Friday, December 21, 2018

Advent Words: V is for Voice


V is for Voice


"You who bring good news to Zion,
    go up on a high mountain.
You who bring good news to Jerusalem,

    lift up your voice with a shout,

lift it up, do not be afraid;
    say to the towns of Judah,
    “Here is your God!”
See, the Sovereign Lord comes with power,
    and he rules with a mighty arm.
See, his reward is with him,
    and his recompense accompanies him.
He tends his flock like a shepherd:
    He gathers the lambs in his arms
and carries them close to his heart;
    he gently leads those that have young."
Isaiah 40:9-11

"Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices;
    together they shout for joy.
When the Lord returns to Zion,
    they will see it with their own eyes.
Burst into songs of joy together,
    you ruins of Jerusalem,
for the Lord has comforted his people,
    he has redeemed Jerusalem."
Isaiah 52:8-9

Amidst the many voices crying out for our attention during the Christmas season, Advent is a time to slow down and hear the voice of God through the Scriptures and the hymns and carols of the season. Voices proclaim the coming of the Messiah. They proclaim that God is with us!

God used Isaiah to be His voice to proclaim that He is the one who brings comfort to His people. Isaiah brought the good news of a future comforter who would be a mighty king (40:10), who would bring a reward for His people (40:10), and who would also be gentle like a shepherd (40:11). 

Isaiah's voice rang out: Behold, our God! Here is your God! God is with us!


He proclaimed of a time when with shouts of joy (52:8) the people would see the Lord "with their own eyes" (52:8). He called for God's people to sing songs of joy "for the Lord has comforted his people, he has redeemed Jerusalem" (52:9). Isaiah's voice still calls out to us today. He calls us to shout and sing songs of joy that our Savior has come! The One whose strength and power comes wrapped in gentleness is here! 

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep...I know my sheep and my sheep know me—just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—I lay down my life for the sheep." John 10:11, 14-15

The good shepherd gathers his lambs in his arms, carries them close to his heart, and gently leads them. He comforts His people and rewards them with His redemption. We too are called by God to lift our voices, to proclaim: Here is your God! Behold, our God is with us!

Behold our God seated on His throne,
Come, let us adore Him.
Behold our King! Nothing can compare,
Come, let us adore Him!
Behold Our God by Sovereign Grace Music




Share your creative response to the Advent Words challenge in our private Facebook group  Join here:   https://www.facebook.com/groups/Wordschallengegroup/

If you belong to the Everyday Journal group that I co-lead with Valerie Sjodin and Bernice Hopper, Advent Words will be our theme for December.

Share on Instagram and other social media with the hashtag #adventwords2018.


Check out my Pinterest board for this challenge and see some of the wonderful and diverse creativity of Advent Words 2018 participants. https://www.pinterest.com/marynbtol/advent-words-2018-challenge/

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