HOPE HAS A NAME
Among various seasons of the year, Advent is one of my
favorite seasons. The five weeks leading up to Christmas stir varied emotions
of joy and anticipation while bringing back several beautiful childhood
memories of celebrating Christmas with my family in India. Advent has become
more meaningful for me since coming to the USA. What does Advent mean to you?
In recent years there has been a renewed interest and
rediscovering of the beautiful tradition of Advent, which began in the 5th
century among many Christian denominations. Karl Barth, the Swiss theologian,
exclaimed, "What other time or season can or will the Church ever have but
that of Advent!"?[1] This explains its
significance and locates us correctly in relation to the first and the second
coming of Christ. It reminds us of the past of God's initiatives toward the
world in Christ (Christmas) and prepares us for the future of God's coming
victory in Christ (the Second coming). It challenges us to live a sacrificial
life of love for God and people.
In a sense, the Christian community lives out Advent
all the Time. It can well be called the time Between the first
and the second coming of Christ in glory to judge the world. The Book of Isaiah
contains several compelling and hopeful prophecies pointing to Jesus. At the
time of Isaiah's prophecy in Isaiah 9:1-7, Israel went through a dark period of
hopelessness. The nation was at war, and people were living in terror. Amid such
circumstances, the prophet's words might have brought encouragement and hope to
a disillusioned community.
We live in a world of uncertainty. At our Thanksgiving
meal, we were asked to share what we were grateful for and what we wanted God to
do for us in 2023. A nine-year-old girl said, "I am thankful to be alive,
and I want God to keep me alive." During this Advent, as we ponder the timeless
themes, may we find Peace, Joy, Hope, and Comfort in God.
In life, we all go through disappointments, and they
are unavoidable. But it is not always easy to deal with them, even if our
setbacks are minimal. What causes disappointment? We are disappointed when what
we have hoped for does not happen. Our hearts are filled with sadness, anger,
frustration, and anxiety. King Solomon observed this phenomenon long ago and
said, "Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree
of life." Prov 13:12.
Before we go further, what is Hope? Hope is an
optimistic state of mind based on an expectation of positive outcomes concerning
events and circumstances in one's life or the world. It is a feeling of
expectation and desire for a sure thing to happen. The scripture defines Hope
as an expectation, a longing for something good to happen with an expectation
of obtaining it.
We place our Hope on people or the natural forces and
resources in the world, but at times it is misplaced because people cannot
consistently deliver what we expect of them to do. In contrast, Biblical Hope
is rooted in God. Ephesians 3:20, "Now all glory to God, who is able,
through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than
we might ask or think." This verse speaks of God's ability to provide. Will
God consistently deliver according to our expectations? How will we respond when God
does not answer our prayers?
I.
The providential names of God.
From the time Abraham was called
out of his own country to follow God and go to a foreign land, He saw God's
power firsthand. Subsequently, the Israelites have repeatedly seen God
fulfilling His promises to them. They named God based on how He worked in their
lives.
Here was how Israelites exclaimed about God's
trustworthiness. God saw the misery of an Egyptian maid Hagar, beside a spring
of water in the wilderness. After that experience, Hagar called God. El
Roi means "The God who sees me." (Gen 16:14). After
seeing God's provision to spare his son Isaac, Abraham called God Jehovah
Jireh, the Lord will provide (Gen 22:14).
God cured the bitter water in the wilderness so that
Israelites could drink and live, so they named Him Jehovah-Rapha,
the Lord who heals. (Ex15:26). Then we have a humble shepherd, David,
after becoming a great king of Israel called God, Jehovah-Rohi,
"The Lord is my Shepherd." (Ps 23:1-3). In each of these incidents,
people named God based on how He was involved in their lives. Our faith will be
strengthened when we meditate on the names of God.
Isaiah prophesied when Assyria threatened the people
of Judah. Isaiah tried to reassure the king of Judah Ahaz, asking only to have
faith in God, but Ahaz refused. Later, in 701 B.C., during Hezekiah's reign,
Assyria ravaged the Judean countryside, and Jerusalem itself almost fell.
During such tumultuous times, Isaiah preached a message of Hope for a repentant
Judah.
II.
Assurances of Hope in God. (Isaiah 9:1-5)
The first five verses in Isaiah chapter nine offer
five essential guarantees of Hope in God, for Judah, and for all those who put
their Hope in God. First, the times of darkness and despair
will not go on forever. Like the people of Judah, you might go through
a dark period. Be encouraged, dark days will not last forever, and there is
light at the end of the tunnel.
Secondly, people who walk
in darkness will see a great light. A light will shine for those who live in a
land where death casts its shadow. God becomes the light for those who walk in
darkness (sin) and brings life and healing to those experiencing physical and
spiritual death.
Thirdly, God will increase
resources and enlarge the impact of those who hope in Him. Fourthly,
God will break the bondage of sin and set His people free by removing those who
oppress them. Fifthly, God will put all wars to an end by finally
destroying Satan, the arch-enemy of God's people, which will happen at the end
of the age. These promises of Hope are for us today. When faced with doubt or
discouragement, put your Hope in God. He will meet your every need. How will
God fulfill these promises to those who hope in Him?
III.
HOPE HAS A NAME? (Isaiah 9:6-7)
The prophet Isaiah gave them a sign and a name. Vs.
6-7, "For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will
rest on his shoulders." All answers to the despair of the people of Judah
were found in a son who would be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. Who was this son who became Judah's
Hope?
Does this Hope have a name? Discovering that is the
ongoing theme of Advent. Fast forward to the New Testament Era to find out the
name of our Hope. In the Christmas story, we will read these encouraging words
of the angel Gabriel to the virgin Mary. "You will conceive and give birth
to a son, and you will name him Jesus." Luke 1:31. The English name Jesus
comes from the unique Hebrew name for God Yeshua, which means salvation.
Hope has a name, and that is Jesus, Yeshua. Mary and
Joseph took the baby Jesus to the temple to dedicate him. Simeon, who had been
waiting for the Prophet Isaiah's fulfillment, held Jesus and said, "I
have seen your salvation, which you have prepared for all people. He is a light
to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel!"
Luke 2:31-32
Jesus declared himself the Hope of the whole world, referring
to Isaiah's prophecy. "I will put my Spirit upon Him, and he will proclaim
justice to the nations… and his name will be the hope of all the world."
Matthew 12:21.." On this first Sunday of Advent, Isaiah's prophesied Son, Wonderful
Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace is our Hope.
Are you carrying a heavy load of care and guilt? Are
you feeling lonely, discouraged, and having seasonal depression? Whatever you
may be going through, look to Jesus, the Son of God, the Messiah, and you will
be saved. Let me close with this prayer, "God, the source of Hope, will
fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will
overflow with confident Hope through the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans
15:13
