Psalm 111; key verse,
9a “He sent redemption to His people.”
At Christmas, we see the redemption, which is ours in Jesus Christ. The eternal
Son of God entered our time and space. He came to be our substitute. His humble
birth is an indication of how He will live and what He will do for you. The
world rejoices this night. Salvation has come. The Father has sent redemption
to His people.
The LORD sent redemption unto his people. When they were in Egypt he sent not only a deliverer, but an actual deliverance; not only a redeemer, but complete redemption. He has done the like spiritually for all his people, having first by blood purchased them out of the hand of the enemy, and then by power rescued them from the bondage of their sins. Redemption we can point to as an accomplished act: it has been wrought for us, sent to us, and enjoyed by us, and we are in fact the Lord's redeemed.
In the gospel lesson for the first Sunday after Christmas we see how the LORD preserved Jesus by calling Him to Egypt to escape the murderous attempts on Jesus’ life. From a tender young age the Savior lived and walked through the valley of the shadow of death. Yet the LORD preserved Him. Likewise, you live under the watchful eye of a heavenly Father who gave us His Son for our salvation and life.
From O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,
In one the hearts of all mankind;
Bid Thou our sad divisions cease,
And be Thyself our King of Peace.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel
O king of the nations, the ruler they long for, the cornerstone uniting all people; come and save us all, whom You formed out of clay.[1]
Collect for Psalm 111 – Merciful and gentle Lord, the crowning glory of all the saints, give us, your children, the gift of obedience, which is the beginning of wisdom, so that we may be filled with your mercy and that what you command we may do by the might of Jesus Christ our Lord.[2]
[1] O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, Lutheran Service Book © 2006
Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis
[2] Collect for Psalm 111, For All the Saints, A Prayer Book for and by the Church Vol.III © 1995 The American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, Delhi, NY
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