Isaiah 62,1-5. Rorate Caeli. Advent IV

Isaiah 62,1-5 0424

Rorate Caeli 4 

Adam and Eve ✠ 930 years

Nativity of Jesus (lsb) 

24. December 2023

1. ℣ Drop down, ye heavens, from above: 

    ℟ And let the skies pour down righteousness (Isaiah 45,8). 

О Christ, Thou Son of God and Star of David, draw near to us and be in our midst , so that we behold Thy Light and Consolation; may You always shine forth from our hearts with joy.  Amen. (Starck 478). 

2. »For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not be quiet, until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, and her salvation as a burning torch. The nations shall see your righteousness, and all the kings your glory, and you shall be called by a new name that the mouth of Yahweh will give. You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of Yahweh, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God. You shall no more be termed Forsaken, and your land shall no more be termed Desolate, but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her, and your land Married; for Yahweh delights in you, and your land shall be married. For as a young man marries a young woman, so shall your sons marry you, and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you.« 

3. The Prophet Isaiah proclaimed that Yahweh will not keep silent, for He will show forth His righteousness and salvation for both Israel and the Gentiles. And, then, for 400 years Yahweh was silent. There were no prophets in Judah from Malachi until John the Baptizer arrived preaching a baptism of repentance.

4. Those 4 centuries may have been silent, but Yahweh was active; He worked among Judah and the Gentiles to put in place the final preparation for the advent of the Messiah. A chapter earlier Isaiah proclaimed: »The Spirit of Yahweh is upon me to proclaim the year of Yahweh’s favor« (Isaiah 61,1a.2a). We heard in today’s Gospel pericope: »In the 6^th month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a virgin, whose name was Mary: „Behold, you will conceive and bear a Son, and you shall name Him Jesus“« (Luke 1,26.27.31).

5. The Messiah brings Yahweh’s favor. Gabriel proclaimed that the advent of this Messiah is at hand; yes, this Messiah is now in Mary’s womb! Yahweh’s silence is ended. His angel has spoken. Soon the Messiah will move and kick in Mary’s womb. After He is born He will cry and laugh. Then He’ll stand in the temple courtyard amazing the scribes, Pharisees and rabbis with His knowledge of the Scriptures. Finally, He will teach in the synagogues, the countryside and at the temple itself: I am fulfilling the Scriptures!

6. Some some heard the Messiah and believed Him. Others doubted and were not sure. Some rejected Him and sought to destroy Him. Nothing has changed in 2000 years. 2.38 billion people are Christians, but that leaves 6 billion unbelievers. Some have yet to have heard of Jesus, others don’t know what to make of Him and the rest are hostile towards Him – they think they are doing God’s will by opposing Jesus.

7. Let the advent of the Son of God be proclaimed; let the Church be not silent. The Messiah is the Glory of Israel and the Christ is the Light of the Gentiles. God the Father‘s righteousness will be in the midst of mankind to bring blessings to all men and women.

8. Christ Jesus proclaimed: »I am the Light of the world. Whoever follows Me, will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life« (John 8,12). »If you abide in My word, then you are truly My disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free« (John 8,31-32). »If you keep My word, then you will never taste death« (John 8,52). Behold, we are hours away from celebrating once more the advent and arrival of Jesus our Messiah and Christ.

9.   ℣ O Morning Star, Splendor of Eternal Light and Sun of Justice:

℟ Draw near, and give light to those who are seated in darkness, and the shadow of death.

10. He will soon be appearing

In His glory

And all your morning and weeping

Will be turned into joy.

The one who can help He is

Keep your lamps ready and trim

And always be on the lookout for Him

For already on His way He is

 (Nun jauchzet, all ihr Frommen elkg 310,6 2021 Michael Schirmer 1640). 

This is most certainly true. 

11. The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4,7).  Amen. 

12. Let us pray. O Lord, give us grace to walk before Thee all the days of this our pilgrimage with a good conscience and pure mind, that when Thou shalt appear to reward every one according to their deeds, we may rejoice and not be ashamed before Thee at Thy advent. Grant this for the sake of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen. (Advent IV, Vespers Collect 2. The Daily Office. Copyright © 1965 Concordia Publishing House.) 

To God alone be the Glory 

Gode ealdore sy se cyneþrymm

✠

 

All Scriptural quotations are translations done by The Rev. Peter A. Bauernfeind using the Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia, 4. Edition © 1990 Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, Stuttgart, Septuaginta, Vol. I and II 2. Revised Edition © 2006 Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, Stuttgart and the Novum Testamentum Graece, Nestle-Aland 28. Revised Edition © 2012 Deutsch Bibelgesellschaft, Stuttgart. 

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