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Reflection:

What’s in a name?

If I asked you now, ‘What does your name mean?’ you’d probably be able to tell me.

Seven hundred years before Jesus was born, the prophet Isaiah said: ‘Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel.’ Isaiah 7:14

Immanuel means ‘God with us.’ Isaiah spoke this prophecy at a time of war, upheaval, violence and bloodshed. These words are a promise from God to deliver his people. Imagine being told that you will be rescued by a virgin mother and her baby!

The true fulfilment of this promise was the wonderful event of God sending his Son into the world as a baby. A baby who was like all other babies, needing to be fed, burped and nappy changed. A baby who was not like any other baby, as he was also God. In the words of the Apostle John, ‘The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.’ (John 1:14)

Jesus, fully human, fully God, is Immanuel, God with us. God with us to rescue and deliver us, so that we are freed from a life in darkness. We have been drawn into his presence.

And God continues to be with us through Jesus, even though his bodily presence on earth is no more. As Jesus said in parting words to his disciples, ‘And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’ (Matthew 28:20)

As we wait for Jesus’ return, we have this fresh vision of Immanuel given to us by the Apostle John:

“And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. (Rev. 21:3) and ‘They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.’ (Rev 22:4)

What’s in a name? Immanuel — God with us. Praise God for his perfect faithfulness in keeping his promise and ensuring that we can delight in his presence forever through his wonderful work of redemption in Jesus.

Prayer:

‘Lord, you are my God.

I will exalt you and praise your name,

for in perfect faithfulness,

you have done wonderful things,

things planned long ago.’

Thank you for the reminder that you are still with us today. Immanuel.

As we sing your name, help us remember we are not alone, and that you are a God who comforts, protects and encourages us. Whether we are afraid, rattled or are discouraged, help us remember that you are with us — in life, death and for all eternity. Amen.

Song: Immanuel by Michael Card

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/5Gy2go3vpnLfg5FY680Hzz?si=3cff51cbc4a04747

Youtube: https://youtu.be/sriugl-nO38

Isaiah 25:1-12

Praise to the Lord

1Lord, you are my God;

I will exalt you and praise your name,

for in perfect faithfulness

you have done wonderful things,

things planned long ago.

2You have made the city a heap of rubble,

the fortified town a ruin,

the foreigners’ stronghold a city no more;

it will never be rebuilt.

3Therefore strong peoples will honor you;

cities of ruthless nations will revere you.

4You have been a refuge for the poor,

a refuge for the needy in their distress,

a shelter from the storm

and a shade from the heat.

For the breath of the ruthless

is like a storm driving against a wall

5and like the heat of the desert.

You silence the uproar of foreigners;

as heat is reduced by the shadow of a cloud,

so the song of the ruthless is stilled.

6On this mountain the Lord Almighty will prepare

a feast of rich food for all peoples,

a banquet of aged wine—

the best of meats and the finest of wines.

7On this mountain he will destroy

the shroud that enfolds all peoples,

the sheet that covers all nations;

8he will swallow up death forever.

The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears

from all faces;

he will remove his people’s disgrace

from all the earth.

The Lord has spoken.

9In that day they will say,

“Surely this is our God;

we trusted in him, and he saved us.

This is the Lord, we trusted in him;

let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation.”

10The hand of the Lord will rest on this mountain;

but Moab will be trampled in their land

as straw is trampled down in the manure.

11They will stretch out their hands in it,

as swimmers stretch out their hands to swim.

God will bring down their pride

despite the cleverness of their hands.

12He will bring down your high fortified walls

and lay them low;

he will bring them down to the ground,

to the very dust.

"Come and see what God has done…"

Day 9 of 13

NIV

Isaiah 25:1

Days

Isaiah 25:1-12