Worth the Wait: Advent Scriptures and Devotion for December 8

            Day eight of our Advent preparation is upon us. We will be ready in just over two weeks? If so, there is work to do. The carol says, “Let every heart prepare him room.” As we prepare our hearts, what needs to be done? Our readings today give us some insight.

            If the Lord were coming to visit your home, what would you clean or prepare first? Many folks would cook their favorite recipes, change the sheets, dust and vacuum, clean the mirrors and windows, take out the trash, and the list goes on. What do you notice about this list? These are externals. If the Lord were to visit your house, I don’t think he would be overly concerned with your stuff. He would be much more interested in your heart and soul! Jesus would want you, first and foremost, to have a pure heart. How embarrassing if you were not aware of Jesus’ expectations. What a gift it would be if someone would tell you what you really need to do to get ready. That is exactly what Malachi prophecies in our first reading.

 

Malachi 3:1-4

 

            “Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. 2 But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap. 3 He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the Lord. 4 Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years.

          Malachi offers us an amazing insight into what was to take place before the Messiah would appear. A forerunner would be sent by the Lord to prepare the way for His appearing. This “messenger” would proclaim the word of the covenant when he arrived. His proclamation to Judah and Jerusalem was to be one of purification, and this appeal was to be for everyone. Who will stand when he appears? Let’s face it. There is no one who stands on their own righteousness (See Romans 3:10). Our righteousness is as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6)! A clarion call will precede the Messiah – summoning the people of God to a state of purity before He comes. As impure metal like gold and silver is refined, so God’s people would require cleansing from their iniquity.  Only when the people offer their gifts in righteousness will these gifts be acceptable to God. The externals are meaningless to God, unless your internal disposition is right.

 

Psalm 126:1-6

            When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dreamed. 2 Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” 3 The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. 4 Restore our fortunes, Lord, like streams in the Negev. 5 Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. 6 Those who go out weeping,     carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them.

            Psalm 126 speaks of the return of God’s people from the Babylonian exile in the 6^th century BC. Restoration of God’s people meant more than reclaiming their land. It also meant a return of God’s Presence and a reinstitution of the covenant that defined their relationship with God. When God restores the fortunes of His people, He will bless His people like a river overflowing its banks. Joy will replace sadness, the people will sing songs to the Lord and proclaim His deeds to the nations. And, finally, the people of God will begin to produce a harvest again! Simply put, God’s people were supposed to be the big brother to the brotherhood of nations. All nations were to come to Jerusalem to worship God. This was the harvest to be reaped by God’s chosen ones. This outreach or evangelism effort did not really occur. Instead, the people of God became exclusionary and held contempt for other nations. The Gentiles were referred to as “Dogs”.
 

            Oh, but a day would come when God would reestablish His people in a much more complete way than occurred in the mid-500s BC. According to John 1, Jesus was coming to “tabernacle” with God’s people (John 1:14). His Presence would be known by the people, because He would dwell with them. Indeed, the covenant would not only be renewed, it would be transformed into the New Covenant. Like the Negev springing forth, God’s blessings would flow from the wounded side of Jesus, and from the heavenly throne of God to those who love the Lord (Rev. 21:1-2). This idea also involves the “living water,” which is symbolic for the gift of the Holy Spirit (John 7:38-39). Those who followed Jesus knew true joy and abundant life. But there is more. Jesus disciples took very seriously the task of spreading the Gospel around the world – to Jews and Gentiles. The Psalmist’s words would come to pass in the restoration of Jerusalem in the 6^th century. But there would be a complete fulfillment when the Messiah appeared and the New Covenant Church emerged!

 

Philippians 1:1-6, 8-11

            Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, to all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons: 2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. ⁸ God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. ⁹ And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, ¹⁰ so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, ¹¹ filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

 

            The Philippians passage teaches us that the Lord is still at work. He who began the work is not giving up on it. To the contrary, He will be faithful to complete it, until the “Day of Jesus Christ.” So, as we wait for the glorious appearing of Jesus in His second coming, we should love each other well, grow in knowledge and discernment, so that we realize what is really important. As the Apostle Paul wrote, we do this, “So that you may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God.” This is the standard preached by the messenger prophesied way back in Malachi. Be pure and righteous for the “Day of Christ” is approaching! This is also the message for us today! We should “come clean” before the Lord often. Repentance and confession are gifts of grace to us from our Holy God. They are the tools or avenues God has given to us for the purification of our hearts. They help us stay prepared. As the old spiritual says, “Keep your lamps trimmed and burning, the time is drawing nigh!”

 

Luke 3:1-6

 

            In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar—when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene— ² during the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. ³ He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. ⁴ As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. ⁵ Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth. ⁶ And all people will see God’s salvation.’”

