Sunday, November 30, 2008

Advent one: Hope


My people will be led away as captives, weary and hungry.
And because they are hungry,
They well rage and shake their fists at heaven and curse their king and their God.
Wherever they look there will be trouble and anguish and dark despair.
They will be thrown out into the darkness.
Nevertheless,
That time of darkness and despair will not go on forever.
The land of Zebulun and Naphtali will so be humbled.
But there will be a time in the future when the Galilee of the gentiles,
Which lies along the road that runs between the Jordan and the sea,
Will be filled with glory
The people who walk in darkness will see a great light-
A light that will shine on all who live in the land where death casts its shadow.
Israel will again be great,
And its people will rejoice as people rejoice at harvest time.
They will shout with joy like warriors dividing the plunder.
For God will break the chains that bind his people and the whip that scourges them,
Just as he did when he destroyed the army of Midian with Gideon's little band.
Isaiah 8:21-9:4

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