Thursday, December 14, 2017
Isaiah 40:3-5 The voice of one crying in the wilderness: "Prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted and every mountain and hill brought low; the crooked places shall be made straight and the rough places smooth; the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken."
THE PREACHER'S ADVENT MESSAGE: CALLS FOR REPENTANCE
The wilderness preacher, John the Baptizer, the Lord's forerunner, went before Jesus preaching two great themes: "Behold the Lamb of God" and "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
The desert is a picture of the spiritual condition of the hearts of all by nature. Since the fall into sin our heart is a wasteland, lacking anything which can create or sustain a God-pleasing life. Consider that when we are expecting guests, we prepare our homes. Even so, before the coming Lord ungodly attitudes and conditions need to be removed through the power of the Holy Spirit.
"Every valley shall be exalted..." The heart which feels its utter unworthiness needs to be lifted up with the sweet comfort, peace, hope, and joy in the gospel of Christ, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
"... Every mountain and hill brought low." With the jackhammer of God's law the prideful self-sufficiency of the sinful human heart needs to be bulldozed off.
"... The crooked places shall be made straight and the rough places smooth." The loveless ways by which people make life miserable for one another, and the rough places of disobedience to God's Word need to be cleared out that the Savior might find room in the heart.
Hark, the herald's voice is crying In the desert far and near.
Calling sinners to repentance, Since the Kingdom now is here.
O that warning cry obey! Now prepare for God a way;
Let the valleys rise to meet Him And the hills bow down to greet Him.
Make ye straight what long was crooked; Make the rougher places plain.
Let your hearts be true and humble, As befits His holy reign.
For the glory of the Lord Now o’er earth is shed abroad.
And all flesh shall see the token That His Word is never broken.
(Lutheran Service Book, 347:3-4)