            Luke 3:1-6 reveals the fulfillment of Malachi’s prophecy. The forerunner sent to prepare the way was none other than John the Baptist, the cousin of Jesus. It was held by the Hebrews that before the Messiah came, Elijah would return. Malachi 4:5 states, “See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes.” Though John denied being Elijah (John 1:21), Jesus recognized John as the fulfillment of this expectation concerning Elijah. In Matthew 17:10-13, The disciples asked him, “Why then do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?”  Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things. But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.” Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist. It is also interesting that the very place where John appears and was baptizing (John 1:28) is traditionally held to be the exact spot from which Elijah was taken up in the chariot (2 Kings 2:6, 11-12). So, John, being likened to Elijah by Jesus, gives evidence that Jesus is none other than the Messiah! All of the prophecies are fulfilled in Christ.

            What was the message that John was preaching? John was preaching a message of preparation and purity. He was calling the people to repent and be baptized for the Messiah would soon arrive. Both concepts, repentance and baptism, are replete with connections to purity. Malachi’s prophecies and Isaiah’s prophecies (Isaiah 40:4-5) rang true in this man John. He was making a way through the wilderness for our God. The rough places would be smooth. The crooked would be made straight. The valleys would be raised, and the mountains brought low!

          Most of us are pretty obsessed with the externals. How do I look? How does my house look? But, the Lord is most interested in your “internals”. That is, your heart, mind and soul. This Advent, can you hear the voice of one crying in the wilderness? Do you need to repent – to turn from sin, sorrow and sadness, and be brought back with joy and singing into a renewed covenant with the Lord? I know I do. “Lord, purify our hearts, so that our gifts might be acceptable unto you. Amen.”

Blessings for a wonderful eighth day of Advent!

Worth the Wait: Advent Scriptures and Devotion for December 7

            Our preparations continue with good news to those who under God’s righteous judgment for their infidelity to Him. Isaiah’s prophecies bring into focus the destruction of Jerusalem, the demolishing of the Temple and the dispersion of the people. In 586 BC, the Babylonians would indeed destroy the Holy City. Defeated, humiliated and carried off into foreign lands, God’s people would long for God to send the Promised One to deliver them from their bondage. In that day, they would return to and rebuild Jerusalem. Just as Isaiah predicted their predicament, in turn, He also speaks of their restoration…

Isaiah 30:19-21, 23-26

            For a people shall dwell in Zion, in Jerusalem; you shall weep no more. He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry. As soon as he hears it, he answers you. 20 And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide himself anymore, but your eyes shall see your Teacher. 21 And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left. And he will give rain for the seed with which you sow the ground, and bread, the produce of the ground, which will be rich and plenteous. In that day your livestock will graze in large pastures, 24 and the oxen and the donkeys that work the ground will eat seasoned fodder, which has been winnowed with shovel and fork. 25 And on every lofty mountain and every high hill there will be brooks running with water, in the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall. 26 Moreover, the light of the moon will be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun will be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the day when the Lord binds up the brokenness of his people, and heals the wounds inflicted by his blow.

              Imagine the pain of losing a war, seeing your homeland decimated, and being dragged back to your victorious enemies’ country where you will dwell under severe oppression. Psalm 137 reveals the depth of sorrow experienced by those retained in Babylon. By the waters of Babylon, there we sat down and wept, when we remembered Zion. 2 On the willows there we hung up our lyres. 3 For there our captors required of us songs, and our tormentors, mirth, saying, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!” 4 How shall we sing the Lord's song in a foreign land?” God’s people longed to go home.

            In our reading for today, Isaiah prophecies that these devastating days of dispersion will conclude. God will hear the sorrowful songs and the pained prayers of His people. Once again, Isaiah declares, a remnant will dwell in Jerusalem. The “Teacher” will come and show you the “Way”. The wasteland will become fruitful again. The nights will be like day, and the days will be brilliant, even seven times brighter than before. In effect, what was dead will come back to life. In that day, the day of the Lord, wounds will be healed and brokenness will be repaired. God’s judgments will conclude with restoration and healing.

Psalm 147:1-6

            Praise the Lord! For it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant, and a song of praise is fitting. 2 The Lord builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the outcasts of Israel. 3 He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. 4 He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names. 5 Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure.6 The Lord lifts up the humble; he casts the wicked to the ground.

            Songs of praise are an appropriate response for those who are returning to Jerusalem. God’s deliverance has come as He gathers the remnant of Israel. God’s omnipotent and powerful hand is like that of a gifted physician. He salves the sore places, binding up the wounds and healing hearts torn asunder as a result of unfaithfulness and sin. God’s grace is given as he lifts up the repentant and humble. Those who stand in defiance, however, He will bury in their depths of their own depravity.

Matthew 9:35–10:1, 5-8

            And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” 1 And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction. 5 These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, 6 but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay.

