Worship Preparation Guide for Sunday, December 13

As you prepare for worship this week I encourage you to read the eighth and ninth chapters of Isaiah.  The brilliance of Isaiah 9:1-7 will shine as brightly as it should only when seen against the backdrop of the darkness of Isaiah 8. 

The good news of Immanuel – God With Us – is that the God who is with us is the God who wants to turn our darkness into light, our turmoil into total wellbeing (shalom–peace), our loss into increase, and our despair into joy.  The LORD of Hosts (the God of heaven’s armies) is passionate about this.  He will see that it gets done!

The ultimate question is ‘how’?  Isaiah has shown us that God is mighty (1:24), He is the Righteous Judge (2:4), He alone will be exalted (2:11), He is Holy (6:3).  So how can the Holy One dwell with those who are sinners?  How can the Righteous Judge receive those who are guilty?  How can the One who alone will be exalted be reconciled with proud rebels?  Surely this is too great a chasm to be bridged! 

God’s answer to this impossibility is a baby, a Son, a Prince with four names and a kingdom that will never end.  “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. (Is 9:6)

This baby we behold in Isaiah 9 is a gift of grace.  He is “given”.  He is from God.  And He is God.  The title that God takes for Himself in Isaiah is the title given this child. 

Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel 

and his Redeemer,  the LORD of hosts:  

“I am the first and I am the last; 

besides me there is no god.

Is there a God besides me? 

There is no Rock; I know not any.”  

(Is 44:6 & 8)

Declare and present your case; 

let them take counsel together!  

Who told this long ago?

Who declared it of old?  Was it not I, the LORD? 

And there is no other god besides me, 

a righteous God and a Savior; 

there is none besides me.  

“Turn to me and be saved,

all the ends of the earth!  

For I am God, and there is no other.  

(Is 45:21-22)

This is the child who is born.  This is the Son who is given.  He is like God because He is God!

The holiness of God seen in Isaiah’s vision of chapter six should have overwhelmed us.  Could the prophetic vision of this baby in Isaiah 9 elicit the same response from us?  Pray that it does. 

This Sunday we will sing this simple chorus: Turn your eyes upon Jesus.  Look full into His wonderful face; and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.  Will you make it your prayer of preparation?

We will also sing the Christmas Hymn  Joy Has Dawned Upon The World by the Keith Getty and Stewart Townend.   As you read Isaiah 9:1-7 consider these lyrics.  

Joy has dawned upon the world, 

  Promised from creation;

God's salvation now unfurled, 

Hope for every nation.

Not with fanfares from above, 

Not with scenes of glory,

But a humble gift of love— 

Jesus born of Mary.

Son of Adam, Son of heaven; 

Given as a ransom;

Reconciling God and man, 

Christ, our mighty champion!

What a Savior!  What a Friend!  

What a glorious mystery!

Once a babe in Bethlehem,  

Now the Lord of history.