The God Who Restores - AdventSample

Week 1—Come, Lord Jesus!

Waiting for Deliverance

Read: Isaiah 2:1–5

SOAP: Isaiah 2:5

O descendants of Jacob, come, let us walk in the Lᴏʀᴅ’s guiding light.

Into the Text

Isaiah’s prophecies were meant to warn the people of Judah of their need to repent and turn back to the Lord and remind them of the hope they had in the coming Messiah. Though they lived in a time of war, chaos, destruction, and fear (a result, for the most part, of their own sin), their God would not abandon them. He would send a redeemer, the Messiah, who would save and restore them.

Even though there was judgment to come, God offered a glimpse into the future glory of Jerusalem. The people of God would be drawn to His dwelling place; they would come to the Lord’s temple and follow Him. They had sinned against God and would incur His wrath, but He would fully restore them in His perfect time.

That is the character of our God. No matter what we have done or how we (personally and corporately) have turned against Him, He is the God who restores. He sent His Son as the redeemer of our souls. He is the hope we have, the promise of restoration. When we walk in His guiding light, we see the future hope we have in Him.

The people of Judah were looking forward to the first Advent, the coming of the Messiah. Today, we live between the first and second Advent. Christ has come, and He is coming again! While we live in a broken world, there is a better one to come. Our God promises to restore, redeem, and reclaim what has been lost.

As we step into this Advent season, may we turn our hearts to Him and reflect on His character. Though our world is crippled by sin and death, nothing will keep Him from fulfilling His promises. We are still waiting for the fulfillment of this prophecy in Isaiah 2. As we do, may we continue to walk in the Lord’s guiding light, leading us to faith and abundant life in Him.