It can be easy, especially when we live in comfortable surroundings, to let the words of the prophets become disconnected from our tangible, grounded realities. That’s why this passage from Isaiah is so powerful. It’s straightforward, physical, and gritty. It’s what politicians might call a “kitchen-table issue.” The Lord loves justice. The Lord hates robbery and dishonesty. The Lord will pay fair wages and keep the promises the Lord has made.

These words must feel so liberating to a people who have been in exile, who likely have been struggling to make ends meet for years as they fight against the oppression of a foreign nation who has taken them from their home. The Lord is with them. That doesn’t just mean that God is on their side in some abstract way; God is on their side with regard to economics, fairness, and their place in society. They are not powerless anymore because God is in charge and God will be fair.

The second half of this passage adds even more weight to this point. God is not only with them now but will continue to be with them, providing justice for generations to come. What more comforting words can you give to a parent than to say that your child is safe, will continue to be blessed, and will thrive even after you are gone.

The hope that we find in Advent is a hope not only for ourselves but also for our community and for our families. This hope alleviates our most mundane anxieties by telling us that God is present and working to provide us with justice and a future. We may not know what the future holds, but we know that the future is not something to be feared.