ZPCBlog

About the author: Barb Luther is a mother to three adult children and grandmother to seven. She is a charter member of ZPC and has enjoyed serving in many church roles throughout the years. Most recently she is active with Second Half Adventurers, Starting Anew, and Monday Night Soul Sisters. ZPC has truly served as her second family for which she is most grateful. 

⁷ How beautiful upon the mountains
    are the feet of the messenger who announces peace,
who brings good news,
    who announces salvation,
    who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”
⁸ Listen! Your sentinels lift up their voices;
    together they shout for joy,
for in plain sight they see
    the return of the Lord to Zion.
⁹ Break forth; shout together for joy,
    you ruins of Jerusalem,
for the Lord has comforted his people;
    he has redeemed Jerusalem.
¹⁰ The Lord has bared his holy arm
    before the eyes of all the nations,
and all the ends of the earth shall see
    the salvation of our God.
Isaiah 52: 7-10

Our scripture verses today begin with the proclamation of good news! God is bringing his people home from exile in Babylon. There are also many celebratory phrases included such as “Your God reigns and shout for joy!” Our God has a heart for celebration!

In Old Testament times, God often commanded that his people remember. He also required them to make three pilgrimages each year to Jerusalem to attend the feasts of Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles. These seven-day events all commemorated God’s faithfulness in the lives of his people. I can imagine how they so joyfully celebrated along the long journey on foot as they gathered with loved ones and friends not seen for a while. 

God knows we are a forgetful people especially when it comes to our spiritual lives. I find myself often focusing on the pains and traumas in my life rather than God’s past faithfulness, his love and care for me, his times of intervention and help. There is a Hebrew word, Zakhar, which means “to remember.” In the Hebrew culture it means to remember so that we can move forward in our lives with renewed trust and hope in our God who is always faithful.

What greater love do we have to remember and celebrate every Advent season than the birth of Emmanuel – God among us! He was born for you and for me! This season will you take some time to Zakhar those times when God has blessed you and then celebrate those events? Perhaps God is nudging you to invite an unsaved neighbor or relative to hear about your “God moments” and celebrate over a meal or warm cup of tea? Grandparents, share with your grandchildren and parents, your children!  Watch a movie together. I recently enjoyed Christmas with The Chosen: Holy Night. Our God is loving and faithful and has a heart for celebration! What better news do we have to share with others!

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation…  Isaiah 52: 7-10 

Dear Loving Father,
You indeed are loving and faithful! You are beautiful and good! Help us to focus and remember those times in which you have blessed our lives, especially this time of year as we celebrate the momentous event of your birth among us. Give us courage to share this news with others with hearts of celebration! We love you, our Lord and Savior!

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