[Dailydevo] Daily Devotion Tuesday November 29, 2005

[bludwig@zlc-aa.org]

Daily Devotion Tuesday, November 29, 2005

The devotions this week are written by Christine Carlsen-Jones the Director
of Adult Discipleship at Zion. As we begin the season of Advent, she will be
exploring the marvelous text of Isaiah chapter 40.

 

Isaiah 40:3-5

A voice cries out: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, Make
straight in the desert a highway for our God.

Every valley shall be lifted up,  And every mountain and hill be made low;

The uneven ground shall become level, And the rough places a plain.

Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, And all people shall see it
together,

For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

 

Historical setting:

After years in exile, a prophet is called by God to preach comfort to the
people.  God is restoring Israel.  The Hebrew exiles will leave Babylon, as
their ancestors left Egypt long ago, and return home in a procession through
the wilderness between Babylon and Zion.  

 

Mountains and valleys leveled?

The pathway ‘home’ is so sure that it seems the valleys have been lifted up
and the mountains leveled.  Nothing – no political or military power, or
force of nature – will stand between the people and God’s promised comfort
and strength in their homeland.

 

Points to ponder:

‘In the wilderness, prepare the way of the Lord . . . ’     What have your
‘wilderness’ times been like?  What were the positive and negative aspects
of those experiences?  How did you – could you – use those times to create a
more direct connection between you and God?  What stands in the way?   God
promises us comfort and strength.  We prepare ourselves to see God’s glory.

 

Thank you, God, for the wilderness moments.  Remind me that the wandering,
the uncertainty of those times can bring me closer to you, no matter what
the obstacles.  Remind me to trust in your promise of comfort and strength.
Amen.


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