Third Saturday of Advent

Today’s Reading: Isaiah 10:20-27

Key Verse: A remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob, to the mighty God. ~Isaiah 10:21

This week concludes with a look to a future time when judgment will end and a remnant will return to God. The promise is that punishment will not continue against the people forever, but that a time was coming when (Isa 10:24-25) The people are encouraged to not be afraid and to “lean on the Lord, the Holy One of Israel” (Isa 10:20). Living one this side of the Incarnation these words have even greater significance. The people of Israel experienced the fulfillment of these words temporally when they were freed from the oppression of the Assyrians, who had been used by God to punish them for their disobedience. But these words also spoke forward of the coming of Christ and his death on the cross, when he would absorb the wrath of God for the sins of the world and bring an end to sin and death. Because of this we need not fear judgment if we are found in Christ (Rom 8:1). God’s ultimate desire is that we would “lean on the Lord” (Isa 10:20). God wants us to draw our life from him and be sourced in him. Our life and power are to come from him and he will be faithful to us.

Reflect: Have you found yourself stuck in a painful situation that you thought would never end? Have you been separated from God because of sin and felt as though you would never again be close to Him? Know that because of Christ’s work on the cross there is nothing that can separate us from his love. Today lean on the Lord.

God, you are the Lord, the Holy One of Israel and of the whole universe. Thank you for removing the sting of sin and death, for taking the punishment from me and placing it on Jesus. Thank you that in Him I have life. In His Name I pray, Amen.

For Further Reading: Jude 17-25 Luke 3:1-9 Psalm 55