Nothing will hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain,       for as the waters fill the sea,       so the earth will be filled with people who know the LORD.

Isaiah 11:

The prophecies of Isaiah weave together judgment and forgiveness, doom and hope. God’s judgment is coming to Israel for her persistent disobedience, but that’s not the end of the story. In the future, God will raise up a new ruler, a shoot out of the stump of David’s family (v. 1). He will be empowered by God’s own Spirit. He will be a king who executes justice and righteousness. In the day of the messianic rule, not only will former enemies live in peace, but also “the earth will be filled with people who know the LORD” (v. 9).

More than the other Hebrew prophets, Isaiah’s vision includes the blessing, not just of Israel, but even of all nations. We’ll see this again and again throughout the book of Isaiah. His prophecies are the precursor to the mission of the followers of Jesus, who are to make disciples of all nations (Matt. 28:19).

          

                   Image by Joshua Mayer. Used with Permission. Source via Flickr.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: Do you yearn for the earth to be filled with people who know the Lord? What part do you play in helping others know God? How do you bear witness to him in your daily life?

PRAYER: O Lord, the day will come when the whole earth will be filled with people who know you. What a day that will be! Finally you will receive the honor you deserve. Finally your name will be glorified rather than mocked. Finally your kingdom will come in all fullness. Finally you will make all things right.

How I look forward to the day when:

at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
      in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
      to the glory of God the Father (Phil. 2:10-11).

What a privilege and joy it will be to join with people from all nations as we bow before you, Lord Jesus. Until that day, may I be part of your effort to let the world know about you. In my words and deeds, in my private life and my professional life, whether I’m at church or at work, may I be a channel of your good news. Amen.

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P.S. from Mark: For centuries, the Christian season of Advent has enabled people to prepare for a deeper celebration of the birth of Christ. Through Advent, we can grow closer to God and experience his loving presence.

During this season, we invite you to join us in thoughtful expectation, as we share daily Advent reflections in this online space. I have written many of these reflections myself, and we have invited a few editors from The High Calling, along with other guests from our extended network, to share reflections during this season of Advent. Whether you use this guide for your personal time with God or as part of a family devotional time, we pray it will open your heart to knowing God’s love more deeply in this Christmas season and preparing to receive the greatest gift, the birth of Christ.

Featured image courtesy of Laity Lodge, one of our sister programs in the Foundations for Laity Renewal.