Advent 2023 (2)

Advent 2023

Isaiah 9:1-7

There is hope in Christ.

Today’s verses are from the prophet Isaiah chapter 9 verses 1-7.

Please stand, if you are able, as we enjoy the reading of God’s Word:

Isaiah 9:1–7 (ESV): 9 “But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.

2 The people who walked in darkness

have seen a great light;

those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,

on them has light shone.

3 You have multiplied the nation;

you have increased its joy;

they rejoice before you

as with joy at the harvest,

as they are glad when they divide the spoil.

4 For the yoke of his burden,

and the staff for his shoulder,

the rod of his oppressor,

you have broken as on the day of Midian.

5 For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult

and every garment rolled in blood

will be burned as fuel for the fire.

6 For to us a child is born,

to us a son is given;

and the government shall be upon his shoulder,

and his name shall be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

7 Of the increase of his government and of peace

there will be no end,

on the throne of David and over his kingdom,

to establish it and to uphold it

with justice and with righteousness

from this time forth and forevermore.”

Good morning CrossBridge. I’m honored to be bringing you the Word of God today to start our celebration of the Advent season. I think that by way of introduction, it would be a good idea if I answer the question “what is Advent?” before we get too involved. The Holeman bible dictionary defines Advent thusly: “ADVENT - Word with Latin roots, meaning “coming.” Christians of earlier generations spoke of “the advent of our Lord” and of “His second advent.” The first phrase refers to God’s becoming incarnate in Jesus of Nazareth. The latter phrase speaks of Jesus’ second coming. In a second sense “advent” designates a period before Christmas when Christians prepare for the celebration of Jesus’ birth. This practice may have begun in some churches as early as the late fourth century. Advent began as a time of fasting. Sermons focused on the wonder of the Incarnation. By the Middle Ages four Sundays had become the standard length of the Advent season.” So, that’s a lot of words to tell us that Advent is a season of waiting. Just like in English, the Hebrew term for waiting can mean lots of things within the idea of waiting. We can use the word to mean to anticipate an event that is known to happen. How many of us heard the phrase “wait til you father gets home.” Or “today is report card / annual review day.” The Hebrews had a word for this kind of waiting, but being ancient Hebrew, the word is more of a word picture than just a simple word. That word is “Qavah.” Qavah means to wait actively with anticipation, hopefully watching for God to act. It is also the root word for rope. So, the picture it gives us is one of a rope under tension. As we see God acting that tension releases. As we wait for His action the rope gets tighter. This word is used 69 times but is only found in the Old Testament. It is predominantly found in Isaiah and in the Psalms. Let’s look at 2 quick examples:

Psalm 37:34a (ESV): “Wait (or Qavah”) for the Lord and keep his way, and he will exalt you to inherit the land…”

Or

· The Isaiah 25:9 (ESV): It will be said on that day, “Behold, this is our God; we have waited (or Qavah) for him, that he might save us. This is the Lord; we have (Qavah) for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.”

Do you see how the right words draw the right picture for us to better understand what Scripture is teaching us.

Let’s look at one more word before we move on. This word is “Yakhal.” Yakhal is also a Hebrew word for waiting but this draws a slightly different picture. This word is to wait in hope of something. This word is also used often in the Old Testament, but the definition is slightly different and the word picture is more accurate. In the account of Noah in Genesis 6-9 Noah and his family had to “Yakhal” for the waters to recede. Micah refers to farmers both Yakhal and Qavah for the morning dew that nourishes their crops. “Yakhal and Qavah appear over 40 times in the psalms. And in every use of the words in Psalms, the people are always waiting for God waiting (or hoping) for God himself.” So says John Piper in his sermon on biblical hope. The difference between these two words is mostly that Qavah grounds us in an action of God, while Yakhal grounds us in something we truly believe is coming.

