searching command, while the heaped up I will’s reveal how much greater is the Lord’s part. At the same time their futurity emphasizes the bare faith that was required: Abram must exchange the known for the unknown and find his reward in what he could not live to see (a great nation), in what was intangible (name), and in what he would impart (blessing).”

Derek Kidner in Genesis (Downers Grove: IVP, 1967) 114.

It’s fitting to note that the lineage in Matthew’s Gospel starts with Abraham and charts the 42 generations that connect him with Jesus (cf. Matthew 1). In other words, God accomplished precisely what He promised.

It’s also important to remember Abram’s role as it mirrors ours today: bare faith. Following Jesus is about exchanging the known for the unknown and finding our reward in what we cannot see.

At this point, you may be asking the question: What does this have to do with generosity?” Again, my answer is, “Everything!”

If you want to be generous, don’t try to make a lot of money. To be a conduit of blessing to the world, like Abram, you must align yourself with the Source of all blessing, God, and do what He says. That requires bare faith.

Rejoice greatly, O daughter Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter Jerusalem! Lo, your king comes to you; triumphant and victorious is he, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. He will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the war-horse from Jerusalem; and the battle bow shall be cut off, and he shall command peace to the nations; his dominion shall be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth. Zechariah 9:9-10

“This prophecy was intended to introduce, in contrast to earthly warfare and kingly triumph, another Kingdom, of which the just King would be the Prince of Peace, who was meek and lowly in His Advent, who would speak peace to the heathen, and whose sway would yet extend to the earth’s utmost bounds…If ever was a true picture of Messiah-King and His Kingdom, it is this: and if ever Israel was to have a Messiah, or the world a Savior, He must be such as is described in this prophecy—not merely in letter, but in the spirit of it.”

David Baron (1855-1926) in The Visions and Prophecies of Zechariah (Grand Rapids: Kregel, 1918) 303-304.

It is not difficult to see the generosity of God in today’s prophecy. He will establish another kingdom, one that encompasses all nations, and it will be ushered in with humility and characterized by peace. The question we must all ask ourselves as we learn to wait in this first week of Advent is this: Am I under His reign and experiencing His peace? The latter is likely a sign of whether or not the former is true.

This morning I am training a group of EFCA pastors and marketplace leaders again today in California: encouraging them to take hold of faith and work in light of God’s economy. Then I fly home to Denver to attend the annual Christmas party in our old Eagle View neighborhood tonight. It’s a privilege to be invited back to lead it though we have moved to the Cattails townhouses only a mile away. There will be great food, fun, fellowship, and I plan to remind them of this truth in our world filled with troubles:

“Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:10-11

Remember: The most generous thing we can do this season is to share the Christ of Christmas with the world. I believe that must start with our neighbors.

The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. Jeremiah 23:5

“In the days of this promised king there will be a royal obedience that will make public life possible. One can see here exilic anticipations for the restoration of a valid public life, the very anticipations that the Christian community has found embodied in Jesus of Nazareth.”

Walter Bruggeman in A Commentary on Jeremiah: Exile and Homecoming (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1998) 207.

About 600 years before Christ, God’s people find themselves in exile, waiting, anticipating, the restoration of life as they know it. They long for righteousness in the land. Jeremiah proclaims that the Lord will raise up One whose rule will be characterized by wisdom, justice, and righteousness. This Branch from the family tree of David points to Jesus.

What’s it have to do with generosity?

Notice the gravity of the language in the prophecy: “The days are surely coming…” This prophecy represents a generous reminder that those who “wait on the Lord” will not be disappointed.

While we wait, or perhaps, while we learn to wait in the first week of Advent, we often expect God to work in a certain way. I am learning that anticipating is not telling God how to work but trusting Him to work. When I take such a posture I see how faithful and yet how unpredictable He is.

Think about it: The One who is goodness, righteousness, and generosity would sprout from the place known for nothing good, Nazareth (John 1:46). That’s just how God works!

Waiting in anticipation is not a posture filled with worry, it’s a peaceful place of trust in a faithful King who is the only one that makes life possible.

Today I am attending a CBMC breakfast in Orange County, California. During the day, I get to fellowship with two faithful disciples: pray that I can encourage them to grow in the grace of giving. Later, I get to teach a group of EFCA pastors and marketplace leaders. It’s a full day. I’d appreciate your prayers.

But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are one of the little clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days. Micah 5:2

“Bethlehem may have been young among the clans of Judah, but was certainly “small” in physical and social stature, and hence insignificant for leadership in government and prowess in war. Although the word is not used in 1 Samuel 16, where David, Jesse’s youngest son, is unexpectedly chosen before his elders, the theme is the same. Micah probably intends to note a striking coincidence between David’s lowly place of birth and his social position, a coincidence that matches Messiah’s career. Only divine intervention can account for the transformation of David and the Messiah into greatness.”

Bruce Waltke in A Commentary on Micah (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2007) 268.

Consider the generosity of God at work in this prophecy linked to the birth of Jesus Christ. The birth of the Messiah will not come from a mighty clan, but rather, a lowly one.