            Isaiah prophesied that the “Teacher” would come at the time that the Kingdom would be restored. It is no coincidence that Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages “teaching” them. Isaiah spoke of the healing that would come in the day of the Lord. Again, there is no serendipitous happenstance that Jesus, the “Teacher,” arrives “healing every disease and every affliction”!  Isaiah spoke of the barren land becoming fertile again. Jesus says, “The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few.” Jesus commends His followers to pray that God will send out laborers to gather in the harvest. But, Jesus is not speaking about agriculture. He is speaking of harvesting souls. Isaiah spoke of the restoration of Israel – a reuniting of the twelve tribes. Jesus calls unto Himself twelve disciples and sends them out to bring healing to the “lost house of Israel.” The message they were to proclaim coincided with Isaiah’s prophecy – only greater. The Kingdom they were to proclaim was the Kingdom of Heaven.

            Just as Isaiah spoke to those weeping under the righteous judgment of God, He may as well have been speaking to all of humanity. Romans 3:23 declares that, “…all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory.” Paul went on to write in Romans 6:23, “the wages of sin is death….” We have all gone into the foreign country – a dispersion of our own making. We desperately need to hear the “Teacher” who will not just tell us the way to healing and restoration, He will lead us – for He is the Way (John 14:6).

            Mark 10:17 records a man coming to Jesus asking exactly the right question. “Teacher, what must I do to have eternal life?” In Jesus, the Teacher had come. In the twelve disciples we see the remnant of Israel being reconstituted. And because of the Passion of Jesus – healing and restoration are made possible.

Prayer – Heavenly Father, we thank you for sending your Son – the Teacher – to us. May we listen to His instruction and follow His example. For He is the Way that leads to eternal life, healing and renewal. May we offer you our songs of praise, for you are most worthy. Amen.

Worth the Wait - Advent Scriptures and Devotion for December 6

          I pray that your consideration of God’s sacred Scripture has filled your preparations with purpose, and your waiting with wonder and amazement. As you read today’s selections, reflect on the change that the Lord has brought in your life. What in your life has been reversed because of your faith in Christ? Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” As you will see from today’s readings, God is amazing at transformations!

Isaiah 29:17-24

          In a very short time, will not Lebanon be turned into a fertile field and the fertile field seem like a forest? 18 In that day the deaf will hear the words of the scroll, and out of gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind will see. 19 Once more the humble will rejoice in the Lord; the needy will rejoice in the Holy One of Israel. 20 The ruthless will vanish, the mockers will disappear, and all who have an eye for evil will be cut down—21 those who with a word make someone out to be guilty,    who ensnare the defender in court and with false testimony deprive the innocent of justice. 22 Therefore this is what the Lord, who redeemed Abraham, says to the descendants of Jacob: “No longer will Jacob be ashamed; no longer will their faces grow pale. 23 When they see among them their children, the work of my hands, they will keep my name holy; they will acknowledge the holiness of the Holy One of Jacob, and will stand in awe of the God of Israel. 24 Those who are wayward in spirit will gain understanding; those who complain will accept instruction.”

Isaiah 29 begins with a series of strong warnings or “woes” to the city of Jerusalem (Ariel means Jerusalem). Heartless worship seems to be a central issue in God’s coming judgment on Jerusalem. Verses 1-10 read like a news report of what would occur in Jerusalem in a little over a century. In 586 BC, the Babylonians would destroy the Holy City. Another application of this prophecy occurred in 70 AD when the Romans repeated the destruction of the Holy City. This prophecy of “woe” has implications for both periods.

Why would God be so dissatisfied with His chosen people? The Lord says, These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught. (Isaiah 29:13). The Lord’s indictment continues in verse 16. He declares, You turn things upside down, as if the potter were thought to be like the clay! Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, “You did not make me”? Can the pot say to the potter, “You know nothing”? God claims that His people “turn things upside down.” So, His judgment upon them will take on this very form. There will be an amazing reversal as God transforms what is into what isn’t, and what isn’t into what is!

          In verses 17 through 24 we see that, “in a short time,” everything will be turned on its head! Lebanon, known as a forest region would become a fertile field and the fertile field will become like a garden. The deaf will hear and the blind will see. The humble will rejoice in the Lord, but the notorious connivers and criminals will disappear. All who do evil, and who cut others down with their false testimony will be cut down themselves!  Clearly, God is transforming things from a state of evil to a state of holiness. When this happens, Jacob will no longer be ashamed of his descendents. God’s holy name will be revered again, those who have strayed will be renewed, and the complainers will learn the Truth.

          When Jesus comes, some 700 years later, this is exactly what will transpire. He ushers in an era replete with reversals. The Old way will become the New way. The Old Covenant will become the New Covenant. The darkness will become light. The lost will be found. The humble will be exalted. The meek shall inherit the earth. This pattern of turning everything on its ear reaches a climax in the atoning work of Jesus. It is Jesus who conquers political power with self-sacrificial love. It is Jesus who by submitting to death opens the way to eternal life! It is Jesus who demonstrates greatness through servant hood. The Apostle Paul taught that it is when we are slaves to God that we are truly free (Romans 6:22, 1 Corinthians 7:22). It was Jesus who equated Jew and Gentile, slave and free, male and female! This was a scandal! It was all new!! What Isaiah prophesied some seven centuries before Jesus’ birth was beautifully and perfectly fulfilled in Him. This is true historically. And this is true for each of us personally. God has made the old things new in our lives. He has transformed us! “In a short time,” just 19 days from now, we will celebrate that God became a man – a King who is also a baby – the creator of mankind who holds us in His hands, held in His mother’s loving embrace - the author of the world encased in the vulnerable soft skin of a newborn! Sure does seem like everything is turned upside down!