Biblical hope is not established by wishing for the best outcome. That kind of hope is like hoping you win the lottery or that the color you painted the living room looks ok and you don’t have to buy a new couch. Biblical hope is built on the foundation of a person. When a person Yakhal’s or Qavah’s they accept the fact that their circumstances are not going to get better. Their hope is in God and as the prophecies are reviled their hope (and ours) is built on the foundation of the person of Jesus Christ.

The prophecy points to Jesus.

As we look at chapter 9 we can see how this prophecy points to the coming of Christ. Look with me at verses 1-5. The first verse leans heavily on chapter 8 as evidenced by the transitional word “but” as the start of the verse. The earlier part of this prophecy in chapter 8 speaks of the Israelites as being in gloom and anguish. Verse 1 goes on to say that in the past the Lord has brought the land of Zebulun and Naphtali into contempt. He did this by allowing these northern most lands to be used as the way into Israel. These lands were not only occupied first but were the staging areas for the Assyrian armies. The people of the lands were subjugated to the occupiers. They were captured and their lands were considered unclean by the Jewish people. This attitude continued long after the Assyrians were destroyed. The cities were considered a bane to Israel as they were difficult to defend and the armies of the north had continually used them for their attacks. But, as we look at Matthew 4:12 we see this:

Matthew 4:12–18, “12 Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee. 13 And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:

15 “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,

the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—

16 the people dwelling in darkness

have seen a great light,

and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death,

on them a light has dawned.”

17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

So, Jesus starts his public ministry by first redeeming the lands in the north. He does this by making it his “home territory” after leaving Nazareth. He is the light that is shining in the region of shadow and death. And he proclaimed himself to be that light in verse 17 by saying “Repent, for the kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” He represents that kingdom. He is the light of truth. Matthew 5:14-16 says “Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Jesus is showing them what it looks like to be the light, as he started preaching and became that shining light in the northern lands. It could be said that one of Jesus first acts was to make the nation whole again.

In verse 2 the prophet continues the brief history of Israel’s captivity; The residents of the northern land captivity are described at walking in darkness and their land is in deep darkness. But within those verses Isaiah talks about a great light. Not only did he frame the messiah as the light that redeemed the land but Jesus told us in John 8:12: “Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” The prophet thus far is pointing to the person who will defeat the gloom of the oppressed land and bring light to the darkness.

Verses 3-5 give a short history of Israel’s oppression and the subsequent freeing of the nation through God’s promises. What promises you may ask? In Genesis 12:1-2 God says this: “Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.” Isaiah refers to God’s promise of national enlargement. The growing of Israel from a small group of people into the mighty nation that God wanted them to be.

In verses 4 & 5 Isaiah speaks about the freedom that God has granted Israel. The freedom from pharaoh and from the Babylonian captivity. The references to the yoke and the staff and the rod are all pointing to those two oppressions. And this is where the prophecy really turns towards hope. The reminders of these terrible times for the nation are there to drive home the point that none of this is possible without God. That’s what the day of Midian is about. The “day of Midian” is invoked as an example of the Lord's power to save. This “day” refers to Gideon's battle with the Midianites in Judges 7–8, when the Lord helps Gideon, and his 300 soldiers conquer a vast army. The victory came only by God's power, not by human ingenuity.

As we move into verses 6 & 7 we get to see the “Jesus sandwich “Isaiah has made. There can be no denying that these two verses are a direct reference to Jesus. Isaiah started the chapter by talking about the northern lands that we see Jesus redeem in Matthew and now in these two verses we have the hope of the first and second coming. In between we are given several reminders that God is in control and this control culminates with the hope for the world. The coming of Jesus. Verse 6 prepares us for the hope of the incarnation or the birth of Jesus. It introduces him by some highly descriptive and yet familiar names. To the people that Isaiah is speaking to they would recognize these as messianic names. The original audience of this text would understand exactly to whom they refer. There’s no reason for us to be confused. Verse 7 then pushes the boundaries and speaks to the second coming of Jesus. You can see this in the use of infinite language. Terms like “there will be no end” and “forevermore” show the eternal reign after the second coming. Linking this. With the person seated on the throne of David only leaves room for this to be describing Christ.

