The Friday of Ember Week in Advent
Posted on December 20, 2024 by under
Scripture: Isaiah 11:1-5 (NKJV)
11:1 There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots.
2 The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.
3 His delight is in the fear of the Lord, and He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes, nor decide by the hearing of His ears;
4 But with righteousness He shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked.
5 Righteousness shall be the belt of His loins, and faithfulness the belt of His waist.
Devotion
Today is the second of the Ember Days, so let us meditate on the wonderful promise of the Redeemer we have from the prophet in today’s reading. Isaiah speaks clearly of God’s promised Messiah who shall come through the bloodline of King David and deliver a truly divine reign over the Lord’s elect unto eternity. This Anointed King (the Christ) will bring with His holy rule the gifts of God: grace, joy, and glory. His Lordship over His Church will be marked by these divine attributes proclaimed throughout the holy Scriptures.
Verse 2 presents all the grace and glory delivered by the Spirit of the Lord, which rests upon the Christ more abundantly and fruitfully than on any other son of man, making Him the perfect, holy ruler. Wisdom and understanding, counsel and might, knowledge and fear of the Lord, are the six royal endowments, arranged in three pairs. In chapter nine the prophet Isaiah declares God named the Christ “Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Verse 5 from today’s reading declares righteousness and faithfulness will be the marks that rule. As His disciples, we are taught and strengthened by His Word and Spirit so we can strive to have righteousness and faithfulness rule our days and declare our Christian confession for all to see.
Collect: Stir up Thy might, we beseech Thee, O Lord, and come, that they who trust in Thy loving kindness may be the more speedily freed from all adversity; Who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Collect for Gaudete Sunday
Lord, we beseech Thee, give ear to our prayers, and lighten the darkness of our hearts, by Thy gracious visitation; Who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Collect for the Season of Advent
Stir up, we beseech Thee, Thy power, O Lord, and come, that by Thy protection we may be rescued from the threatening perils of our sins, and saved by Thy mighty deliverance; Who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
