The Advent of Hope 2023

Intro

Advent is the beginning of the liturgical year on the church calendar. As we discussed last week, advent means the arrival of a notable individual. In this case we recognize and celebrate the arrival of the Lord Jesus, both the incarnation and the second coming.

There are 4 themes that are typically focused upon in this season. Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love. These 4 things are what Jesus brought us!

Over the coming weeks, we will examine each of these through the historical lens of the people expectantly awaiting the arrival of the Messiah.

Today, we begin with the hope of the coming Messiah. Last week we exained what took place leading up to the coming of the Messiah. It wasn’t pretty.

Today, lets read one instance of what they had to look forward to. Isaiah 25:6-9

Isaiah 25:6–9 ESV

On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine, of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined. And he will swallow up on this mountain the covering that is cast over all peoples, the veil that is spread over all nations. He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the Lord has spoken. It will be said on that day, “Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us. This is the Lord; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.”

A Hope for All Peoples

Isaiah 25:6 (ESV)

On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine, of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined.

God told the people of Israel that on Mount Zion, which is in essence the city of Jerusalem, he will make a feast for all peoples.

Let’s break this part down real quick. At this point, Israel was still in decent shape. Isaiah was writing this around the later 600s-700s BC. So this was at least about a century before the Babylonian exile. Israel, in their mind, had nothing to worry about. But as we see in chapter 24, God is going to cast down some serious judgment on them. The good times are going to come to an end. And there will be some major destruction.

Israel refused to listen. Now, Isaiah was also prophesying this about the end times too. But I believe we can see a glimpse of the Babylonian exile here too.

So when we get over to chapter 25 to see some hope, the people of Israel reading this surely is expecting this to be the first coming of the Messiah. He’s going to come to rule and reign, right here in our own backyard!

The LORD of hosts - means the LORD (Yahweh) of hosts of angel armies. This reflects and references his almighty power.

All peoples - The word for peoples here is not meant to be taken as all individuals, but all nations or people groups. This is the same word that we see in the New Testament about making disciples of all nations.

The types of food mentioned at the feast is an excellent example of God’s provision for his people. These provide a poetic imagery of the food that is to be at this feast.

A Hope for Restoration

The next section illustrates the destruction that is required for our restoration. He will swallow up all that is separating us from Him!

“The covering that is cast over all peoples” - This is the covering of mourning and sorrow for the sin that is in the world. The people will be surrounded by the desolation mentioned in ch 24. But the Lord will remove that sadness.

The veil - traditionally, a veil was worn during periods of mourning. Since there was no more mourning, that veil could be removed from the peoples of the earth.

That’s why he follows this up with the removal of death forever, and that he will wipe away every tear. Sadness and death will not exist!

With the covering removed, the peoples can be in communion with God and can be restored in their relationship with him. Think about the relationship that Adam and Eve had with God while in the garden. They walked through the garden together. They had a sincere relationship.

That is what is to come.

A Hope for Eternity

Isaiah 25:9 (ESV)

It will be said on that day, “Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us. This is the Lord; we have waited for him; Let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.”

At this point, we see the victory. All the struggles have paid off. The Lord has reigned victoriously!

I love the phrase “this is our God.” This refers back to God’s promise to Israel. “I will be your God and you will be my people.” I don’t believe there was any wiggle room in the interpretation or the application of that.

Yahweh is their God and they are Yahweh’s people. However, look at who is saying that here. It’s the all peoples! The God of Israel is not just for Israel, but he is for all!

“We have waited for him, that he might save us”

Romans 8:18–25 ESV

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

All of creation is longing and waiting for the eternal salvation of the Lord to come! It has already come for us! We are the masterpiece of creation, the co-heirs with Christ. So we got the early release! We received the atonement for our sins before the world around us received the salvation for the sin in the world.

One day all will be free from sin and death. But right now, that is only available to us.

Right now, is when we need to declare that this is our God! And right now is the time for us to receive and rejoice in his salvation!

Have you done that?

Closing

The OT Israelites didn’t have the concept of a second coming of the Messiah. They were expectantly awaiting the first arrival and for that to be the only arrival. However, Jesus came as a servant to bring us salvation.

Have you received that salvation? Do you have that eternal hope?