Repost from Nov 2008

Advent begins this Sunday in many churches and the text I’m working on is Isaiah 7. Isaiah 7 finds king Ahaz in a bad spot. Judah, despite ownership of Solomon’s Temple and the legitimacy of Davidic lineage has been a two bit kingdom often dominated by her big brother Samaria to the north. The kingdoms of Palestine had always only had breathing room if the real world players like Egypt and the Mesopotamian powers were preoccupied or sufficiently self-dysfunctional. Assyria, under the uber-competent Tiglath-Pileser III (“My Trust is the Heir of Ešarra”) was pressing hard on Samaria and Damascus so they were looking for regime change in Jerusalem give them an ally in their “war on terror (Assyria WAS a true terror!)”.

Ahaz was a practical man of his age. If one god is good, more gods are better. In fact, find the strongest, the most powerful and put them in your debt, even if it means a child sacrifice or two. You can always have more kids. Fill the hills with altars! If we all get religious maybe then someone will come to our aid! Ahaz decides to appeal directly to Tiglath. The sheep has appealed to the wolf to deal with a couple of pesky jackals. Hmmm. How might that turn out? Ahaz is practical, but a bit short sighted.

Isaiah appears as the practical king is checking on a water supply. Isaiah has a message. “The jackals you fear will soon be food for flowers! Chill!”

God then has a generous offer. “Ahaz, I’ve seen by your altar building and frequent trips to the fortune tellers that you’re a “spiritual” man. I know you don’t believe me, that’s why you’re so anxious, so I’ll give you a token to sooth your nervous sheep heart. Just ask!”

Ahaz, despite his polytheistic flirtations has been to Sunday School and quickly gives the “Jesus” answer. “I won’t test God!”

God responds, “You’ve spent your reign plaguing your neighbors and your countrymen, are you going to try my patience ever further?! I can’t wait for you to get a clue, a maiden is with child, and this silly girl will name it “Immanuel”, God is with us!”

Advent is not about who we will invite to our holiday shindigs. Advent is not about “making room for Jesus”. Advent is about a rescuing God who can’t wait around until we get a clue and instead acts on our behalf whether we chose to recognize him or not. God is the ultimate party crasher. Advent reminds us of this. The problem isn’t “keeping him in”; the truth is there is no keeping him out! That tends to be what we don’t like about him.