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Bible Jam – December 1, 2020

ADVENT 1: Biblical Perspective – , The Advent Prophet

The Prophecies. The prophet Isaiah anticipates the coming of Immanuel, God with us, and the glorious day of the arrival of the ideal king, the one who would decisively change the course of history, rule with justice, and bring peace. The first prophecy describes the birth of Immanuel: “The virgin shall be with child, and shall name him Immanuel” (Is 7:14). The second prophecy describes his dominion: “For a child is born to us, a son is given to us; upon his shoulder dominion rests. They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace. His dominion is vast and forever peaceful” (Is 9:5-6a). The third prophecy describes the justice of his rule: “A shoot shall spout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots a bud shall blossom. The spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him: a spirit of wisdom and understanding, a spirit of counsel and strength, a spirit of knowledge and fear of the Lord. He shall judge the poor with justice, and decide aright for the land’s afflicted. Justice shall be the band around his waist” (Is 11:1-2,4,5).

Isaiah The , comprising 66 chapters, is one of the most profound theological and literarily expressive works in the Bible. Compiled over a period of about two centuries (the latter half of the 8th to the latter half of the 6th century BCE), the Book of Isaiah is generally divided by scholars into two (sometimes three) major sections, which are called First Isaiah (chapters 1–39), Deutero-Isaiah (chapters 40–55 or 40–66), and—if the second section is subdivided— Trito-Isaiah (chapters 56–66).

Resources: https://www.pathwaystogod.org/resources/prophet-isaiah-advent http://rediscover.archspm.org/belonging/how-does-the-prophet-isaiah-feature- prominently-during-advent-and-what-can-we-learn-from-him/

Britannica Online

Wikipedia

For Information on how the Revised Common Lectionary was formed, visit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revised_Common_Lectionary

December 1, 2020 1 Bible Jam USA Today: has a history of many conquests, surrenders 12/6/2017

Jerusalem has been captured and recaptured at least 20 times. It's been claimed by about as many countries and empires, and by three of the world's major religions.

Here’s a brief history of how a humble village on a scrubby hilltop became the Holy City that provoked centuries of dispute:

3,000 to 2,500 B.C.E. — The city on the hills separating the fertile Mediterranean coastline of present-day Israel from the arid deserts of Arabia was first settled by pagan tribes in what was later known as the land of Canaan. The Bible says the last Canaanites to rule the city were the Jebusites.

1,000 B.C.E. — According to archaeological evidence, King conquered the city. He was warned that "even the blind and the lame can ward you off," the Bible says. He named his conquest The City of David and made it the capital of his new realm.

960 B.C.E. — David's son built the first Jewish temple. The Bible says the also fought many wars against another Canaanite tribe called the Philistines who lived along the southern coastline.

721 B.C.E. — Assyrians conquered part of the land of Israel called Samaria, and Jewish refugees fled to Jerusalem, causing the city to expand.

701 B.C.E. — Assyrian ruler Sennacherib laid siege to Jerusalem.

586 B.C. — Babylonian troops occupied the city, destroying the temple and exiling many Jews.

539 B.C.E. — Persian King Cyrus the Great conquered the Babylonian empire, including Jerusalem.

516 B.C.E. — King Cyrus allowed Jews to return to Jerusalem to rebuild. The Jews built the Second Temple.

445-425 B.C.E. — Nehemiah the Prophet rebuilt the walls of the city.

332 B.C.E. — Alexander the Great of Macedonia took control. After his death, his empire was divided into four, including the Seleucid Empire that contained the land of Israel and their ancient enemies the Philistines (Palestine).

160-167 B.C.E. — The Jews' Maccabean revolt, launched against the Seleucid Empire and Greek influence, eventually returned the city to Jewish control. The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah celebrates the purification of the Second Temple after the reconquered the city.

141 B.C.E. — The of Jewish rulers began, and the city grew.

63 B.C.E. — Roman General Pompey captured Jerusalem.

December 1, 2020 2 Bible Jam 37 B.C.E. — Roman client King Herod renovated the Second Temple and added retaining walls, one of which remains today and is called the Western Wall, or the Wailing Wall by Jews.

