Thursday 4 December 2025 - Open the gates

Thursday 4 December 2025

Today is Thursday the 4th of December, in the 1st week of Advent. One Hope Project sings a version of ‘Once in Royal David’s City’. Once in royal David’s city stood a lowly cattle shed, where a mother laid her baby in a manger for His bed: Mary was that mother mild, Jesus Christ her little Child. He came down to earth from heaven who is God and Lord of all, and His shelter was a stable, and His cradle was a stall: with the poor, and meek, and lowly, lived on earth our Saviour holy. And our eyes at last shall see Him, through His own redeeming love; for that Child so dear and gentle is our Lord in heav'n above, and He leads His children on to the place where He is gone. Not in that poor lowly stable, with the oxen standing by, we shall see Him, but in heaven, set at God’s right hand on high; when like stars His children crowned all in white shall wait around. Today’s reading is from the Prophet Isaiah. Isaiah 26:1-6 On that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: We have a strong city; he sets up victory like walls and bulwarks. Open the gates, so that the righteous nation that keeps faith may enter in. Those of steadfast mind you keep in peace— in peace because they trust in you. Trust in the Lord for ever, for in the Lord God you have an everlasting rock. For he has brought low the inhabitants of the height; the lofty city he lays low. He lays it low to the ground, casts it to the dust. The foot tramples it, the feet of the poor, the steps of the needy. This is a song about the great things that God will do for an Ancient City. A “strong city” with walls and bulwarks is not easy to hide; but you might have difficulty seeing what happens within its walls. God is setting up for victory, in a mysterious way, yet in a place that is not hard to find. Where is the “strong city” that God is preparing for victory in our world? Perhaps God is mysteriously at work in you. In the Lord God you have an “everlasting rock.” How does it feel to know that this “everlasting rock” is within your gates? “He has brought low the inhabitants of the height; the lofty city he lays low”. What is God doing here? What does this say about the kind of place that God chooses to dwell? Now listen to this scripture once more. On listening a second time, is there anything that strengthens or encourages you? What might God be doing in this time of prayer? Isaiah 26:1-6 On that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: We have a strong city; he sets up victory like walls and bulwarks. Open the gates, so that the righteous nation that keeps faith may enter in. Those of steadfast mind you keep in peace— in peace because they trust in you. Trust in the Lord for ever, for in the Lord God you have an everlasting rock. For he has brought low the inhabitants of the height; the lofty city he lays low. He lays it low to the ground, casts it to the dust. The foot tramples it, the feet of the poor, the steps of the needy. Finally, look back over these last few moments. What remains with you? Speak with God about this. O Wisdom Lord and Ruler Root of Jesse Key of David Rising Sun King of the Nations Emmanuel Come, Lord Jesus