ISAIAH

By Marie Tschopp

This piece was written as a drama to be used before the lighting of the second Advent candle, the Candle of Peace, which represents the prophets who
foretold Jesus' birth.

ISAIAH

Oh, enough walking for an old man. I need to sit and rest a minute. Rest my weary bones. Even prophets like me, Isaiah, need to rest. Oh, you’re new to these parts. Perhaps you don’t know what a prophet is? Come closer, I will tell you.

Some think of a prophet as somebody who sees the future, and this is true, but it is far more. A prophet is Yahweh’s spokesman. He (or she as the case may be) speaks on God’s behalf to convey a message or teaching. We are role models, too. We model holiness and closeness to God, setting the standard for the entire community.

When the message Yahweh gives is one of prosperity, everyone is happy. Everyone loves the prophet. When the message is one of rebuke, the ones being rebuked often try and silence the messenger.

My name, Isaiah, means, “God is Salvation,” which is the focus behind many of my prophecies. God spoke to me in detail about the coming Messiah. My people, the Jews, have waited for centuries for the Messiah to come. We are waiting for Messiah to come and break the chains of bondage and set up his kingdom for us. The Lord spoke to me and said the virgin would conceive. He said to me, “For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace, there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.”

What a great privilege to foretell about the coming Messiah! God also revealed more to me. He said, “He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.”

It is only a matter of time before our Messiah comes. The prophecy God gave me is not what I expected. It makes me wonder if we will recognize him when he comes. Time will tell.

Enough talking. I have much traveling to do. But there is one more thing I want to say to you. The God who spoke to me, speaks to you. Be still before him and listen.