          Isaiah said all of this would happen, “in a short time.” This was good news for the faithful. But, it would require patience. As the Hebrew people waited for the Promised One, the Messiah, they had to trust God and His timing.

Psalm 27:1, 4, 13-14 

          The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid? 4 One thing I ask from the Lord,    this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple. 13 I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. 14 Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.

          Psalm 27 reveals the psalmists abiding faith and trust in God. For him, the Lord is his light and his salvation. For us, light and salvation refer to Jesus. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12). Paul wrote, “For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:9). For us, “Jesus is our light and our salvation!” The psalmist declares that the Lord is His refuge and because of this, he does not have to fear. Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27). For the psalmist, spending time in the Temple and experiencing the Presence of the Lord was a great aspiration. For us, we are now the temple, and the Presence of the Lord is with us continually (1 Corinthians 6:19). Finally, the psalmist reminds us to wait for the Lord courageously. With the Incarnation occurring two thousand years ago, what are we waiting for? We are waiting to celebrate the historical reality of the Incarnation, and the undeniable inevitability of Jesus’ second coming! It will come to pass, “in a short time.”

Matthew 9:27-31

          As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!” 28 When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” “Yes, Lord,” they replied. 29 Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you”; 30 and their sight was restored. Jesus warned them sternly, “See that no one knows about this.” 31 But they went out and spread the news about him all over that region.

          Matthew 9 shows us again that Jesus is the fulfillment of the prophecy in Isaiah 29:18. “In that day…the blind will see.” Two blind men follow Jesus and cry out to Him, “Son of David, have mercy on us.” This desperate cry indicated their belief that Jesus was the Messiah, the Promised One who would come from David’s royal lineage (1 Kings 9:5) and would show great mercy (Psalm 72:12-13). After they had gone indoors, Jesus asked the men if they believed He could heal them. Their response speaks again to their belief that Jesus was the Promised One. Undoubtedly, they knew that the Anointed One, when He came, would accomplish miraculous healings. Jesus touched these men and healed them according to their faith. It is important to note the place that faith plays in this healing. In the grander scheme, the New Covenant people of God would be a people of faith. The operation of God’s grace must be met with man’s faith for true spiritual healing to take place. It is the kind of faith we read about in Psalm 27. After Jesus heals them, He then warned them not to tell anyone! As in other instances, Jesus resisted accolades from the people. His hour had not yet come. He did not want them to attempt to make Him King by force. All of this would happen as God desired, “in a short time.” Sadly, these men, in their exuberance, went out and shared their news. Before we think too harshly of these men, consider this. We have no such prohibition on our sharing. And yet, I wonder how many of us take the opportunity. Again, things seem to be turned upside down.

          Our deliberations today have shown that our Lord is a God of transformations. He turns conventional wisdom on its head. He shocks us and surprises us. Ultimately, all of us must come to Him in humble faith, so that he can open our eyes to the spiritual realities. God’s providential plan will come to pass,

“in a short time."
May the Lord bless you and keep you through these days of waiting on the appearing of His dear Son.

Worth the Wait - Advent Readings and Devotion for December 5

Location, location, location…

Almost everyone searching for a place to build or buy a home has considered the location. In fact, the three fold evocation of this word underscores the overriding value of the “where” factor. Is it close to work? Is it in a good school district? Is it in a good neighborhood? These questions, among others, are considered most often, and they are all based on location. In our readings for today, we see how the question of location applies to the building of our lives. As you study these passages, look for this theme.

Isaiah 26:1-6

            In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: We have a strong city; God makes salvation its walls and ramparts. ² Open the gates that the righteous nation may enter, the nation that keeps faith. ³ You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. ⁴ Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal. ⁵ He humbles those who dwell on high, he lays the lofty city low; he levels it to the ground and casts it down to the dust. ⁶ Feet trample it down—the feet of the oppressed, the footsteps of the poor.

            In the Southern Kingdom of Judah, the capitol city was Jerusalem. It was a strong city for many reasons. Great walls surrounded the city with secured gates. In a day when foreign invaders were always looming, having the security of walls, gates and guards cannot be minimized. But, what made Jerusalem strong was not the walls or warriors, but the favor, power and Presence of God. Verse one says that, “God makes salvation its walls and ramparts.” Protection was afforded the righteous and faithful nation. Indeed, “blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord” (Psalm 33:12). His peace was also known by those who entrusted themselves to the One who was their “refuge and strength” (Psalm 46:1).

