Advent Day 13 – Isaiah 7 verses 10 – 15a (Our souls shall magnify the Lord (Isaac Watts))
Bible Reading Isaiah 7 verses 10 – 15a
10 Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, 11 “Ask the Lord your God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights.”
12 But Ahaz said, “I will not ask; I will not put the Lord to the test.”
13 Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of humans? Will you try the patience of my God also? 14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. 15 He will be eating curds and honey when he knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right
Opening Prayer
Lord, help us always to be open to the promptings of your Holy Spirit. Let our times of prayer be two way conversations and not just a monologue from our side. Help us to listen as well as speak and to be aware of your gentle hands guiding us and encouraging us on our journey with you. Amen.
Reflection
We perhaps do not ask God for confirmation that our decisions are correct often enough. Possibly that is because we do not want to be told we are wrong. Asked by God to ask for a sign, Ahaz refuses saying he will not put the Lord to a test. Even though God has asked him to do so!
The context of the passage is that Ahaz has a choice to trust God or to make a political alliance with the Assyrians. God wanted Ahaz to join his plan and his offer of a ‘sign’ is to demonstrate that he is trustworthy. God was trying to make it easy for Ahaz to trust him rather than the military might of Assyria. Ahaz refuses with his rather pious-sounding version of it’s ok I can fix this myself. Ahaz goes on to sign a non-aggression pact with Assyria. Who promptly invaded, Meaning Ahaz was the last real king of David’s line until the coming of Jesus.
Isaiah is naturally annoyed with Ahaz’s refusal. He then goes on to prophecy the birth of Jesus.
I wonder how many of us try God’s patience? How many of us do not come before God to ask for direction at important times in our lives. Maybe we feel our lives and the decisions we take are not important enough to bother God with or, like Ahaz, that we know our own minds and can make our own decisions.
We think that God knows each one of us and has a place for us in his world but are reluctant, for whatever reason, to acknowledge that God is present in every single moment of our lives. That no decision we take is too small for God to want to be involved in. Each of our decisions shapes our lives and opens opportunities for us to draw closer to God. So if you have decision to make which you are concerned about do not be worried about asking God for a sign to help you make your decision or to confirm the decision you feel is the correct one.
A time for your own reflection
Read the passage again and spend a little time thinking of how the passage speaks to you. The wonder of scripture is that there is always something new to discover and each passage speaks to us in our own need and circumstances.
Only if you feel you want to – share your thoughts with someone. God inspires our thoughts and you never know, the person you share with may be waiting to hear what you have to say.
Song
Here is the next song –
“Our souls shall magnify the Lord”
When I started writing these songs I had a little panic that I would not manage to complete the required number. I looked at an Isaac Watts song to modify in the same way as I have updated the Charles Wesley ones. Having pondered it for a few days and tinkered a little I decided that the words were fine as they were. So, this is the only song in the series which is only a changed tune and has no input from me on the words. I really like it so I hope you will excuse me still using it.
It is a little symphonic rock in style which I think suits the “language” of the original words.
Title: Our souls shall magnify
Words: Isaac Watts
Music: Generated on Suno.com
Our souls shall magnify the Lord,
In God the Savior we rejoice:
While we repeat the Virgin’s song,
May the same Spirit tune our voice!
The Highest saw her low estate,
And mighty things his hand hath done:
His overshadowing power and grace
Makes her the mother of his Son.
Let ev’ry nation call her blest,
And endless years prolong her fame;
But, God alone must be ador’d:
Holy and reverend is his name.
To those that fear and trust the Lord,
His mercy stands for ever sure:
From age to age his promise lives,
And the performance is secure.
He spake to Abram and his seed,
“In thee shall all the earth be blessed;”
The memory of that ancient word
Lay long in his eternal breast.
But now no more shall Isr’el wait,
No more the Gentiles lie forlorn:
Lo, the desire of nations comes, behold;
Behold, the promised seed is born!
To those that fear and trust the Lord,
His mercy stands for ever sure:
From age to age his promise lives,
And the performance is secure – is secure.
To those that fear and trust the Lord,
His mercy stands for ever sure:
From age to age his promise lives,
And the performance is secure.
He spake to Abram and his seed,
“In thee shall all the earth be blessed;”
The memory of that ancient word
Lay long in his eternal breast.
But now no more shall Isr’el wait,
No more the Gentiles lie forlorn:
Lo, the desire of nations comes;
Behold, the promised seed is born!
Prayer
Loving God, we come to you in this time of prayer. We ask for the peace you promised to us which we so often chase away with worries and fears. Help us to come to you in all the situations of our lives to ask for your guidance through your Holy Spirit. Reveal your loving kindness to us and help us to fully trust in you.
Lord, we ask that you show us that we do not need to rely on ourselves and can call on you at any time and on any subject whether small or large. We spend a little time in personal prayer offering God any decisions we are facing and listen for his answer to us. We ask that you help us recognise your voice whether you speak through a word of scripture, a conversation with a friend, or through any other signs we may see or hear.
Lord, we thank you that your promises are true. As we travel our Advent journey may we remember that in the stable we will find the fulfilment of the greatest promise of all. Amen.
Copyrights
Reflections and Prayers
By Chris Hancock
Songs
Words of the songs are by Chris Hancock
Music generated on Suno.com
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Bible Readings
Bible readings are from the New International Version (NIV)
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Images
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