O Come, O Come Emmanuel O Come, O Come Emmanuel And ransom captive Israel, That mourns in lonely exile here, Until the Son of God appear Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to you, O Israel.
1. New International Version 2. The Complete Jewish Bible.
Throughout this chapter of Isaiah, we have read about God’s returning the Israelites to Jerusalem. We have seen the power of God’s creation and how we are like grasshoppers.
Although we become disgruntled and weary, God’s energy and power are limitless.
In this passage, the central theme is hope and redemption. We have a choice. We can get crushed like a serpent or we can soar like an eagle.
What do you choose?
Let’s read this passage in Isaiah. Shall we?
1. New International Version 2. The Complete Jewish Bible.
28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. 29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. 30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 31 but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
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Isaiah 40:28-31 CJB
28 Haven’t you known, haven’t you heard that the everlasting God, Adonai, the Creator of the ends of the earth, does not grow tired or weary? His understanding cannot be fathomed. 29 He invigorates the exhausted, he gives strength to the powerless. 30 Young men may grow tired and weary, even the fittest may stumble and fall; 31 but those who hope in Adonai will renew their strength, they will soar aloft as with eagles’ wings; when they are running they won’t grow weary, when they are walking they won’t get tired.
Image Source: Created with AI using Soar Like an Eagle with the scripture above
Once we can wrap our heads around the fact that we can’t begin to fathom the greatness of God, we must rely on our faith.
If we believe that God is everywhere, the imagery of looking up in the sky reminds us of the vastness and limitlessness of our Divine Creator. Don’t you think?
Then, why do we often feel abandoned or overlooked by God?
Could it be in that very same vastness of the universe? We ask ourselves how God can possibly know our hearts when we seem so small in comparison. We feel lost. Lost in the vastness.
In this passage, the Creator of the heavens invites us to lift our eyes to heaven. Why? To show us how Each star in the universe is named, pointing to the fact that God knows every minute detail of ALL his creation, including us.
Let’s read this passage in Isaiah. Shall we?
1. New International Version 2. The Complete Jewish Bible.
25 “To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?” says the Holy One. 26 Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing. 27 Why do you complain, Jacob? Why do you say, Israel, “My way is hidden from the Lord; my cause is disregarded by my God”?
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Isaiah 40:25-27 CJB
25 “With whom, then, will you compare me? With whom am I equal?” asks the Holy One. 26 Turn your eyes to the heavens! See who created these? He brings out the army of them in sequence, summoning each by name. Through his great might and his massive strength, not one of them is missing. 27 Why do you complain, Ya‘akov; why do you say, Isra’el, “My way is hidden from Adonai, my rights are ignored by my God”?
Image Created by AI using scripture reference and key words
This passage speaks of a canopy or curtain that is spread from the heavens to protect the grasshopper from harm.
I can’t help but wonder if this is somehow related to the “veil” between life and death. In Matthew 27, we see that at the moment Jesus dies on the cross, the curtain of the temple is torn in two from top to bottom. Then, in 2 Corinthians, we read that “whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.”
Could these all be related and point to the sovereignty of God. Not only as the Creator but the divine presence between life and death?
Let’s read this passage for Day 9 of the 12 Days of Isaiah. Shall we?
1. New International Version 2. The Complete Jewish Bible.
21 Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood since the earth was founded? 22 He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in. 23 He brings princes to naught and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing. 24 No sooner are they planted, no sooner are they sown, no sooner do they take root in the ground, than he blows on them and they wither, and a whirlwind sweeps them away like chaff.
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Isaiah 40:21-24 CJB
21 Don’t you know? Don’t you hear? Haven’t you been told from the start? Don’t you understand how the earth is set up? 22 He who sits above the circle of the earth — for whom its inhabitants appear like grasshoppers — stretches out the heavens like a curtain, spreads them out like a tent to live in. 23 He reduces princes to nothing, the rulers of the earth to emptiness. 24 Scarcely are they planted, scarcely sown, scarcely their stem taken root in the ground, when he blows on them, they dry up, and the whirlwind carries them off like straw.
Image Created by AI using scripture reference and key words
In Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges, the question “To whom will ye liken God?” is asked. In this commentary, the error is not worshipping Jehovah by images, but in fact the thinking that God can be created by human hands.
So we ask ourselves, is this the folly of idolatry?
Here is my take on this. I’m sure we all know people of diverse faiths who worship in different ways. Some might pray to Saints and light candles and others may touch or kiss icons as a sign of worship and reverance. Would this be idolatry? No one knows. Yet, if we have faith, we have the ability to discern what might be pleasing or displeasing to God. Afterall, who else do you have to answer to?
