A Divine Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde?

Preparing for the Third Sunday of Advent: One Day before Sunday (Year C)

Scripture

Isaiah 12:2-6; Amos 9:8-15; Luke 1:57-66

___

Prayer

Awaken us, O Lord God, with your grace for the future. As you graciously forgive our sins, protect and strengthen us from all danger of future sins so that we may serve you with a clear conscience and joyfully receive our Lord Jesus Christ when he comes again in glory; he lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever. Amen. (christianity.com)

___

Reflection

The eyes of the Lord God are upon the sinful kingdom,

    and I will destroy it from the face of the earth

    —except that I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob,

            says the Lord.

For I will command

    and shake the house of Israel among all the nations,

as one shakes with a sieve

    but no pebble shall fall to the ground.

All the sinners of my people shall die by the sword,

    who say, “Evil shall not overtake or meet us.”

On that day I will raise up

    the booth of David that is fallen

and repair its breaches

    and raise up its ruins

    and rebuild it as in the days of old,

in order that they may possess the remnant of Edom

    and all the nations who are called by my name,

    says the Lord who does this.

The time is surely coming, says the Lord,

    when the one who plows shall catch up with the one who reaps

    and the treader of grapes with the one who sows the seed;

the mountains shall drip sweet wine,

    and all the hills shall flow with it.

I will restore the fortunes of my people Israel,

    and they shall rebuild the ruined cities and inhabit them;

they shall plant vineyards and drink their wine,

    and they shall make gardens and eat their fruit.

I will plant them upon their land,

    and they shall never again be plucked up

    out of the land that I have given them,

            says the Lord your God (Amos 9:8-15).

It can be really jarring to read the prophets of the Old Testament when God pronounces judgment, serious judgment upon God’s people for their disobedience; and then yet turns around and in almost the next breath promises deliverance, hope, and salvation.