Advent I: "Comfort ye, my people"

the words we all need to hear

This is part one of an Advent series where I’ll be sharing a hymn or piece of music each week alongside some reflections. I may be quieter on social media during December, so if you’d like to receive these (hopefully) weekly emails, please subscribe below!

I am a little embarrassed to admit this, but Old Testament history and trying to remember which prophets were talking to which people has always overwhelmed me. I have read most of the books at one point or another, but a coherent narrative has eluded me. This year, however, our morning bible time has us slowly reading through the stories found in Kings and Chronicles (we’re using this children’s story Bible, by far the best we’ve encountered). It’s amazing how helpful a children’s Bible has been in allowing me to orient myself to the whole story.

At best, the stories of the kingdoms of Israel and Judah are frustrating. At worst, t…