I’ve been so focused on school work lately that I haven’t thought too much about the Christmas season yet nor been in the mood to start playing Christmas carols or to pause and enjoy the lights going up around me. But this morning I went shopping for some decorations and suddenly it hit. Ideas for decorating the front porch began whirling in my mind and I started singing along with the Christmas carols playing in the store. I think I’m ready to start enjoying the season. This was confirmed when I read through Isaiah 52 and began singing “Go Tell It On The Mountain” bringing back memories of Christmas caroling with my youth group.
Photo by Craig McKay on Unsplash
But more than that what struck me as I was reading through the chapter was its call to get up and celebrate the fact that God showed up to rescue us so that we could be redeemed. Its as if the prophet is jumping up and down, waving his arms, and shouting as loud as he can, “Look! Wake up! Don’t you see what God has done and what that means for you!” He draws our attention to the fact that God has set us free. He has made us whole, clean and beautiful and does not intend for us to keep living in dirt. The prophet calls us to sing for joy and to declare from the mountain tops that God is king and that he has rescued us.
After waving his hands wildly and jumping up and down shouting, the prophet huddles in to describe how God accomplished our rescue in Isaiah 53. God put our sins on his suffering servant and made his life an offering for sin so that he could make people righteous. Isaiah 54 returns to the appropriate response, “Sing!” For some reason the prophet’s message seems very timely today. Perhaps I needed the reminder to look up, see Jesus and celebrate his amazing gift. Maybe you need that reminder too.
As you begin to prepare for the Christmas season this year remember the prophet’s call to wake up and sing about the salvation of our God. Be one of those beautiful messengers who announce God’s salvation bringing the good news of his rescue to our friends and neighbors. Christmas is one of those seasons where we have a unique opportunity to point people to Jesus since it is a season that celebrates his coming to earth as God stepping into human history and making himself known.