            The Psalmist implores the people to trust continually in the Lord because He is the everlasting Rock. Building on a high place, and upon a solid foundation was absolutely important for the longevity of a city. This is especially true when we realize that God is the “Rock”! Notice how God responds to humankind. Those who are convinced of their own sufficiency – He humbles. Like those building the tower of Babel discovered (Genesis 11:1-9), God does not tolerate anything less than dependence on Him – to “lean on the everlasting arms.” For the arrogant, and those convinced that they do not need to listen to God, their city will be decimated. The choice seems clear. Build on the Rock – with righteousness and faithfulness. Or, build on self and one’s own righteousness and pride. Location, location, location…

Psalm 118:1, 8-9, 19-21, 25-27

            Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in humans. ⁹ It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes. Open for me the gates of the righteous; I will enter and give thanks to the Lord. ²⁰ This is the gate of the Lord through which the righteous may enter. ²¹ I will give you thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation. ²⁵ Lord, save us! Lord, grant us success! ²⁶ Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. From the house of the Lord we bless you. ²⁷ The Lord is God, and he has made his light shine on us.

            Furthering the exposition of this theme, the Psalmist admonishes the giving of thanks to the Lord for who He is (good), and what He offers (His enduring love). God’s unchanging character provides a dependable platform on which to place one’s trust. Humans are fickle and unfaithful and are not worthy of such trust. Given a choice, in whom should we invest our faith, hope and trust? Entering the gates of the righteous, associated with the gate of the Sanctuary, suggests close proximity to the Presence of God. Entering this gate leads one ever closer to God. The prerequisite for entering this gate is righteousness.

            In the past, God has answered the prayer of the Psalmist. Remembering God’s saving acts on behalf of His people leads to thanksgiving and worship. God provides protection (refuge), and, has become salvation (redemption). Verses 25 and 26 are connections to the One who would indeed become the savior all men – especially those who believe (1 Timothy 4:10). On Palm Sunday, the people chanted verse 26, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord…” to Jesus as He moved toward the gates of Jerusalem. As the Light of the world moved into the Holy City He would indeed bring the Light of life into the dead and dark hearts of men.

            In Christ, God was taking up residence with men. Moving from the Heavenly Jerusalem to the earthly one would have eternal significance for humanity. Jesus became the gate of the righteous. Paul wrote, “…you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption (1 Corinthians 1:30). It is through Jesus and His righteousness, offered to us, that we have access to the Heavenly Sanctuary and the Holy of holies in the Heavenly temple. Our righteousness is like filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). Only Jesus’ righteousness, given to us, will suffice. Clothed in His righteousness, we have access to the Father! Hebrews 10:19-22 states, “Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, ²⁰ by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, ²¹ and since we have a great priest over the house of God, ²² let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith…” Location, location, location…    

Matthew 7:21, 24-27

            ²¹ “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. ²⁴ “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. ²⁵ The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. ²⁶ But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. ²⁷ The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

            Jesus offers a stern warning for us. God’s Kingdom – His great walled city of refuge and righteousness – is not available to those who merely claim allegiance to the Lord. Only those who do the will of the Lord will enter the gates. And what is the will of the Lord? To trust in the Lord so as to be transformed by Him. In this, the hearer becomes the doer of the Word (James 1:22). Jesus returns to the theme of house building. Trusting Christ and receiving His righteousness is necessary for constructing your house on the Rock! Scripture teaches us that Jesus is the sure foundation (1 Corinthians 3:11), the Corner Stone (Ephesians 2:20), and the source of Spiritual sustenance – as the rock that issued forth water in the Exodus (1 Corinthians 10:4). Building on the Rock provides security, regardless of the severity of the storm. Sadly, those who hear but do not respond in obedience will build in vain. For the torrent will tear asunder their self-made shanty.

            In 70 AD, the great city of Jerusalem, after failing to hear and do the will of God, was utterly destroyed, along with the Temple. Why? This was the Holy City of God. When Jesus had come some forty years earlier, He was rejected.  They heard Jesus, but were not transformed by Him. They continued to build on the old foundation and not the Rock – Jesus. Great was the fall of that city!

            The question for us is clear. Where will we build? The most important consideration should be, “Location, location, location…”

Worth the Wait - Advent Readings and Devotion for December 4

           

           Mountains are important places in the narrative of salvation history. Sinai was the mountain where God’s people arrived soon after their exodus from Egypt (Exodus 19:1-2). God’s glory, like a cloud, covered the mountain (Exodus 19:9, 16-19). His Presence there illumined the face of Moses and struck fear into the hearts of the people (Exodus 34:29-30). From Sinai, God issued the law when Moses went up on the Mountain (Exodus 19:20). It was on the mountainside that Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu and the seventy elders had a feast with God (Exodus 24:11). God instituted the Sinai Covenant with the Children of Israel as they were encamped around the great mountain.

            Mount Moriah, later Mount Zion (Jerusalem), was the place where Abraham was commanded to sacrifice his son, Isaac (Genesis 22:2). It was also the very spot where David purchased a threshing floor as the place where God’s Temple would be built (2 Samuel 24:18-25, 2 Chronicles 3:1). Later, Solomon would complete God’s house on Zion. It was on a hill of Mount Zion that Jesus was crucified. Indeed, mountains play a major role in the Scriptures.

