Today, the sermon is simply based on the theme of Joy following the order for each Sunday of Advent. In this light, there are few passages as fitting as the passage from Isaiah chapter thirty-five (35), which is our text for today.
The prophecy of Isaiah is believed to be in three parts with the greater portion from chapters 1-39 attributed to the eighth century prophet Isaiah himself. The next two sections from chapters 40-55 and 56-66 respectively are widely believed to have been written by at least one other author about two hundred years after Isaiah lived. In the first section however, chapter 35 concludes a period of threats to Judah’s existence and judgement against the nations which came up against God’s people and ending in the return of God’s people from where they have been exiled. It is commonly held that the Assyrians were at this time the world power that was on a rampage through the ancient near East devouring everyone else in sight especially those who dared resist their marauding armies. The message to God’s people in this period is that no alliances with other nations could save them but the power of God’s hand against their enemies. By the time we get to chapter 35, Isaiah foresees God’s hand at work in redeeming his people and transforming their situation remarkably. This is why this chapter is entitled, ‘The Joy of the Redeemed’.
When one speaks of joy, we tend to get it confused with happiness. Whereas happiness is a temporary expression or reaction to some event, person or experience, joy refers to one’s state of mind, or attitude over a sustained period through varying circumstances. One can for instance find happiness in receiving a particular gift, but that is only for the moment. Joy can be an expression of one’s worldview or attitude to life or one’s feelings about self and circumstances over an extended period or even a lifetime. In a life of joy, you can be happy and sad many times over, but your joy is in your spirit and that gives you hope and resilience.
In our world today, there is good reason to ask where and in what situations can anyone find real joy. The world seems to revolve around a desperate cycle of conflict, fear, anger, hatred, selfishness, greed, oppression and nearly every other negative adjective one can use. The good things seem to be only fleeting. The news is often more depressing than uplifting and on top of that many of us could probably say that the year just ending was more disappointing than encouraging. For many people, the year had nothing to be joyful about.
Isaiah in response brings us back to thinking about the meaning of joy and why even in depressing circumstances one can and indeed must nurture a spirit of joy. Isaiah asserts right from the start that it is only the presence of God that can give joy to all. In verse two the prophet says, “they will see the glory of the Lord, the splendor of our God.” Seeing God causes a transformation from barrenness and desolation to fertility and fruitfulness. This is what joy looks like. In the words of the prophet, God’s presence has such an effect on both the physical landscape and the human being that they cannot help but reflect the power and presence of God. The healing of the blind, and the deaf and the lame and the lushness and fertility that will return to once barren and desert places all point to the power of the God who is and must always be the source of our joy.
Why do we so often feel depressed and anxious and overwhelmed? We feel depressed and anxious and overwhelmed because we see only barren grounds and parched land around us. Even when by our human estimation things are doing well, this is not truly the case because we have not put ourselves in the presence of God. In other words, we are not in a relationship with God and as a result, we cannot really see and feel His power in our lives, strengthening our weakened hands and knees, restoring our feeble sight and putting back the spring in our steps. When you are in a sincere relationship with God you will reflect that spirit and attitude of joy, that spirit of resilience and confidence even when it looks like there is nothing but failure, and disappointment, and sadness all around you.
We must note however that the text goes on to state that not everyone will have the privilege of experiencing this transforming power of God in their circumstances. It is only for those who seek him and nurture a relationship with God that will experience this joy-filled experience which the prophet calls the “Way of Holiness” This is the highway on which those who are in a sincere and truehearted relationship with God will walk.
When I think of a highway, several things come to mind.
First, it enables ease of access and uninhibited travel between many places.
Secondly, it is usually a comfortable and straight road. Travelling on it is as delightful as it can be.
Thirdly, your vehicle must be in a remarkably good condition to travel on most highways.
Even though you may get tow service if needed, you certainly don’t want to be having mechanical trouble in the middle of the highway. There is really no impediment to using a highway if you ensure that you have a reliable vehicle. Similarly, there is only one impediment to being on the “Way of Holiness” and that is a bad or non-existent relationship with God. As it turns out, a reliable vehicle and a reliable relationship with God can take you just about anywhere and they are both the foundation of true joy.
In contrast to this reliable relationship with God that is necessary to travel on it, the “The Way of Holiness” is excluded from those who are described as unclean, from predators, who are described as the lion and ravenous beast in the text, and from wicked fools. When the Bible refers to fools it does not refer to one’s intellectual capacity or knowledge but to those who rebel against God or those who are wise in their own eyes. I don’t have time to explain who the prophet characterizes as unclean, or as the ravenous beasts or as wicked fools, today but we can infer that our world is as dysfunctional in as many ways as it is because we humans have been rebelling against God, and as a result of this, for many of us, our existence has been joyless instead of joyful.
Yet there is hope. God is here, and He is ready to invite whoever has the desire to walk the way of holiness. If more of us accept this offer, then the transformation will be so remarkable in our attitudes and lives that everyone around you will see nothing but real joy in your face and in your attitude to life. This new-found joy will be infectious and unabashed in the way it warms the heart of other people around you who can use your outlook on life as an inspiration for themselves. Better yet, they will want to know the source of your joy. Then you can invite them to walk on this highway of holiness with you.The Advent season is the reminder to all of us friends that it irrespective of what the year to date has been for us, and I know that for many it has been a year to forget, God has been with us and is ready to welcome us all into a closer walk with Him in the days and years to come. Let us grasp hold of this opportunity now. It is the best gift you can give yourself and your family, as we prepare to walk into the new year on the “Highway of Holiness” with God. May we go from here prepared to experience real joy in the reality that God is with us and thereby go with confidence in knowing that even though life has been challenging this year so far and there will be undoubtedly more challenges to come, we will not let anything steal our joy because our joy is in Jesus alone. In closing, may I invoke the words of the Psalmist who says, “Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning”. (Psalm 30:5 NRSV) Amen.