Advent in Exile - Christmas Longing With IsaiahSample

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Have you ever had someone go above and beyond, to turn a frown into a smile or to go out of their way to make a bad situation not so stressful or heavy on you? I’m sure we all have a few stories like this. Our friend. Isaiah. does too, in a prophetic sort of way…
In Isaiah 61:1-7, Isaiah declares that things will be made right. God will restore honor, prosperity and an everlasting joy to His people.
In verse 8, Isaiah describes God’s character and reminds His people of His promises. He goes on in thankfulness for God’s justice and care for His bride. His righteousness is like a garden in spring; it’s life-giving.
This bride and this garden are on display in Song of Solomon 4:12, where He speaks of a private garden and in Psalms 37:23, where He delights in every detail of our lives. So, we do as Isaiah did and honor Him with thanksgiving (Psalms 69:30).
God’s longing for the garden experience with His bride is real. His story reflects an everlasting love for His bride. He showed this by laying His life down that we might be made right. In Luke 4:16-21 Jesus fulfills the prophecy when He stands up in His hometown synagogue and states that He is the one Isaiah wrote about. He is the one to bring good news to the oppressed.

We are the oppressed. He longs for us to have a relationship with Him, to become His bride. What Jesus did for us is to make a way where there wasn’t one. I pray we accept His invitation to the wedding party!

"In Light of this Advent Season, what is your heart longing for?"

-Marcus McDaniel