            In our readings for today, Isaiah prophesies that the Messiah will accomplish amazing things “on this mountain” (Zion). In our Gospel reading, we find Jesus going up on a mountain, just like Moses. From the vantage point of Jesus’ ministry to the great crowd of people, we can look back and see that what Isaiah proclaimed some eight centuries before was becoming a reality. As Jesus feeds the people beside the water, Psalm 23 also comes into view. In an instant the fog lifts and we can see it clearly. Jesus is the Shepherd who feeds us beside the quiet waters.

Isaiah 25:6-10

            On this mountain the Lord Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine—the best of meats and the finest of wines. ⁷ On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that  covers all nations; ⁸ he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove his people’s disgrace from all the earth. The Lord has spoken. ⁹ In that day they will say, “Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us. This is the Lord, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation.” ¹⁰ The hand of the Lord will rest on this mountain…

Matthew 15:29-37

            Jesus left there and went along the Sea of Galilee. Then he went up on a mountainside and sat down. 30 Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others, and laid them at his feet; and he healed them. 31 The people were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled made well, the lame walking and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel. 32 Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way.” 33 His disciples answered, “Where could we get enough bread in this remote place to feed such a crowd?” 34 “How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked. “Seven,” they replied, “and a few small fish.” 35 He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. 36 Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, and when he had given thanks, he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and they in turn to the people. 37 They all ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.

Psalm 23:1-6
            The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. ² He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, ³ he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. ⁴ Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. ⁵ You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. ⁶ Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

            Isaiah predicted that on the mountain, the Messiah would feed the people with the best food and drink. Jesus went up on the mountain and fed the people miraculous, supernatural food! Thousands were served with seven loaves and a few fish. The Psalmist says that the Shepherd will “prepare a table”.

            Isaiah prophesied that on that mountain, the Messiah would take away the shroud of death. From the beginning of creation, the wages of sin has been death. (Genesis 2:17). Sin is the inherited domain of every human being, for we were born into the curse of sin (Romans 5:15-17), and all of us have sinned (Romans 3:23). The Promised One, on the mountain, would swallow up death forever and take away all sorrow and shame. On that same mountain, Jesus would carry a cross, and defeat death by His own death. The Psalmist declares that even though we traverse the valley death, we need not fear, for the Shepherd’s rod and staff bring comfort. Because of Jesus’ sacrifice, the sheep can know God’ Sabbath rest as they lie down in verdant grasslands alongside peaceful waters – and their soul is refreshed.
 

            Isaiah foretells that the people will one day declare that this Promised One is their God. This trustworthy One will save them. He will bring about their salvation and the people will rejoice. Isaiah asserts that upon this mountain God’s hand will rest. In essence, the covenant established there will be kept by God as His perpetual Presence gives testimony. As Jesus feeds the people with seven loaves and a few small fish, seven baskets of leftovers are recovered. Seven is the number that symbolizes the covenant. The New Covenant established by Jesus would provide nourishment for His people in bounteous supply! In keeping with God’s generous culinary provisions, the psalmist tells us that his cup is overflowing!

            As the Psalmist concludes, He claims that he will dwell in the House of the Lord forever. But this temple where he will reside eternally is not on any earthly mountain. The writer of Hebrews declares, “you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, ²³ to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, ²⁴ to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant…” (Hebrews 12:22-24).  Revelation 19:9 tells us that, like on Sinai, and the mountain by the Sea of Galilee where Jesus fed the crowds, on the Heavenly Mount Zion there will also be a feast. “Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper…”

             Given the amazing Scriptural events that transpire on mountains, there is no greater “mountaintop” experience than arriving at the Heavenly Mount Zion! Our view will be incomparable. And the food will be Divine!

            

Worth the Wait - Advent Devotion for December 3

             Among the covenant promises of God was the assurance to King David that he would, “…never fail to have a successor on the throne of Israel”. This promise was reiterated to Solomon in 1 Kings 9:5. In our readings for today, we find out a great deal about this Promised One. We will learn that this King is quite different. He is interested in lifting up the poor and lowly, and in promoting peace amongst natural enemies. In the royal language of Psalm 72 (penned by Solomon), and our Old Testament reading from Isaiah, we discover a righteous King who has been anointed by the Holy Spirit – indeed, the Spirit rests on Him. As we study the Gospel reading, the echoes of our Old Testament readings will resonate in One Person. Read on…  

Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17

            Endow the king with your justice, O God, the royal son with your righteousness. 2 May he judge your people in righteousness, your afflicted ones with justice. 7 In his days may the righteous flourish and prosperity abound till the moon is no more. 8 May he rule from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth. 12 For he will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help. 13 He will take pity on the weak and the needy and save the needy from death. 17 May his name endure forever; may it continue as long as the sun. Then all nations will be blessed through him, and they will call him blessed.

