Sermon
The Gospel to the City
By Tim Keller
Devotional
Advent Day 12: Peace
SECOND WEEK OF ADVENT – THURSDAY December 12, 2024
READ Isaiah 40:1-11
This prophecy is cited in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and John, announcing that John the Baptist would be sent by God to prepare the way for Jesus.
1 Comfort, comfort my people,
says your God.
2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
and proclaim to her
that her hard service has been completed,
that her sin has been paid for,
that she has received from the Lord’s hand
double for all her sins.
3 A voice of one calling:
“In the wilderness prepare
the way for the Lord;
make straight in the desert
a highway for our God.
4 Every valley shall be raised up,
every mountain and hill made low;
the rough ground shall become level,
the rugged places a plain.
5 And the glory of the Lord will be revealed,
and all people will see it together.
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
6 A voice says, “Cry out.”
And I said, “What shall I cry?”
“All people are like grass,
and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field.
7 The grass withers and the flowers fall,
because the breath of the Lord blows on them.
Surely the people are grass.
8 The grass withers and the flowers fall,
but the word of our God endures forever.”
9 You who bring good news to Zion,
go up on a high mountain.
You who bring good news to Jerusalem,
lift up your voice with a shout,
lift it up, do not be afraid;
say to the towns of Judah,
“Here is your God!”
10 See, the Sovereign Lord comes with power,
and he rules with a mighty arm.
See, his reward is with him,
and his recompense accompanies him.
11 He tends his flock like a shepherd:
He gathers the lambs in his arms
and carries them close to his heart;
he gently leads those that have young.
REFLECT
Notice in verse 11 that the Sovereign LORD (Yahweh) is called a shepherd. So later, when Jesus describes himself as the Good Shepherd, he is claiming one of God’s titles as his own. It’s only one of many places that Jesus reveals that he is indeed God come in the flesh. Sheep are stupid and smelly (even though the lambs are cute as newborns!), and yet Jesus our shepherd loves us and cares for us.
PRAY
Pray for more wonder and adoration of the Holy, Sovereign Lord of the world, who tenderly shepherds his flock, caring for their every need.
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