Announcement: Freedom and Return!
Imagine a general amnesty for all prisoners in the United States. While that thought might scare us, there would be joy in many quarters. Fathers would see their families. Sons would see their parents. Heroes would return to their communities. Many lost in the system would see hope in freedom. The impact of such an amnesty was felt by the Jews when they heard the words of Second Isaiah.
The beginning of Second Isaiah presented a scene of divine command and the announcement of a town crier. God pronounced a nation-wide forgiveness and the crier announced the return of the exiles. [40:1-5] The joy of such an announcement must have accompanied the fall of Babylon to Cyrus and the Persian army in 539 B.C. A year later, the Persian ruler enacted an edict of return for the Jews in the Diaspora. They were to rebuild Jerusalem and restore the Temple.
The changing events justified the loyalty of the exiles to their God. Now YHWH could display his power, even through a foreign king. The Jewish nation could once again rally around their God. They could once again show a religious and patriotic pride. YHWH saved them! [40:9-11]
Freedom from bondage implicitly means return. Pardon from sin means return to God. As we wait for the coming of the Lord at Christmas, let us remember the words of Isaiah and their echo in the preaching of John the Baptist. Metanoia, repentance, means turn away from self-centered pursuits. And turning towards the Almighty.
How do you plan to turn away from the self this Advent? And turn toward God?
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