You could not stay silent, could You?

Today we on first day of Advent we will read a prayer. It starts in Isaiah 63:14. << Read Isaiah 63:14-19>> You see what a dire situation the people of Israel are in? Isaiah lays it all in front of Him. Open: Where are you? We thought we could count on You, Father! Why!? What’s left of the short time of goodness? Then we come to the scriptures for today. << Isaiah 64: 1-3 >> Comes from deep within! The solution is so easy: if only you would come and act. That is all that is needed. Enemies - so bid. But if You Yourself would tear up the shield between heaven and earth… Presence of God - not just: comforting. “ He is here, so I feel fine.” No, it is much more. Everything that is against God would scare and tremble and melt. First words of prayer. “ Oh…!” Not just prayer “ good to pray” . Comes from deep within. Deep aching graving for the Lord to come. Everything that is against Him would vanish. Prayer that we pray, when someone is sick. Prayer that we pray, when someone is captivated by demons… they have done enough shaking - I want them to tremble. Something we pray when we hear the terryfying news from all over the world. Something we pray when we see how our country has left God and more of more we unmistakingly see the consequences of it in a society that is falling apart. When we hear a project developer proudly announcing the sell of first class apartments, build in a former church. When we are the only one in our department that follow Christ. If only you would come down, Lord! Tear up the heavens, bridge the gap. Verse 3: you have done it with Moses on Mount Sinai. No one, could stand there and neglect Him. The mountain shaked. Do it again!

“O come, O come, Emmanuel, And ransom captive Israel, That mourns in lonely exile here, Until You appear.”

Let’s pray like that during Advent!

2. But what happens to me if He comes

The thing about praying is: praying not only changes God. While speaking to God, He also brings us into true reality. Look what happens to Isaiah in this prayer. Closely follow him... << Read Isaiah 64: 4- 7 >>

You see what happens? ...

Praise for who God is. Confidence: He acts for those who 1. wait upon Him - not making there own lifes when it takes time for God to act, I will grab it myself. 2. Do rigtheous with joy - not just doing good. But attitude of life: this is what brings happyness. That is why I do it! Jesus: I have a different spice! 3. Remember God in His ways Heart is in it!

Slowly te penny drops.... That is not us! That is not me…

In the preceding stanza it all seemed so easy for a God as mighty as the Lord to ‘show his face’ and put all things to rights. But, asks this central stanza of the poem, why should such a God as he intervene for such people as we? This is the stanza which faces the hard questions.

God is angry – verse 5

I was happy with the anger of God. But... << vs 5-6>> Behold, you were angry, and we sinned;

in our sins we have been a long time, and shall we be saved?

6  We have all become like one who is unclean,

and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment.

We all fade like a leaf,

and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.

Not just sins… Our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. No joy in it! Way further than outside behaviour. Why did you do it? Did you do your things for God , or did you want to be close to God.

7. No one who prays. How can I invite God, when my life is like that? Hard question of Advent… if He comes… who says it will be to set us free?!

True christianity will always realize: I cannot point outside. Yes, go get them God! Because there is no “ them” 6a: we all. all our… we all...

Huge problem.... look around. Do I want God to come? Yes! Look where we are! But no: look who I am!

3. Plea: a. Gods character Father potter

That is also part of who we are..

b. Look:

your holy cities our holy and beatiful house… covenant!

Ends in terrible question...

verse 12. Amen?! Not a powerful prayer on the promises. What will the answer be?

Isaiah 65 - 66!

Opennes of prayer.... Isaiah 53: 4