InIsaiah 61the prophet ends with these powerful words:
For as the earth brings forth its sprouts,
and as a garden causes what is sown in it to sprout up,
so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise
to sprout up before all the nations.
Isaiah uses the garden as an image for how the righteousness of God will permeate the entire world. As we go about this season of Advent we are preparing ourselves for a time when the deserts will become colored by flowers, when the deaf will hear, the dumb will sing, when blessings will make its away far as the curse is found, when to live only 80 years old will be a curse, when children will psalm as a way of life; ultimately, when Eden’s garden will become only a tiny picture of the greater and glorified garden that God is creating for us. Do you believe in the prophecy of Isaiah? This is our hope. Isaiah says that all nations will get a glimpse of the righteousness and praise of our God. Let heaven and nature sing in wonder at the Incarnation. Let us join this praise this morning.
