Advent Week 3 | Belts
“RIGHTEOUSNESS WILL BE THE BELT AROUND HIS WAIST,
AND FAITHFULNESS THE SASH AROUND HIS HIPS.”ISAIAH 11:1-9
The Savior soon-to-become incarnate ushers in a peaceable kingdom that is difficult for us to imagine. The The Savior soon-to-become incarnate ushers in a peaceable kingdom that is difficult for us to imagine. The One sent by God reverses what seems like an intractable order of things, where the strong suppress the weak, creation is perpetually exploited, where wars are endlessly fought. Isaiah declares what seems impossible: that equity will be enacted for the meek, the wolf and the lamb will lie down together, and that the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord.
Isaiah’s words are more than simply lovely poetry to assuage our weary souls. They expand our imagination and call us to wrap ourselves with God’s belt of righteousness, gird our hips with faithfulness, and make a holy commitment to reshape our world right here and right now. Where raw power threatens to overtake moral authority, our determined effort to preserve ideals can serve as a bridge to the future.
This Advent, may we put on the belt of righteousness and daily pursue the ideals of delight, faithfulness, fear and knowledge of the Lord, living out God’s promise of a peaceable kingdom.
FOR REFLECTION
Read Isaiah 11 slowly. Do you see glimpses of this vision in your life? In the world?
What would it mean for you to wear a belt of righteousness? Of being wrapped with faithfulness?
What is the role of vision in shaping change, both personally and as a community and culture?
PRAYER
Loving God, as we anticipate the coming of the Christ child, we lament how limited our vision is. We often give in to the sentiment that things never really change, that transformation is impossible. Kindle our hope with the prophet’s words of equity, justice, and delight. Wrap us in your righteousness and faithfulness, that we might see the world through the eyes of divine promise and enact holy possibilities for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
