Here is part of our Old Testament reading, from Isaiah: ‘In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: “We have a strong city; he sets up salvation as walls and bulwarks. Open the gates, that the righteous nation which keeps faith may enter in. Thou dost keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusts in thee. Trust in the Lord for ever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock”’.

It is not physical strength that redeems us; it is salvation itself – and, specifically, the Saviour, ‘He who is to come’. The prophet Habakkuk wrote: ‘I will take my stand to watch, and station myself on the tower, and look forth to see what he will say to me … And the Lord answered me: “Write the vision; make it plain upon tablets, so he may run who reads it. For still the vision awaits its time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seem slow, wait for it; it will surely come, it will not delay”’. This in turn is taken up in Hebrews: ‘For yet a little while, and the coming one shall come and shall not tarry; but my righteous one shall live by faith …’

As we enter upon this time of expectant waiting, let us deepen our sense of trust that the Lord will surely come, even directly into the events of our own time. Let us trust His promises, and may He bless us all this day.