30 C.E. — Jesus was crucified by the Roman soldiers.

70 C.E. — During another Jewish revolt, the Romans destroy their Temple and exile many Jews.

135 C.E. — The Romans rebuild Jerusalem as a city of their own.

335 C.E. — Roman Emperor Constantine built the Church of the Holy Sepulcher over the spot where Jesus was said to have been buried and to have risen from the dead.

614 C.E. — The Persians capture Jerusalem.

629 C.E. — Byzantine Christians recapture Jerusalem.

632 C.E. — Muhammed, the prophet of Islam, died and was said to ascend to heaven from a rock in the center of where the Jewish Temple used to be.

637 C.E. — Caliph Omar entered the city to accept the surrender of its Byzantine ruler, the Patriarch Sophronius.

691 C.E. — The Muslim shrine known as Haram al Sharif, or the Dome of the Rock, was built around that spot where Mohamed was said to have risen to heaven, remains there today.

1099-1187 C.E. — Christian Crusaders occupied Jerusalem, claiming it as a major religious site.

1187 C.E. — Salladin captures Jerusalem from the Crusaders.

1229-1244 C.E. — Crusaders recapture Jerusalem twice.

1250 C.E. — Muslim rulers dismantle the walls of the city.

1517 C.E. — The Ottoman Empire captures Jerusalem and Suleiman the Magnificent rebuilds the walls from 1538 to 1541.

1917 C.E.

1948 C.E. — The state of Israel is established, dividing the city between Israel and Jordan.

1967 C.E. — Israel captures East Jerusalem and immediately annexed it, granting Arab (Palestinian) residents permanent resident status, but not citizenship.

1917 C.E. — The British capture Jerusalem in World War I.

December 1, 2020 3 Bible Jam We Begin… A. Pathways to God: Advent is a time of preparation for the greatest event in human history – God becomes human in Jesus. As we begin Advent, we turn to the prophet Isaiah. His message is not frozen in time but echoes across time to shed light on the meaning of Bethlehem. As Isaiah was sent to God’s people in the second half of the 8th century B.C., so he comes to us in the 21st century with the words:

a. “the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; Upon those who dwell in the land of gloom a light has shone…For a child is born to us, a son is given to us, upon his shoulder dominion rests” (Is 9:1-5)

B. Rediscover: Isaiah’s words are used extensively in the liturgies leading up to Christmas. He, more than any other prophet, anticipates the coming Messiah and the fulfillment of God’s promise spoken to King David, “I will raise up your heir after you, and I will make his kingdom firm. It is he who shall build a house for my name. And I will make his royal throne firm forever. I will be a father to him and he shall be a son to me” (2 Sam 7:12b-13).

C. Most Cited Isaiah Passages on Advent Sundays – From First Isaiah:

1. :1-5: Climb God’s Mountain: The message Isaiah got regarding Judah and Jerusalem

There’s a day coming when the mountain of GOD’s House Will be The Mountain— solid, towering over all mountains. All nations will river toward it, people from all over set out for it. They’ll say, “Come, let’s climb GOD’s Mountain, go to the House of the God of Jacob. He’ll show us the way he works

December 1, 2020 4 Bible Jam so we can live the way we’re made.” Zion’s the source of the revelation. GOD’s Message comes from Jerusalem. He’ll settle things fairly between nations. He’ll make things right between many peoples. They’ll turn their swords into shovels, their spears into hoes. No more will nation fight nation; they won’t play war anymore. Come, family of Jacob, let’s live in the light of GOD.

End 1

2. :1-10: A Green Shoot from Jesse’s Stump

A green Shoot will sprout from Jesse’s1 stump, from his roots a budding Branch. The life-giving Spirit of GOD will hover over him, the Spirit that brings wisdom and understanding, The Spirit that gives direction and builds strength, the Spirit that instills knowledge and Fear-of-GOD. Fear-of-GOD will be all his joy and delight. He won’t judge by appearances, won’t decide on the basis of hearsay. He’ll judge the needy by what is right, render decisions on earth’s poor with justice. His words will bring everyone to awed attention. A mere breath from his lips will topple the wicked. Each morning he’ll pull on sturdy work clothes and boots, and build righteousness and faithfulness in the land.