            In this prayer of petition, Solomon implores God to offer His own justice and righteousness to the King, who also happens to be the royal Son. This parallel statement (redundancy to bring emphasis – apparent throughout this Psalm) underscores the nature of the King/Son – who, if so endowed, would exemplify the holiness of God.  During the reign of this King, Solomon prays that righteousness would be established forever – “until the moon is no more.” Further, the dominion of the King would be limitless. And, unlike kings who are self-absorbed and oblivious to the needs of the people, this King will meet the needs of the lowly. Verses 12 and 13 contain two parallel statements underscoring the Kings wish to care for the needy and those who have no one to assist them. He will pity the weak and save the needy from death. This King would not come to heal the healthy, but give balm to the broken and restoration to the ruined. If Solomon’s prayer is answered, this King’s name would be everlasting, and this King would be a blessing to all the nations. Both of these outcomes are in keeping with the covenant promises to Abraham (Genesis 12:2-3, 22:18). What’s more, the people will “call Him blessed.” This psalm may be a self-focused prayer written by Solomon – the King/Son – concerning Himself and His legacy. But, the eternal nature of this prayer indicates that these petitions might be answered in Another descendant of David – a King/Son yet to come…

Isaiah 11:1-10

            A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. ² The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord—³ and he will delight in the fear of the Lord. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; ⁴ but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked. ⁵ Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist. ⁶ The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. ⁷ The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. ⁸ The infant will play near the cobra’s den, and the young child will put its hand into the viper’s nest. ⁹ They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. ¹⁰ In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his resting place will be glorious. ¹¹ In that day the Lord will reach out his hand a second time to reclaim the surviving remnant of his people from Assyria, from Lower Egypt, from Upper Egypt, from Cush, from Elam, from Babylonia, from Hamath and from the islands of the Mediterranean.

            In this prophecy, Isaiah speaks about the appearance of a descendant of Jesse. Jesse was the father of King David, whose throne was always to be inhabited by a successor. But, due to sin and rebellion, God caused an intermediate cessation of David’s dynasty. In the northern kingdom of Israel, Hoshea was the last to inhabit the throne (722 BC). In the southern kingdom, Zedekiah was the last (586 BC). When Isaiah claims that a shoot will emerge from the stump of Jesse, he is making reference to the cutting off of the Davidic dynasty and the barren status of David’s royal line at the time of the Messiah’s coming. When He comes, this Righteous Branch will bear much fruit. Where the vineyard was an unproductive wasteland, in that day, the Messiah would bring verdant life back to the garden in a harvest of fruit.

            The Apostle Paul spoke of the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  (Galatians 5:22-23). These are the very qualities that Jesus exhibited throughout His earthly ministry.

            It should not surprise us that Isaiah 11:2 speaks of the Holy Spirit. It states that the sevenfold Spirit of the Lord (see Revelation 1:4) will rest on Him. Truly, the Promised One, in the line of David, would be the Anointed One. Just as David was anointed with oil and subsequently, the Holy Spirit, so would his Progeny. 1 Samuel 16:12-13 records, “And the Lord said, ‘Arise, anoint him, for this is he.’ ¹³ Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David from that day forward.”

            When Jesus was baptized, Matthew 3:16 records, “…immediately He went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him…” Acts 10:37-38 also speaks of Jesus as being the Anointed One.  “…beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached—how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power…” That Isaiah was prophesying about Jesus as the One upon whom the Spirit rests is incontrovertible.

            In the day of the Messiah, those who were bitter enemies will come together in peace. Hate will be replaced by harmony. Treachery will give way to tranquility. This sprout of Jesse will bring unity to the nations. Sabbath rest and peace, closely associated with worship, will be glorious for those who have gathered from every nation under His banner.

            That this is fulfilled in Jesus is hard to refute. Paul wrote, “So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, ²⁷ for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. ²⁸ There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. ²⁹ If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Galatians 3:26-29). In 1 Corinthians 12:13, Paul said, “For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.”

            In that day the people will be unified and the remnant will be reclaimed…

Luke 10:21-24

            At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do. 22 “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”23 Then he turned to his disciples and said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. 24 For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.”

            Luke presents Jesus to us as one filled with the Holy Spirit – to the point of being completely joyful. He has just sent out 72 “missionaries” to preach peace and bring healing to the people. The number 72 is representative of the nations of the earth. In verse 21, Jesus is overjoyed at the prospect of His ministry moving throughout the land – touching and transforming lives – at least those who welcomed the Gospel like little children.

            The spiritual reality that Jesus is One with the Father is hidden. Only through God’s revelation of Himself through Jesus do we see and know God. Jesus, in an aside to the disciples, shares with them the special privilege they have received. It was Jesus’ choice to call them as His disciples. Now, they have the joy of sharing the good news that “The Kingdom of God is near.” And where the kingdom is, there is the King! Jesus is the Promised King. If you believe in Jesus as the King of kings and Lord of lords, give God your heartfelt thanks. Prophets and kings of the past were not privy to what you have seen, experienced and know! Jesus is the Anointed One – the King of kings – the Righteous Branch – the shoot from the stump of Jesse – the Fruit bearer.   

