LOOK AHEAD: Episode 2
Message Recap
This year looks truly different for most of the world. In the midst of a pandemic, political upheaval, and social injustice many of us have seen that in many ways, our world remains consistent. Particularly, we find that as a people, we remain impatient. The pressure points of patience are constantly strained as we wait for a vaccines, economic relief, presidential inauguration and social reform. We are inundated with media messaged everyday that inch us slowly towards hopeful resolve of these issues because we simply “can’t wait” to stroll into the next season; a different, new and better “season” of our lives. Every year, Americans “couldn’t wait” for the holiday shopping season to begin so the remedy to this unwillingness to wait as been to double our average yearly spending with online shopping. The question is, why are we so anxious? What should we be doing in the season of waiting?
I could ask a consumer in the marketplace “ What’s the hurry?” and surely the answer will be “because I need this now! Or I have to do this before… X, Z or Z. Assuredly, there is someone I must or somewhere I need to be!
The sick and afflicted are- waiting for to be healed.
The unemployed - are waiting for employment
Entrepreneurs – are waiting for business to return to normalcy
The single man/woman is - waiting on companionship, “I don’t want to live or die alone”
Those grieving are - waiting for comfort
The depressed - are waiting for mental health stability
The oppressed are - waiting for Justice
But because Our seasons of waiting can tempt us to rely on quick fixes or short-term solutions, instead of waiting on God to work.
The sick and afflicted – resolve that there is no hope
The unemployed – pray for stimulus checks, search desperately for financial aid and passionately pursue profit because purpose isn’t really the point
The single man/woman is - compromises and rushes into what “feels” right
Those grieving and depressed - fall in to addiction or take matters into their own hands
The sick - give up
The oppressed - fight back or suffer silently.
No matter the scenario, the cause is “waiting” and the effect is “because I hate waiting” I submit to you today that we are a people and a humanity that are waiting for far more than new products, great deals, or even remedies to life’s ailments.
We are a people who have deep-seated anticipations and longings for the world around us to be different. While we may participate in the race to nowhere, we want to be taken somewhere. While we may wait through suffering in silence, we long for a voice. We want to be delivered. We want the creation to be liberated. Then we turn to the first century, the very real context of today's passage, and we are invited to further reflect on what they we’re waiting for!
But there will be no more gloom for her who was in anguish; in earlier times He treated the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali with contempt, but later on He shall make it glorious, by the way of the sea, on the other side of Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles. 2 The people who walk in darkness Will see a great light; Those who live in a dark land, The light will shine on them. 3 You shall multiply the nation, You shall increase their gladness; They will be glad in Your presence As with the gladness of harvest, As men rejoice when they divide the spoil. 4 For You shall break the yoke of their burden and the staff on their shoulders, The rod of their oppressor, as at the battle of Midian. 5 For every boot of the booted warrior in the battle tumult, And cloak rolled in blood, will be for burning, fuel for the fire. 6 For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. 7 There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this.
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