1Jesse, also spelled Isai, in the Old Testament, the father of King David. Jesse was the son of Ohed, and the grandson of Boaz and Ruth. He was a farmer and sheep breeder in Bethlehem. David was the youngest of

December 1, 2020 5 Bible Jam Jesse's eight sons. The appellation “son of Jesse” served as a synonym for David both at ’s court and, subsequently, when David became king. It became a standard poetic metaphor in the Bible. Phrases such as “root of Jesse” and “stump of Jesse” (Isaiah 11:1,10) expand the metaphor. All evoke the figure of David. That the family of David would endure forever was an article of faith in monarchic circles (2 Samuel 7), supported by the fact that his dynasty had occupied the throne on Mount Zion in unbroken succession for over four centuries. End 2 3. : 1-6, 10: The Voiceless Break Into Song

(1-6) Wilderness and desert will sing joyously, the badlands will celebrate and flower— Like the crocus in spring, bursting into blossom, a symphony of song and color. Mountain glories of Lebanon—a gift. Awesome Carmel, stunning Sharon—gifts. GOD’s resplendent glory, fully on display. GOD awesome, GOD majestic. Energize the limp hands, strengthen the rubbery knees. Tell fearful souls, “Courage! Take heart! GOD is here, right here, on his way to put things right And redress all wrongs. He’s on his way! He’ll save you!” Blind eyes will be opened, deaf ears unstopped, Lame men and women will leap like deer, the voiceless break into song. Springs of water will burst out in the wilderness, streams flow in the desert. Hot sands will become a cool oasis, thirsty ground a splashing fountain.

December 1, 2020 6 Bible Jam Even lowly jackals will have water to drink, and barren grasslands flourish richly. (10) There will be a highway called the Holy Road. No one rude or rebellious is permitted on this road. It’s for GOD’s people exclusively— impossible to get lost on this road. Not even fools can get lost on it. No lions on this road, no dangerous wild animals— Nothing and no one dangerous or threatening. Only the redeemed will walk on it. The people GOD has ransomed will come back on this road. They’ll sing as they make their way home to Zion, unfading halos of joy encircling their heads, Welcomed home with gifts of joy and gladness as all sorrows and sighs scurry into the night. End 3 4. :10-17

GOD spoke again to Ahaz2. This time he said, “Ask for a sign from your GOD. Ask anything. Be extravagant. Ask for the moon!” But said, “I’d never do that. I’d never make demands like that on GOD!”

So Isaiah told him, “Then listen to this, government of David! It’s bad enough that you make people tired with your pious, timid hypocrisies, but now you’re making God tired. So the Master is going to give you a sign anyway. Watch for this: A girl who is presently a virgin will get pregnant. She’ll bear a son and name him Immanuel (God-With-Us). By the time the child is twelve years old, able to make moral decisions, the threat of war will be over. Relax, those two kings that have you so worried will be out of the picture. But also be warned: GOD will bring on you and your people and your government a judgment

December 1, 2020 7 Bible Jam worse than anything since the time the kingdom split, when Ephraim left Judah. The king of is coming!”

2Ahaz, also spelled Achaz, Assyrian Jehoahaz, (flourished 8th century BC), king of Judah (c. 735–720 BC) who became an Assyrian vassal (; Isaiah 7–8).

Ahaz assumed the throne of Judah at the age of 20 or 25. Sometime later his kingdom was invaded by , king of Israel, and , king of Syria, in an effort to force him into an alliance with them against the powerful state of Assyria. Acting against the counsel of the prophet Isaiah, Ahaz appealed for aid to Tiglath-pileser III, king of Assyria, to repel the invaders. Assyria defeated Syria and Israel, and Ahaz presented himself as a vassal to the Assyrian king. Not only was Judah’s political situation unimproved but Assyria exacted a heavy tribute and Assyrian gods were introduced into the Temple at Jerusalem.

End 4 5. 63:16-17,19 That’s how you led your people!

That’s how you became so famous! Look down from heaven, look at us!

Look out the window of your holy and magnificent house! Whatever happened to your passion,

your famous mighty acts, Your heartfelt pity, your compassion?

Why are you holding back? You are our Father.

Abraham and Israel are long dead.

