One of the prophetic images that we often lift up during the Advent season comes from Isaiah 52. It is the image of watchmen standing on a city wall, who see a messenger coming, bringing good news. The image reminds us of how people were expectantly watching for the Messiah, and how they finally received good news with the coming of Jesus. The image also reminds us of how we need to be spiritually alert and attentive today, so that we can perceive what God is saying to us and so that we can be receptive to how Christ comes to us.

One of our key problems, though, is that we get distracted. Within all the hubbub and the demands of life, we can lose sight of what God is doing, and how God is reaching to us. Some people just fall asleep altogether, shutting their hearts and minds to God.

So Isaiah says, “Wake, awake, O people of God!” (Isaiah 52:1) The prophet calls us to open our eyes and be like those sentinels standing attentively on the wall, so that we can welcome the good news—and the saving power of God—that come to us now in Jesus.

Sunday’s Scripture Reading:
Isaiah 52:7–10

A photo posted by UMC of Kent, Ohio (@umcofkent) on Dec 11, 2015 at 2:41pm PST

About the Author

Dr. David A. Palmer has been the senior pastor at the United Methodist Church of Kent since 1995. He has a B.A. from Wittenberg University, a Master of Divinity from Duke University, and a Doctor of Ministry from Princeton Theological Seminary. A native of Wooster, Ohio, he has served three other churches in east Ohio before coming to Kent. He and his wife, Mavis, have three children.