Sunday, December 4: Scripture – Isaiah 40:1-2, Living Bible
1 “Comfort, yes, comfort my people,” says your God.
2 “Speak tenderly to Jerusalem and tell her that her sad days are gone. Her sins are pardoned, and I have punished her in full for all her sins.”
Isaiah uses a doubly emphatic, comforting word, for the returning captives from Babylon: “Comfort, Comfort”. The various translated reasons: compulsory service in warfare, hard service, forced labor, sad days, served her sentence. Now the comfort: your sins, wrongs, have been punished twice. Twice? “That she has served her sentence, that her sin is taken care of—forgiven! She’s been punished enough and more than enough, and now it’s over and done with.” (Isaiah 2b—The Message) This is the opening aria of Handel’s “Messiah. Here is an opportunity for elementary children and adults to experience this. Gather several forms of candy (sticks, fish, circles, and POP ROCKS etc.) and spread them out. Give each participant a paper towel or waxed paper. Listening to the first three pieces of the Messiah, [I suggest this version, starting at 5:05 and ending at 14:15], and using the candy, express how the music makes you feel–there are no wrong ways! When the music has ended, you may eat the candy. Listen to the words and music—a great way to introduce a “newbie” to the Messiah.
Prayer: Thank you for comforting the returning captives and for continuing to comfort us today. Your coming glory reminds us of the beauty and order of the Kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, despite the present chaos in our nation and lives. Comfort, comfort us. We pray in your glorious revealed name. Amen.
Joan Reid