Have you ever felt insignificant? Perhaps your physical or social stature or your place of origin has led you to believe you won’t amount to much of anything. This is precisely where the generosity of “divine intervention” comes into view.

Though David was the least of his family, God chose him to lead His people. God transformed a proverbial nobody into greatness. Likewise the Christ would rise up from insignificance, He would come from a tiny town, Bethlehem. And because God is so generous, He let everyone know this would happen 700 years in advance.

What’s this mean for you and me this Advent?

If we ever find ourselves in lowly places, remember that God has done His best work there. It’s called divine intervention. Wait on Him to show up, even if it feels like 700 years. Just wait, you’ll see!

Learning to wait is what the first week of Advent is all about.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

“Who among all the humans would know all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge? All we can know is that they’re hidden in the wealth of Christ’s heavenly folds and concealed in the poverty of His fleshly folds…

When He came to assume mortality and consume death, He looked like one of us. That’s to say, considering all the articles in His heavenly haberdashery, He stood in tatters. No matter, He said; such riches as I have aren’t lost forever; they’ve merely been put into a blind trust.

The Psalmist’d know what He was talking about. For those who are genuinely afraid of Him, He’s put away millions in the bank. However, of those who’re converting their fear into hope, the payback has already begun. How sweet it is (VUL 30:20; NRSV 31:19).

Paul put it this way in his first letter to the Corinthians. “We know only part of the story now, and we won’t know the rest until He comes again.” (13:9). This is why we have to upgrade our readiness.”

Augustine (354-430) bishop of Hippo in Sermons to the People: Advent, Christmas, New Year’s, Epiphany, ed. William Griffin (New York: Random House, 2002) 117-118.

Our fear is converted into hope during the Advent season because of the generosity of God toward humankind. The child wrapped in rags, whose birth we celebrate, is all we have ever needed, all we currently need, and all we will ever need.

Let’s “upgrade our readiness” by re-reading Isaiah’s words (above). Take five minute and reflect on one or more of the names ascribed to Jesus and consider the implications for you and for those with whom you are journeying through Advent.

I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel. He will crush the foreheads of Moab, the skulls of all the people of Sheth. Numbers 24:17

“Balaam, a wicked man, shall see Christ, but shall not see Him nigh; not see Him as Job, who saw Him as his Redeemer, and saw Him for Himself. When He comes in the clouds, every eye shall see Him; but many will see Him, as the rich man in hell saw Abraham, afar off.

He shall come out of Jacob, and Israel, as a star and a scepter; the former denoting His glory and lustre; the latter His power and authority. Christ shall be King, not only of Jacob and Israel, but of all the world; so that all shall be either governed by his golden scepter, or dashed in pieces by his iron rod.”

Matthew Henry (1662-1714) excerpt from his Complete Bible Commentary on Numbers 24:15-25.

How will you see the coming Messiah, Jesus, this Advent?

The star that will come from Jacob and the scepter that will rise from Judah point to the coming of Jesus. Henry notes that the wicked man in the text, Balaam, sees Christ like the rich man in hell sees Abraham, afar off (cf. Luke 16:19-31), and he rightly contrasts him with Job, who experienced Him as his Redeemer.

What does this have to do with generosity?

Here’s the connection. Because God is generous, He foretold the coming (“advent”) of the star and scepter, Jesus. Some people will miss the sign of His coming and not submit to His reign, because, like Balaam, they think they have things under control. I am speaking of the rich. Consequently, they will only see Him from afar. To behold him as near, we must seek Him and submit our lives to Him.

The Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’). Isaiah 7:14

“Let us contemplate with faith the mystery of the divine incarnation and in all simplicity let us simply praise Him who in His great generosity became man for us.”

Maximus the Confessor (580-662) Christian monk, theologian, and scholar, in “Various Texts on Theology, the Divine Economy, and Virtue and Vice” 13 in The Philokalia: The Complete Text, compiled by St. Nikodimos of the Holy Mountain and St. Makarius of Corinth, Volume 2 (London: Faber & Faber, 1981) 167.

The OT prophets did not announce that God would send help. They proclaimed that God would come to us! And, so that all would know how God would arrive, Isaiah prophesied that a miracle would happen: a virgin would have a baby boy! The divine incarnation is a mystery that would change the course of human history, and it must be accepted by faith.

Why recount it from the perspective of Maximus the Confessor as the season begins? Monks, who are known through church history for their daily routines and annual traditions, would anticipate the arrival of Jesus with activities on four Sundays before Christmas. This pattern took root in the church during the days of Maximus and is observed by many in the Christian church to this day as Advent.

How should we approach this season? Since “Advent” means “coming” in Latin, let’s prepare our hearts for the “coming” of our Savior with simplicity and faith. Practically speaking, consider fasting from some form of noise in your life (such as TV or technology) for a block of time today (that’s the simplicity part) and contemplate how the divine incarnation (which can only be fathomed by faith) reflects God’s great generosity.