Weekly Lectionary Spotlight
Zilpha Elaw | Isaiah 35:1-10
December 14, 2025
“The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose... And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads...” Isaiah 35:1, 10
Isaiah 35:1, 10; Psalm 146:5-10; Luke 1; James 5:7-10; Matthew 11:2-11
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“It is like heaven descended upon an earthly soil, when all unite to praise God, from whom all blessings flow. ... I, for one, have great reason to thank God for the refreshing seasons of his mighty grace, which have accompanied these great meetings of his saints in the wilderness.”
Zilpha Elaw
Listen to Dr. Smith’s Weekly Advent Reflection
Scripture: “The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; the desert shall rejoice and blossom; like the crocus it shall blossom abundantly and rejoice with joy and shouting. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the Lord, the majesty of our God. Strengthen the weak hands and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who are of a fearful heart, “Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God. He will come with vengeance, with terrible recompense. He will come and save you.” Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be opened; then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy. For waters shall break forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert; the burning sand shall become a pool and the thirsty ground springs of water; the haunt of jackals shall become a swamp; the grass shall become reeds and rushes. A highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Holy Way; the unclean shall not travel on it, but it shall be for God’s people; no traveler, not even fools, shall go astray. No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it; they shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there. And the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.”
*These AI-generated images are artistic recreations that evoke the world these women inhabited. They are imaginative renderings of their time and faith, not literal likenesses.
Bible Passage
Her Interpretation: Welcome, beloved friends and family, to the Third Sunday of Advent in our series, “Reading the Bible with African American Women” and with me, Dr. Shively Smith. This episode is sponsored by the Calvin Institute, and we are grateful for their support in this public work of interpretation. If you are new to our series, let me tell you that: each week, we invite you to join us as we prepare for Advent together with the Bible in one hand and these African American women interpreters in our ears. Remember, a new episode always drops the Monday before each Advent Sunday, giving you time to use the material in your own Bible study, sermon planning, or preaching preparation in the week ahead.
Today our hearts turn toward the witness of Zilpha Elaw, a 19th-century preacher, evangelist, and spiritual autobiographer. Born free in Pennsylvania but shaped by immense hardship and loss, Elaw became one of the first African American women to travel widely as a revival preacher, ministering across the United States and England in the face of racism and exclusion. Her vivid memoirs document not only her encounters with God’s spirit in the wilderness, but also her courage in building faith communities and challenging barriers that tried to hold her back.
As we light our Advent candles and open the scriptures, we remember: the story of God’s people is shaped by wilderness journeys and fierce resilience, especially when the way ahead disappears into shadow. Zilpha Elaw’s life reminds us that God meets us here—turning barren ground into a place where courage breaks forth and trust takes root.
The points below will help you continue to ponder.