SALVATION – This lesson describes the joy people experience when they are liberated and set free from political, economic, emotional, or spiritual slavery. Be careful not to pigeon-hole these words—redeemed and ransomed of the lord (vv. 9-10) strictly to individual transformation, but to include a much larger—which more accurately reflects these Hebrew text and etymologies—context for salvation. What is true about all those in some captivity is that people cannot ultimately redeem or ransom themselves; God alone redeems, brings justice, and transforms in every possible way.

LEBANON AND SHARON – Lebanon was known in ancient times for its cedar (Is. 2:13; Ps. 29:5), as well as forests of pine, fir, and cypress (Is. 60:13; Hos. 14:5, Song 3:9, 4:11), and generally, a place of abundance. Sharon was the flower shop of the area (1 Chron. 27:29). What seems desiccated, fruitless, and treeless, Isaiah announces, will burst forth with such fabulous new life and growth that the earth itself will be a vibrant witness to the glory and majesty of God. Not only will flora and fauna skip with new life, but all who suffer, especially the traditional marginal sufferers—those with hearing, ambulatory, and seeing disabilities will find new healing and health.

THE POINT OF THE IMAGERY? –God’s reign will restore the whole creation at once to health and vitality. But also, God’s care for humans is somehow indissolubly connected to God’s care of the earth.

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Describe some level of ransom / redemption that you’ve heard about in the international news—if we mean by such terms people who have been able to return home after being driven away, people being able to rebuild after a hurricane has devastated their life belongings.

On a personal level, can you recall a time when you could say that God "redeemed" you?

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How can this connect to Christmas? For Christians, the lesson points to the coming of the Messiah and the messianic kingdom. More specifically, we already see hints of the poetic changes in earth, nature, and humanity in Jesus’ activity. Part of this lesson is used by the gospel writers as being fulfilled in Jesus: "He even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak" (Mark 76:37; Matt. 11:4-6; Luke 7:22).

The passage also reminds us our human condition—sinfulness, frailty, and powerlessness are always with us—this side of God’s new land. But the hope of the coming of God and the manifestation of his glory promises transformation.

The Word-Become-Flesh who dwells among us through the Spirit has the power to transform all creation. So we wait for the revelation of God’s glory, when joy and gladness will be with us, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.