They wouldn’t know us from Adam. But you’re our living Father,

our Redeemer, famous from eternity! Why, GOD, did you make us wander from your ways?

Why did you make us cold and stubborn

so that we no longer worshiped you in awe? Turn back for the sake of your servants.

You own us! We belong to you! For a while your holy people had it good,

December 1, 2020 8 Bible Jam but now our enemies have wrecked your holy place. For a long time now, you’ve paid no attention to us.

It’s like you never knew us. End 5 6. 64:2-7 Can we be saved? Oh, that you would rip open the heavens and descend,

make the mountains shudder at your presence— As when a forest catches fire,

as when fire makes a pot to boil— To shock your enemies into facing you,

make the nations shake in their boots! You did terrible things we never expected,

descended and made the mountains shudder at your presence. Since before time began

no one has ever imagined, No ear heard, no eye seen, a God like you

who works for those who wait for him. You meet those who happily do what is right,

who keep a good memory of the way you work. But how angry you’ve been with us!

We’ve sinned and kept at it so long!

Is there any hope for us? Can we be saved? We’re all sin-infected, sin-contaminated.

Our best efforts are grease-stained rags. We dry up like autumn leaves—

sin-dried, we’re blown off by the wind. No one prays to you

or makes the effort to reach out to you Because you’ve turned away from us,

left us to stew in our sins. End 6

7. 40:1-5, 9-11 Prepare for God’s Arrival (1-5)“Comfort, oh comfort my people,”

says your God. “Speak softly and tenderly to Jerusalem,

but also make it very clear 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.”

December 1, 2020 9 Bible Jam Thunder in the desert!

“Prepare for GOD’s arrival! Make the road straight and smooth,

a highway fit for our God. Fill in the valleys,

level off the hills, Smooth out the ruts,

clear out the rocks. Then GOD’s bright glory will shine

and everyone will see it.

Yes. Just as GOD has said.”

(9-11)Climb a high mountain, Zion.

You’re the preacher of good news. Raise your voice. Make it good and loud, Jerusalem.

You’re the preacher of good news.

Speak loud and clear. Don’t be timid! Tell the cities of Judah,

“Look! Your God!” Look at him! GOD, the Master, comes in power,

ready to go into action. He is going to pay back his enemies

and reward those who have loved him. Like a shepherd, he will care for his flock,

gathering the lambs in his arms, Hugging them as he carries them,

leading the nursing ewes to good pasture. End 7

8. 61:1-2, 10-11 Announce Freedom to All Captives

The Spirit of GOD, the Master, is on me because GOD anointed me. He sent me to preach good news to the poor, heal the heartbroken, Announce freedom to all captives, pardon all prisoners. GOD sent me to announce the year of his grace— a celebration of God’s destruction of our enemies— and to comfort all who mourn,

December 1, 2020 10 Bible Jam To care for the needs of all who mourn in Zion, give them bouquets of roses instead of ashes, Messages of joy instead of news of doom, a praising heart instead of a languid spirit. Rename them “Oaks of Righteousness” planted by GOD to display his glory. They’ll rebuild the old ruins, raise a new city out of the wreckage. They’ll start over on the ruined cities, take the rubble left behind and make it new. You’ll hire outsiders to herd your flocks and foreigners to work your fields, But you’ll have the title “Priests of GOD,” honored as ministers of our God. You’ll feast on the bounty of nations, you’ll bask in their glory. Because you got a double dose of trouble and more than your share of contempt, Your inheritance in the land will be doubled and your joy go on forever. “Because I, GOD, love fair dealing and hate thievery and crime, I’ll pay your wages on time and in full, and establish my eternal covenant with you. Your descendants will become well-known all over. Your children in foreign countries Will be recognized at once as the people I have blessed.” I will sing for joy in GOD, explode in praise from deep in my soul! He dressed me up in a suit of salvation, he outfitted me in a robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom who puts on a tuxedo and a bride a jeweled tiara. For as the earth bursts with spring wildflowers, and as a garden cascades with blossoms,

December 1, 2020 11 Bible Jam So the Master, GOD, brings righteousness into full bloom and puts praise on display before the nations. End 8

December 1, 2020 12 Bible Jam