December 19: A Joyous Shout

Kore Willbur, Director of Operations

“Your watchmen lift up their voices; together, they shout for joy. When the Lord returns to Zion, they will see it with their own eyes.” 

Isaiah 52:8, NIV

Do you like waiting? Waiting in lines, waiting at a restaurant, sitting at the airport? For many, the answer is a resounding “No!” But if I can think of myself as a watchman, it feels different. I can focus on the promise that, eventually, the waiting will end, and what I’ve been anticipating will come to fruition.

Isaiah 52:8 explains that people will clearly see how God's promises align perfectly with His actions, recognizing that the same God who made the promises also fulfilled them. When God restores Zion from captivity, His prophets will understand and share even deeper revelations of His love and goodness toward His people.

In the context of the gospel, this also points to a promise of the Holy Spirit being poured out on gospel ministers, giving them wisdom and understanding to grasp God’s truth fully. They will see God’s grace more clearly than in Old Testament times and agree on the essential truths of salvation, sharing a unified message and praise for God’s work.

Today, Dec 19th is my husband’s birthday.  We’ve been waiting 365 days to celebrate the 3% of a year that is his special day. Think of the Israelites waiting 600 years, for the day of the Messiah’s birth. Now that’s true waiting! So imagine the joy when the watchmen shout, “Our God reigns”!

Heavenly Father, during this Christmas season, we too want to be like the watchmen, lifting our voices in joy as we see God’s faithfulness fulfilled. In a world that often feels uncertain, Christmas reminds us that God is not far off. He has come to us, offering His love and salvation. Let the joy of Christ’s coming fill our hearts and lead us to share this hope with others.

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