Now, we turn to Isaiah 40:18-20.
1. New International Version 2. The Complete Jewish Bible.
18 With whom, then, will you compare God? To what image will you liken him? 19 As for an idol, a metalworker casts it, and a goldsmith overlays it with gold and fashions silver chains for it. 20 A person too poor to present such an offering selects wood that will not rot; they look for a skilled worker to set up an idol that will not topple.
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Isaiah 40:18-20 CJB
18 With whom, then, will you compare God? By what standard will you evaluate him? 19 An image made by a craftsman, which a goldsmith overlays with gold, for which he then casts silver chains? 20 A man too poor to afford an offering chooses a piece of wood that won’t rot, then seeks out a skilled artisan to prepare an image that won’t fall over.
10 See, the Sovereign Lord comes with power, and he rules with a mighty arm. See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him. 11 He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.
Isaiah 40:10-11 CJB
10 Here comes Adonai Elohim with power, and his arm will rule for him. Look! His reward is with him, and his recompense is before him. 11 He is like a shepherd feeding his flock, gathering his lambs with his arm, carrying them against his chest, gently leading the mother sheep.”
9 You who bring good news to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who bring good news to Jerusalem,[c] lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, “Here is your God!”
Isaiah 40:9 CJB
9 You who bring good news to Tziyon, get yourself up on a high mountain; you who bring good news to Yerushalayim, cry out at the top of your voice! Don’t be afraid to shout out loud! Say to the cities of Y’hudah, “Here is your God!
Lift Up Your Voice Diverse Choir Source: clker.com
3 A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. 5 And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
Isaiah 40:3-5 CJB
3 A voice cries out: “Clear a road through the desert for Adonai! Level a highway in the ‘Aravah for our God! 4 Let every valley be filled in, every mountain and hill lowered, the bumpy places made level and the crags become a plain. 5 Then the glory of Adonai will be revealed; all humankind together will see it, for the mouth of Adonai has spoken.”
1Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. 2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.
Isaiah 40:1-2 CJB
1“Comfort and keep comforting my people,” says your God. 2 “Tell Yerushalayim to take heart; proclaim to her that she has completed her time of service, that her guilt has been paid off, that she has received at the hand of Adonai double for all her sins.”
Image Source: Pinterest Comfort – Bressi Collection | Minimal Art
So far, we have unwrapped two gifts the wise men brought to Baby Jesus. In our last post, we discovered the second gift of frankincense, a gift of worship – fit for a king!
The Gift of Myrrh
Today, we unwrap the final gift – a reddish-brown sap from a thorny tree native to northeastern Africa and southwest Asia.
Join us as we unwrap how it reveals the eternal gift of life.
Why Myrrh?
Myrrh is known for its sacred tradition and somber significance.
Image Created by AI
It’s earthy scent. It’s healing and purifying properties. Its historical roots are in spiritual rituals and anointing kings.
Myrrh’s aromatic resin is a gift of preparation. It perfectly symbolizes the purpose of Jesus’ life and mission.
Think back to Esther’s purification rites. It represents readiness and sanctification. Today, it lingers in the air, reminding us to prepare ourselves.
Myrrh: The Gift of Purification
This gift invites us to examine our hearts and reflect on spiritual purity. Are we prepared to stand before God’s throne?
Let’s reflect for a moment on ourselves. Where do we fall on a scale of 1 to 10?
We know myrrh has been used throughout history as a sacred oil. Its spiritual value has been used in different religions and cultures as a source of purification and grounding. Ancient Egyptians used it for mummification and embalming. And in the Hebrew Bible, myrrh was used to anoint kings.
Thus, myrrh points directly to Jesus – the King of Kings.
Jesus & Myrrh: Perfect Together
This third gift foreshadows the death of Jesus. Christians believe that Jesus’s suffering and death were necessary for humanity to reconcile with God. Jesus was the sacrificial lamb.
For you. And for me.
Reflecting on this gift, we are reminded that Christmas’s joy leads to Easter’s hope. Baby Jesus, born in a wooden manger, was destined to die on a wooden cross. Right from the very beginnning.
The Eternal Message of Myrrh
The Gifts of the Wise Men reminds us that the story of Christmas does not end in Bethlehem. It points us to the cross, where Jesus laid down His life so we might have eternal life.
As we prepare our hearts for Christmas, remember the sacrifice He made out of love for us. Myrrh challenges us to embrace God’s purpose: to redeem, heal, and restore.
In our next series, 12 Days of Isaiah 40, we will explore the prophecies that point to the promise of Christmas.
Thank you for unwrapping The Gifts with me on this first part of Preparing Our Hearts for Christmas.
I and Thou Reflections 