Expecting: Isaiah the Prophet

The Advent season is full of much good, but it cannot completely dispel the bad. The refrain repeats in my heart and soul--this is not the way it was meant to be. The world was not meant to have evil. The world was meant to have greater good. Sometimes I wonder if anyone else feels or thinks this way about the world. It does not take long before I remember the prophets of the Old Testament. Who else was discontent with the current situation, knows of better days past, and must continue on with promises of a better day yet to come? The prophets. They lived with expectation, reminding the people of the hope they had (or should have). They looked forward with longing at would one day be. Isaiah's words of the coming Savior kindle the fire of hope within me. Below are a few passages foretelling the future reality. One day justice will reign, rejoicing will be common place, and light will abolish the darkness.


Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. ~ 7:14
But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.
The people who walked in darkness
    have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,
    on them has light shone. ~ 9:1-2

 There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse,
    and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. ~ 11:1
Shout, and sing for joy, O inhabitant of Zion,
    for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel. ~ 12:6
A voice cries:
“In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord;
    make straight in the desert a highway for our God." ~ 40:3
Behold my servant, whom I uphold,
    my chosen, in whom my soul delights;
I have put my Spirit upon him;
    he will bring forth justice to the nations.
2 He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice,
    or make it heard in the street;
3 a bruised reed he will not break,
    and a faintly burning wick he will not quench;
    he will faithfully bring forth justice.
4 He will not grow faint or be discouraged
    till he has established justice in the earth;
    and the coastlands wait for his law. ~ 42:1-4

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