Advent Readings: Isaiah 9:1-7 and Matthew 4:13-16

PEACE 🕯🕯

Old Testament 

Isaiah 9:1-7
Birth of the Prince of Peace
9:1 Nevertheless, the gloom of the distressed land will not be like that of the former times when he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali. But in the future he will bring honor to the way of the sea, to the land east of the Jordan, and to Galilee of the nations.

2 The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
a light has dawned
on those living in the land of darkness.
3 You have enlarged the nation
and increased its joy.
The people have rejoiced before you
as they rejoice at harvest time
and as they rejoice when dividing spoils.
4 For you have shattered their oppressive yoke
and the rod on their shoulders,
the staff of their oppressor,
just as you did on the day of Midian.
5 For every trampling boot of battle
and the bloodied garments of war
will be burned as fuel for the fire.
6 For a child will be born for us,
a son will be given to us,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
He will be named
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
7 The dominion will be vast,
and its prosperity will never end.
He will reign on the throne of David
and over his kingdom,
to establish and sustain it
with justice and righteousness from now on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord of Armies will accomplish this.

New Testament 

Matthew 4:13-16
4:13 He [Jesus] left Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali. 14 This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:

15 Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,
along the road by the sea, beyond the Jordan,
Galilee of the Gentiles.
16 The people who live in darkness
have seen a great light,
and for those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned. [Is 9:1–2]

CSB

Advent Readings: Isaiah 7:10-17 and Daniel 9:20-27

PEACE 🕯🕯

Isaiah 7:10-17

The Immanuel Prophecy

7:10 Then the Lord spoke again to Ahaz: 11 “Ask for a sign from the Lord your God—it can be as deep as Sheol or as high as heaven.”

12 But Ahaz replied, “I will not ask. I will not test the Lord.”

13 Isaiah said, “Listen, house of David! Is it not enough for you to try the patience of men? Will you also try the patience of my God? 14 Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign: See, the virgin will conceive, have a son, and name him Immanuel.[= God With Us] 15 By the time he learns to reject what is bad and choose what is good, he will be eating curds and honey. 16 For before the boy knows to reject what is bad and choose what is good, the land of the two kings you dread will be abandoned. 17 The Lord will bring on you, your people, and your father’s house such a time as has never been since Ephraim separated from Judah: He will bring the king of Assyria.”

Daniel 9:20-27

9:20 While I was speaking, praying, confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my petition before the Lord my God concerning the holy mountain of my God— 21 while I was praying, Gabriel, the man I had seen in the first vision, reached me in my extreme weariness, about the time of the evening offering. 22 He gave me this explanation: “Daniel, I’ve come now to give you understanding. 23 At the beginning of your petitions an answer went out, and I have come to give it, for you are treasured by God. So consider the message and understand the vision:

24 Seventy weeks are decreed

about your people and your holy city—

to bring the rebellion to an end,

to put a stop to sin,

to atone for iniquity,

to bring in everlasting righteousness,

to seal up vision and prophecy,

and to anoint the most holy place.

25 Know and understand this:

From the issuing of the decree

to restore and rebuild Jerusalem

until an Anointed One, the ruler,[Or until an anointed one, a prince]

will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks.

It will be rebuilt with a plaza and a moat,

but in difficult times.

26 After those sixty-two weeks

the Anointed One will be cut off

and will have nothing.

The people of the coming ruler

will destroy the city and the sanctuary.[some mss read The city and the sanctuary will be destroyed when the ruler comes.]

The[Lit Its, or His] end will come with a flood,

and until the end there will be war;

desolations are decreed.

27 He will make a firm covenant

with many for one week,

but in the middle of the week

he will put a stop to sacrifice and offering.

And the abomination of desolation

will be on a wing of the temple

until the decreed destruction

is poured out on the desolator.”

CSB