 

Worth the Wait - Advent Devotion for December 2

Introduction to Advent

            Follow this link to an excellent introductory article on Advent by Southern Baptist Theological Seminary professor, Dr. Timothy Paul Jones. In this article, Dr. Jones answers the question, “Why celebrate Advent?”

 

http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgcworship/2013/11/26/why-celebrate-advent/

December 2^nd Readings and Devotion

Psalm 122:1-9

            I rejoiced with those who said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.” ² Our feet are standing in your gates, Jerusalem. ³ Jerusalem is built like a city that is closely compacted together. ⁴ That is where the tribes go up— the tribes of the Lord—to praise the name of the Lord according to the statute given to Israel. ⁵ There stand the thrones for judgment, the thrones of the house of David. ⁶ Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May those who love you be secure. ⁷ May there be peace within your walls and security within your citadels.” ⁸ For the sake of my family and friends, I will say, “Peace be within you.” ⁹ For the sake of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek your prosperity.

 

            For the Children of Israel, going to Jerusalem was extremely significant. During the seven annual feasts, pilgrims would travel to the Holy City to follow the statutes concerning these sacred festivals and Jerusalem as the only place for sacrifice (Deuteronomy 12). Jerusalem was also the political center of Israel – the place where David and his family line ruled, and the legal center, where judgments were rendered. That Jerusalem was secure was a matter of prayer for God’s people, for it was there that God met with His people. Preservation of Jerusalem meant that the Temple would also be preserved. God’s Presence and favor was closely associated with the “House of the Lord.”

            Over the years, God’s people became less fervent in their worship and in their faithfulness to God. Because of their sin, God’s judgment fell upon them. In 586 BC, the Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem and dispersed the people into foreign lands. The Temple was utterly destroyed, and along with it the special sense of God’s Presence and power in the lives of the Jewish people. The people longed to be restored.

            All of this was prophesied by the prophet, Isaiah, who spoke the Word of God during a fifty year period between 739 and 690 BC.

 

Isaiah 4:2-6

            In that day the Branch of the Lord will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land will be the pride and glory of the survivors in Israel. ³ Those who are left in Zion, who remain in Jerusalem, will be called holy, all who are recorded among the living in Jerusalem. ⁴ The Lord will wash away the filth of the women of Zion; he will cleanse the bloodstains from Jerusalem by a spirit of judgment and a spirit of fire. ⁵ Then the Lord will create over all of Mount Zion and over those who assemble there a cloud of smoke by day and a glow of flaming fire by night; over everything the glory will be a canopy. ⁶ It will be a shelter and shade from the heat of the day, and a refuge and hiding place from the storm and rain.

             Just as Isaiah prophesied the destruction of Jerusalem, He also spoke of her restoration. Often called the “Messianic Prophet,” Isaiah speaks of “that day” when the “Branch of the Lord” will come. The Promised One will bring fruitfulness back to a barren land. And the remnant who remain in Jerusalem will be cleansed by the Lord and the purifying fire of His Spirit. Once again, like God protected the Children of Israel in the Exodus, God’s Presence would be known to them as a cloud of smoke by day and a pillar of fire by night. God’s glory would return like the cloud encompassing Mount Sinai or filling the Temple at Solomon’s dedication service (1 Kings 8:11). God’s Presence, like a fortress, would be their refuge from whatever threats might beset them – the heat of the sun or the raging storms.

            According to Isaiah 2:2-3, It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised above the hills; and all the nations shall flow to it,  3  and many peoples shall come, and say: "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths." For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. 

            When the “Branch of the Lord” comes, the Temple will be established again as the ultimate place of worship – and Gentiles (those from other nations) will come seeking the Lord. One day…

Matthew 8:5-11

            When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. ⁶ “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.” ⁷ Jesus said to him, “Shall I come and heal him?” ⁸ The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. ⁹ For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” ¹⁰ When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. ¹¹ I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.

            In this passage, Jesus is approached by a Roman centurion – a Gentile – one from another nation! This man is seeking Jesus. This same Jesus spoke about tearing down the temple and rebuilding it in three days. In so doing, Jesus described Himself as the Temple (see John 2:19-21). In effect, the centurion is going up to the Temple of the Lord! The Roman leader is coming to Jesus believing that the Lord can heal his sick servant. “Say the word, and my servant will be healed.” Jesus was moved by this foreigner. He said, “I have not found anyone in Israel with such a great faith.” Jesus goes on to affirm what Isaiah had prophesied so many centuries before – that many will come from the east and west and go up for the feast with the Saints of old in the Kingdom of God. What was predicted about the coming of the Messiah is so clearly seen in the life and ministry of Jesus – the Branch of the Lord! With the Psalmist, and the Roman centurion, may we also say, “Let us go to the house of the Lord!”