Advent 2 Isaiah 40

Isaiah 40:1-11    2 Peter 3:8-15   Mark 1:1-8

ADVENT 2

Isaiah 40, a message to Israel in the Babylonian exile, is a call to return home. The Temple and holy city lay in ruins, they must be rebuilt. The people had lived in a hostile land and suffered greatly.

"Comfort, comfort my people, says your God." Note the possessive pronouns: your/me. Covenant relationship is at the heart of God's dealings with His people. It is an intimate divine-human bond. Israel had pushed God away to pursue her sins, so she lost her Defender in a hostile world. Babylon invade, lay waste the nation and drove her into exile. Now God sends messengers with His compassionate word: the Lord will return with His people to Judah. His holy presence will return.

The biblical language is not literal. Hills and valleys did not actually flatten for the travelers—it is apocalyptic poetry declaring the power of God’s salvation. Salvation is in real life, real time. It is a process and a journey. The human enemy, however, is vanquished, as Lord declares "all people are grass." However, new oppressors will rise, first Greek, then Roman. Last week Jesus said, "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away." Today Isaiah says, "The word of our God will stand forever." Human empires are temporary, but God’s word is eternal. God's word is a message of joy: Israel is like a flock of sheep and God is a shepherd who loves. In every age, God cares for His covenant people. This remains true forever.

Babylon was a real place, but later Christians use it as a code word for Rome. Babylon is a symbol of any unjust human kingdoms which oppose God. Many "Babylons" have come and gone and certainly new ones exist today. A hostile world and the demonic powers are real foes. But Babylon is also personal. It is our own darkened nous (mind/soul) which leads us astray. Our wounded heart is the destroyed Temple, ruined by the passions and sinful desires; we are all, in some respects, in exile from God's Presence. The Jews will return to the Promised Land to rebuild the Temple. God is the source of this, but human beings will lay and cement each brick (read Ezra and Nehemiah). It is a long arduous process. Salvation is an organic process as well.

If we would receive the gift of union with our God, we must cooperate with the Holy Spirit. We must repent, that is, return from exile and leave Babylon. We rebuild the Temple of our heart through the spiritual disciplines. God expects our labor. The question is, do we have the courage to look within and confront our own personal Babylon? What constrains the Holy Spirit in my life? What diminishes my faith, hope, love, joy, and peace?

Let's review some of the deadly passions, or sinful desires.

Are you angry, afraid, doubtful or sad? that's exile... Are you jealous, envious or greedy? Do you drink to excess, spend too much, or have other out of control behavior? Those are Babylon.... Are you immobilized by laziness or distracted by worries? Is your life filled with conflict? These separate from God.... Each of these is a personal exile from His Kingdom. Abba Father wants to rescue us. Do you want to be healed? First step is to recognize you need saving. Admit you are broken and wounded. Cry out for help--human and divine--for the Lord stands ready to deliver. Talk to your spouse, your parent, a friend or family member. Tell them you need help. It is good for the soul. 

Mark connects John the Baptist to the Isaiah verse because Jesus fulfills the prophet’s words. Jesus is the Presence of God. Jesus is the Good Shepherd. Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirit. Jesus is the Father’s gift of healing deliverance out of exile. Jesus, frequently in and through human agents, is reaching to you right now.

Advent is the journey out of the exile in Babylon. It is a time to take stock of our thoughts, feelings and desires. We are all broken. No one’s heart is totally free. We all have darkness within us. We need to be saved and healed. We need to be sanctified and strengthened. Jesus wants to do it, but we must cooperate. It is not going to be all done in the snap of a finger, it will take time, and you must cooperate.

Advent is the journey of faith back home. It is the joyful discipline walking through the desert to the Promised Land. It is the hope-filled discipline of becoming what He made us: His holy, beloved people!