God’s covenant fulfilled through Christ

In order to fully understand the hope we have as Christians and how that plays into the Advent season, we really have to have a solid understanding of what the covenants are and how they point to God’s plan of redemption through Christ. To accomplish this in a timely manner I want to keep what we will look at this morning to the 5 major covenants. They are: The Noahic Covenant, The Abrahamic Covenant, The Mosaic Covenant, The Davidic Covenant and The New Covenant. Just so we are all on the same page, let’s take a quick look at these covenants.

The Noahic Covenant - this is an unconditional covenant between God and Noah, specifically but generally it is between God and mankind. As we learned from Pastor Nate’s teaching a few weeks ago, this is a Covenant that ensures God will never again destroy the earth by water. And a very important point in this Covenant is that although God promises not to destroy the earth by water, He doesn’t surrender His right to judge sin as seen in 2Peter 2:4-6.

The Abrahamic Covenant - This Covenant deals with many promises to Abraham. In Genesis 122 there is the promise to make his name great. Then in Genesis 13:16 there is the promise to have his offspring as numerous as the dust of the earth. In Genesis 17:4-5 there is the promise that Abraham will be the father of a multitude of nations. Genesis 13 & 15 the Lord lays out the geographic boundaries promised to Israel. And lastly in Genesis 12:3 & 22:18 we see the promise that families would be blessed through the line of Abraham (this is particularly important as it is a clear reference to the Messiah who will come form the line of Abraham.

The Mosaic Covenant - this is a conditional covenant that as we see in Deuteronomy 11:26-28 this covenant ties to either blessings or cursing. That’s because this is the covenant that contains the 10 commandments as well as the rest of the law. (That’s approximately 300 positive laws and 300 negative laws).

The Dravidic Covenant – this Covenant is detailed in 2Samual 7:8-16. There we see, in brief, that this covenant amplifies the “seed” aspects of the Abrahamic Covenant. It does this by using the same type of eternal language we see in Isaiah 9:7. By that I mean the Lord promises that David’s lineage and his throne, would last forever and that David’s kingdom would never pass away. This is a reference to Luke 1:32-33 which is part of the annunciation of the incarnation.

Lastly, we have the New Covenant - (Jeremiah 31:31-34). The New Covenant is a covenant made first with the nation of Israel and, ultimately, with all mankind. In the New Covenant, God promises to forgive sin, and there will be a universal knowledge of the Lord. Jesus Christ came to fulfill the Law of Moses (Matthew 5:17) and create a new covenant between God and His people. Now that we are under the New Covenant, both Jews and Gentiles can be free from the penalty of the Law. We are now given the opportunity to receive salvation as a free gift (Ephesians 2:8-9).

As we seek the thread that ties these covenants together it helps us to (as my biblical theology class is tiered of hearing) look for the pattern in these covenants. What is it that flows through these covenants and makes them one family?

The first of the continuity patterns we see is that these covenants are between God and man. There are covenants mentioned in scripture between men. Jonathan and David made a covenant of friendship and peace that was to last through their descendants forever as seen in 1 Samuel 20:14–17, 42. But in these 5 main Covenants they are between God and man.

The next pattern we see it that it is mostly God that has to do something. There is some discontinuity in the Mosaic Covenant, however there is more placed on God then on us.

There are a few more patterns that I encourage you to seek out and study, but the pattern I really want to talk about is the pattern of salvation. I want you to see that as we Journey through these 5 Covenants the key factor is there having been fulfilled through Christ. In the Noahtic covenant God promises not to destroy the earth with water but says nothing about withholding His wrath in any other way. Enter Jesus. Jesus stands in my place and takes the full wrath of God for me so I can be absolved of my sin.

