READ | SERMON NOTES
Summary l People in the Old Testament held a bad theology thinking that since they have the Temple of Solomon, God is obligated to defend the city, and their enemies cannot triumph over them. They treated the temple as a talisman. With this mindset, the people felt that it did not matter how they live their lives because they live in the Holy City. The Prophets Jeremiah and Isaiah were against this thinking.
1. Hopelessness
Therefore, when the people were exiled to Babylon, they were devastated and felt forsaken because they were far from God who sat (to them) only in the Holy Land. They were in major crisis because God cannot hear them from so far away. They were in a state of hopelessness! People felt they were weak, feeble and fearful. They also felt useless, helpless and dependent on others.
We may feel like them too – in the wilderness that is dry, like a desert. Nobody wants to be in such a place.
2. Hope
Isaiah brought the message of hope to the people: Emmanuel – God with them. He will come to save them. The weak suddenly found comfort and strength. The helpless found joy and restoration. The land that was a desert suddenly blossomed into a garden. The hopeless state was suddenly reversed with God’s coming. The spiritual desert suddenly became streams of living water.
The images that Isaiah shared were all fulfilled by Emmanuel – God coming amongst us. He is coming to save.
3. Homecoming
The homecoming journey is not just physical. With the promise from God, the people thought they will all be taking the highway back. The people wished for the empire of David to return, so that they will become rich and powerful again. They will then dominate over their enemies. However, the people continued to be oppressed after the Babylonian rule.
The metaphorical highway is
i. Redemption – people who are weak will be redeemed and accepted into the family. Jesus is our redeemer and we are the new creation. Everything old has passed away.
ii. Repentance – people who will walk the Holy Way and return to worshipping, following, obeying and seeking God. Homecoming required the people to turn from their evil ways to the holy way.
iii. Rejoice – the people who returned were still oppressed and faced many trials and tribulations. The homecoming joy is about finding in God their saviour and redeemer. They found in God their salvation.
The homecoming joy is not about finding a place but finding their place in God. It is not about building a road, but finding the way where God ransoms them. Jesus also said in His Father’s house, He will come and take us with Him.
We hope that Jesus will take us out of our problems and put us in Eden. It does not work like this. We need to be found in Christ; in God’s presence to find love, joy and peace.
(Sermon notes by Honey Vreugdewater)
PONDER | REFLECTION QUESTIONS
- Read Isa.35 and describe the depression and discouragement in the Exiles with modern-day examples.
- Recall the key points in the sermon and which point impacted you most?
- How will you live differently because of what you have learnt?
- Is there someone who needs to know this advent message? How will you bring this message to him/her?
