Aleppo is an ancient city that is basically a rubble today because of feckless politicians and dictators and world class liars that can never tell the truth about anything, including why they are engaging in genocide before the eyes of the world. I watched some footage of Aleppo and thought of the great Advent passage that resonates at this time of the year for those who truly wait for salvation.
Isaiah 61;1-4 – “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;
3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.
4 And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations.”
Isaiah speaks in the future tense of what will happen when Messiah comes. Jesus read this in the synagogue and said “today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
One of our old professors asked an important question. “The text speaks of the joy and happiness which the Messiah has prepared for all. The promised Helper has come and has brought beauty for ashes. He has taken away the ugliness of unrighteousness. He has removed the barrier separating God and man, the guilt of sin, paying the penalty for us. This is described in beautiful figurative language. The wounded are bound up, the captives set free, the mourning are comforted, praise takes the place of the spirit of heaviness, the old wastes are built up, the desolate cities are repaired; the meaning is a full ransom is paid for sinners. This is what the Messiah has been appointed to do for all men through His great sacrifice. All people are sinners and need such help. Alas! many will not be aided; they stubbornly and persistently refuse the Lord’s help. But those that
accept the Messiah as their own Redeemer will be called “priests of the Lord” (v.6). Rich treasures will be theirs, treasures like those of the victors spoken of in the second part of v. 6. They have beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. This all points to the spiritual riches which the children of God possess: righteousness, forgiveness, peace, joy, a place in heaven. Are these our riches? Do we accept the good tidings preached by the Messiah and the gifts He presents?”
