Just as in all the weekday reading for this first week in Advent, today’s first reading is taken from Isaiah 29:17-24.  Over the course of the week we have jumped from Isaiah 11, hopscotching our way to Isaiah 29. The readings are well chosen for the Season of Advent as all the selections carry with it a modern Christian understanding as a promise to believing people of the Christian era that points to a Messianic restoration. It becomes a message to all people whose hearts are converted and who “stand in awe of the God of Israel” (Is 29:23).

But some things are lost along the way. It is good to know Isaiah’s immediate audience, the context of the times and situation, and the fundamental message the prophet is proclaiming to that audience. Lest you think that just a “bible study” thing, I would suggest that by knowing those things, there is additional content for our modern day Advent reflection.

The audience is the people of Judah and Jerusalem in the late 8th century B.C., during the reign of King Hezekiah. More specifically, Isaiah is addressing three groups of people. Firstly, Isaiah is addressing the leadership of Jerusalem (political and religious). Isaiah often portrayed them as blind, deaf, and stubborn (cf. Is 29:9–16). Isaiah is also speaking to the wider population, many of whom have been led astray by corrupt leadership and whose spiritual perception has become dulled. And lastly, the prophet addresses the faithful remnant, who need reassurance that God will act to save and restore the situation that is clearly going astray.

Our reading sits within the larger apocalyptic section of chapters 28–33 whose context in history is in the shadow of the threat of the nation of Assyria whose armies are marching on Jerusalem. Some leaders in Jerusalem are seeking political alliances (e.g., Egypt) rather than trusting God. The people are accused of lip-service to religion:“this people draws near with words, honors me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me” (Is 29:13). In this run-up to our reading, saiah has just issued a series of woes condemning Judah’s spiritual blindness, moral corruption, and political cynicism.

The immediate literary context is that God has rebuked the leaders who think they can hide their plans from Him (29:15–16). God instructed the prophet to issue an indictment of the people for spiritual blindness and deafness as he warned them about empty worship (29:13–14). After these warnings, 29:17–24 shifts dramatically into promises of future reversal, healing, and renewal. This pattern of a warning followed by a vision of hope is typical of Isaiah.

The fundamental message of the reading is that God will bring a great reversal: “But a very little while, and Lebanon shall be changed into an orchard, and the orchard be regarded as a forest” (Is 29:17). Lebanon, known for forests, becomes a cultivated field; the field becomes a forest. This metaphor signals that God will overturn the present order: what seems barren will flourish, and what seems powerful will be humbled.

The reversal will also address the life of an individual: God will heal spiritual blindness and deafness: “On that day the deaf shall hear the words of a book; And out of gloom and darkness, the eyes of the blind shall see.” (29:18). 

The reversal will reach into the circumstances of life. The humble and poor “shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel” (29:19). 

God will vindicate those who have been crushed by unjust leadership who will be judged: “The tyrant shall be no more… all who are alert to do evil shall be cut off” (29:20–21).
The message is that the present injustice in Judah will not last.

The people will be restored to true faith: “They shall keep my name holy; they shall fear the God of Israel” (29:23).

The passage ends with a purified remnant who truly worships God. As well those who had gone astray will gain understanding: “Those who err in spirit shall acquire understanding” (29:24).

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Image credit: Prophet Isaiah, Mosaic, Right of Lunette, South Wall of Presbytery, Basilica of San Vitale | PD-US | Pexels