Lectionary for Dec. 15, 2024
Third Sunday of Advent
Zephaniah 3:14-20; Isaiah 12:2-6;
Philippians 4:4-7; Luke 3:7-18
Is there anything better than reconciling after a fight? Whether with a spouse, family member or friend, when you go through the difficulty and effort to repair a relationship after a rupture, the sweetness of reconciliation is a true gift. Receiving the peace in your body when you stop feeling the “flight, fight or freeze” instinct around someone you were formerly fighting with is such a game changer. The lectionary passages this week describe the human side of that reconciliation with God.
In the Isaiah reading, the people rejoice that God’s anger has turned away from them. Indeed, instead of the expected punishment, the people experience God’s salvation (12:1-2). Isaiah writes one of the most beautiful images in Scripture: “Therefore you will joyously draw water from the springs of salvation” (3).
Because of the rampant idolatry and injustice practiced throughout the Kingdom of Judah, Isaiah was charged with announcing God’s furious anger at the people’s betrayal of their covenantal responsibilities. That punishment did come, first at the hands of the Assyrians and then from the Babylonians. But God isn’t just the God of the moment. God is the God of forever. And God promises that the time will come when the people will no longer experience God’s anger and will find comfort.
A couple generations after Isaiah, Zephaniah, the descendant of King Hezekiah, prophesied again of God’s will for reconciliation. Of course, in the intervening generations, Hezekiah’s righteous reforms had been undone by his son and grandson. Manasseh was one of the most idolatrous kings of Judah, and his son Amon was so wicked that he was assassinated after reigning only two years. Finally, young Josiah took the throne. Zephaniah spoke to his royal cousin and warned of the dangers of following his father and grandfather in their idolatry, because the Lord would be angry and punish him and his kingdom. Happily, Josiah seemed to listen to his relative and instituted sweeping religious reforms that banished idolatry, witchcraft, spiritualism and syncretism (2 Kings 23, especially verse 24).
These sweeping reforms were too late to save the Kingdom of Judah from exile, but they led the prophet to speak of a time of reconciliation. Zephaniah announced that Jerusalem should rejoice and Zion should shout in joy, because God would take away divine judgment and clear away Judah’s enemies (3:14). God would even restore the safety and integrity of the yearly pilgrimages (18). In response, Josiah destroyed the false temples that Solomon built in Jerusalem and that Jeroboam had made in Bethel (2 Kings 23:13, 15; 1 Kings 12:26-33).
In just a few short years of Zephaniah’s words, his prophesy came true, at least partially as the refugees from Israel were finally allowed to come back to Jerusalem. Again, God reconciled with the people
God isn’t just the God of the moment. God is the God of forever. And God promises that the time will come when the people will no longer experience God’s anger and will find comfort.
Finally, we turn to the ministry of John the Baptizer. “Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?” John asks rhetorically (Luke 3:7). The answer is, of course, God, through the prophets. Idolatry and injustice are always dangerous, and the land vomits out those who practice them (Leviticus 18:25). Knowing this, the people aren’t coming out to ask John, “Is something wrong?” They know many things are wrong. Instead, they want to know what to do. And John tells them: If you have more than you need, give it away to someone who is in need. If you have civil power, don’t abuse it to enrich yourself or harass anyone.
John isn’t making stuff up out of the blue. As far back as Deuteronomy, officers and judges were told not to make distinctions in their work based on what people look like and to not take unfair payments (16:18-20).
John let the people know that he was going easy on them, that he baptizes with water. Jesus would baptize with fire and winnow and sort humans to safety or flame. And, believe it or not Lutheran Christians, this is the gospel, at least according to Luke (3:18). The good news is that God hates injustice and wants us normal humans to do something about it. God took steps to reconcile all of humanity with Godself by sending Jesus to teach and demonstrate the ways of the kingdom. Jesus wants us to repent of the ways that we harm each other, specifically because the kingdom of God is at hand.
Isaiah announced punishments for injustice and idolatry, but also that God would put away God’s anger and invite people to drink from the “springs of salvation.” Zephaniah announced punishments for injustice and idolatry, but also that God would put away God’s anger and invite people to shout for joy and return to the appointed festivals. John the Baptizer announced punishments for injustice and idolatry, but also that the Messiah is coming to make all things right for those who will join his coming kingdom.
