The Prophet Isaiah is getting us ready for the king’s coming, not just a Jewish king but a wonderful counselor, almighty God, and Prince of Peace.

“Oh Holy Night” is a loved Christmas carol that speaks of the magi in more than one way.

How beautiful upon the mountains of those whose feet bring good news. On Christmas, we see the world with renewed vision and with gladness as the hope of the world has been born.

The angles Startled the poor shepherds with heavenly songs of Glory to God in the Heights. This is how you will know that God has come. You will find a baby poor and in a manger. This changed everything and left the shepherds joyfully singing the song of heaven with breathy human voices.

“He will swallow up death forever," pronounces the prophet Isaiah as he looks across the future, seeing the shroud which is holding all the creation down. Those words from the prophet ring out with a sure hope as we look inside the empty tomb.

Oh the humble Christmas ham. It’s easier to cook than a turkey, but it's still tasty. In the nation of Israel the ham would never have been accepted as a gift. And yet the glory of the “ham nations” was given at the birth of the Hebrew messiah.

The prophet Isaiah is warning us of our proclivity to build foundations upon the power of Babylon rather than the kingdom of God. The gift of the nativity is the place where the world's power structures are completely upended and the original creation is put back to rights.

The beginning of advent can be a rough time for a young boy. All hyped up from the fun of Thanksgiving, school can be a reality check making him feel like Christmas will never come. For the children of Israel, a bloviating Assyrian makes very real threats, causing them to doubt if the Father is really there. However, a loving father gives us gifts to sustain us until Christmas morning.