In the Abrahamic Covenant the promises that God make were secured through Christ in the New Testament as He redeems the land and by His travels sets the boundaries of the nation. And as we spoke of earlier, in Genesis 12 God promises that families would be blessed through the line of Abraham. In Matthew 1 the author makes it clear that Jesus is from that line. Therefore, it is he that will bless the families, and not just Jews but Gentiles as well.

In the Mosaic Covenant we (mankind) are given the law and the rules for the sacrificial system leaning on the original Passover. But in Matthew 5:17-20 Jesus say that he came to fulfill the law, not to abolish it. The Massiah, King Jesus takes on the roles and responsibilities of and for the sacrificial covenant and deems it unnecessary due to His substitution.

the Dravidic Covenant speaks the best to Jesus eternally. It not only seats Him firmly on the throne of David with all the authority that comes with that but uses the “eternal language” that speaks to Jesus’ past, present and future rule. One of God’s promises within this covenant, was to have the Messiah come from the line of David and sit on the throne. Jesus is that, Messiah.

Finally, we see the culmination of the pattern in the new covenant. The pattern of redemption through Jesus Christ. Through his substitution, he has taken on the role of the sacrifice, priest, king, Lord and savior. All the 5 covenants we just looked at culminate in Jesus and guide us to everlasting life with the Father.

Mankind’s Hope

And so, we wait for the hope that has been promised to us through the Scriptures. Isaiah has shown us that we should Qavah for Christ. He prophesied the names of the redeemer. In the 53rd chapter of his book, he describes the method of his death. From Isaiah’s point of reference, we should be wound up like a watch spring waiting for his incarnation. He has told us from the beginning of chapter 7 that the one who can redeem the nation, redeem the land, redeem the sin debt owed to God himself is coming. We should Yakhal. Remember the picture for this word. Yakhal grounds us in something we truly believe is coming. Through the course of time and scripture we have waited. As the covenants had set the picture of who we waited for. As the promises of God had led us to expectantly wait on the incarnation of God as man, and as king so we could be redeemed. We Qavah on God’s words knowing that there was nothing for us to do but wait. Through the prophecies that told us repeatedly of the coming of God’s son, like Isaiah 7:7 and today’s verse as well as Jeremiah 23:5 and Michia 5:2, we have waited.

And Christ came. God, faithful to his promises, God completing his covenants, God ever-loving of his creation said we should Yakhal no more. The savior of mankind was born. The waiting has paused but is not over.

We now Qavah not for the coming of our king but for the second coming of our king. He who had come bringing redemption had promised to return. In Matthew 24, John 14 and 1 Corinthians we see the promise of the return of King Jesus. He is coming back to complete the redemption of mankind and the planet we live on. His promises are made, and the outcome is assured. We can only Qavah and be as faithful to him as he is to us.

We have seen from the fulfilled promises from God past to the current salvation offered in God the present that there can be no doubt over the assurances from God for our future.

Conclusion:

We, who have accepted Christ, now await the future and second coming of our King. But we are not left as orphans or strays on the side of the road wondering where he could be. Let’s remember the lesson in John 14:1-6 that says: “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Jesus is our pathfinder. We have not been left in the cold dark of sin to wait and wonder. Jesus is a shinning light of the Father’s love and commitment to us. 186,000 MPS is what science says is the speed of light. But what is the speed of darkness? It has no speed; it is simply the absence of light. But we are not floundering around in the dark. We are whistling in the dark, because our king has come, and he acts as the way finder. Have you ever whistled in the dark? I have. It’s kind of creepy. But I have a point of light that I can believe in. I have the Lord of Lords who is readying a room for me. He IS the way. I rest easy know that he has been truthful in all his promises past so why wouldn’t I believe in his promises for the future?

Friends and family, brothers and sisters, believers and unbelievers, if you haven’t placed your hope in the eternal security of God’s promises, why not? If your hope does lye in Jesus but sometimes, you have doubts and questions, lean on his promises. Join us, your church family as we Qavah together for his second coming.

Pray.