Isaiah 7:10-14; Psalm 23; Romans 1:1-7; Matthew 1:18-24
First Isaiah was prophesying before 700 BC, when Judah was under attack. Isaiah promises that a time of peace will come when Israel returns to living simply, with no riches to make others envious. But only if they keep their faith in God. Without being asked, God gives King Ahaz a sign of his support: a young woman will bear a son, to be named Immanuel, “God with us”. Israel will still suffer. But a remnant of David’s house will survive, like the stump of a fallen tree.
Paul begins his letter to the Jewish Christian community in Rome very carefully. They did not know him, so he assures them that he shares their beliefs, especially that Jesus, a descendant of David, is the Christ, proclaimed Son of God through his resurrection. That God raised up a man hung on a tree, and so “condemned by the Law”, implies that the Jewish Torah is not enough to enable humanity to become right with God.
Before Matthew describes Jesus’ birth, he lists 42 ancestors linking Jesus firmly with Abraham, David and Israel’s kings. The list includes four women, Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and the wife of Uriah. Through their unconventional behaviour, a remnant of David’s line survived, reminding us of the important roles women have always played in God’s plan.
Psalm Response: Let the Lord enter! He is the king of glory.
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