Saturday prior to Advent 4

[1]

 

The hymn of the day, Once in Royal David’s City (LSB 376), was designed by composer by Cecil Frances Alexander as a catechism hymn, to go along with the Second Article of the Creed: I believe in…Jesus Christ…conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary. It tells the story of the birth of Jesus in a stable in Bethlehem, Royal David’s City, as foretold by the prophet Micah.

One of the Christmas traditions celebrated by many persons in the English-speaking world is to tune in on Christmas Eve, either on radio or television, to the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, originating from King’s College, Cambridge. This tradition began in 1918, was first broadcast in 1928, and is now heard by millions around the world.

In 1919, Arthur Henry Mann, organist at King’s College (1876-1929), introduced an arrangement of “Once in Royal David’s City” as the processional hymn for the service. In his version, the first stanza is sung unaccompanied by a boy chorister. The choir and then the congregation join in with the organ on succeeding stanzas. This has been the tradition ever since. It is a great honor to be the boy chosen to sing the opening solo—a voice heard literally around the world.

The author of this text, Cecil Frances Alexander (1818-1895), was born in Dublin, Ireland, and began writing in verse from an early age. She became so adept that by the age of 22, several of her hymn texts made it into the hymnbook of the Church of Ireland. Alexander [née Humphreys] married William Alexander, both a clergyman and a poet in his own right who later became the bishop of the Church of Ireland in Derry and later archbishop. Aside from her prolific hymn writing, Mrs. Alexander gave much of her life to charitable work and social causes, something rather rare for women of her day.

“Once in Royal David’s City” first appeared in her collection, Hymns for Little Children (1848), in six stanzas. This particular text was included with others as a means to musically and poetically teach the catechism. It is based on the words of the Apostles’ Creed, “Born of the Virgin Mary,” and is in six stanzas of six lines each. Even though this text is included in the Christmas liturgical sections of most hymnals, the narrative painted by Alexander truly relates to the entire “youth” of Christ and not just his birth.

The first time the text appeared with its most popular tune pairing, IRBY, composed by Henry John Gauntlett (1805-1876), was in the Appendix to the First Edition of Hymns Ancient and Modern (1868). Gauntlett, born in Wellington, Shropshire, England, was trained in the fields of law and music, and is said to have composed over 10,000 hymn tunes. IRBY is the primary tune for which he is known in the United States.

This is one of Alexander’s most narrative and vivid texts, shattering perceptions of the picturesque Nativity with the realities of the lowly stable, and the weak and dependent baby. The hymn’s controversial nature comes from the language expressing the cultural patronizing of children during the Victorian era (words such as “little,” “weak” and “helpless” are ones found particularly appalling in a 21st-century context).

In the spirit of the Romantic poetic era, Alexander speculates in stanza three that Jesus was “little, weak, and helpless” when there is no biblical account to support this. To the contrary, the one biblical witness we have of Jesus’ boyhood in Luke 2:41-52 indicates that he strayed from his parents and caused quite a stir in the temple when teachers “who heard him were amazed at his wisdom and his answers.” (Luke 2:47)

One could make a case that Alexander’s third stanza was more concerned with supporting Victorian child-rearing principles—children as submissive and “seen, but not heard”—rather than providing an accurate account of Jesus’ life. On the other hand, the child who is God incarnate surely felt the human and childlike feelings that all children face.

The final stanza moves from actual childhood to a metaphorical family in which we are all children of God. The poet explores the paradox that this “child, so dear and gentle” is actually the “Lord in heaven” who “leads his children on the place where he has gone.”[2]

Collect for the Fourth Sunday in Advent: Stir up Your power, O Lord, and come and help us by Your might, that the sins which weigh us down may be quickly lifted by Your grace and mercy; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. [3]

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[1] The Visitation, Schnorr Von Carolsfeld woodcuts © WELS permission granted for personal and congregational use

[2]https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/history-of-hymns-once-in-royal-davids-city-serves-as-processional-hymn

[3] Collect for Advent 4, Lutheran Service Book © Concordia Publishing House. St. Louis 

 

Friday prior to Advent 4

[1]

Luke 1:39–45 (46–56)—The Gospel for Sunday tells of the Visitation, when the blessed Virgin Mary visited her cousin Elizabeth, who was pregnant with John the Baptist. Both John and Elizabeth were jubilant to be in the presence of the Son of God, even while He was in the womb of His mother. John leaps, Elizabeth blesses Mary, and Mary responds by singing the Magnificat.

The Magnificat:

My soul magnifies the Lord,

and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.

For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed.

For he who is mighty has done great things for me,

and holy is his name.

And his mercy is for those who fear him

from generation to generation.

He has shown strength with his arm;

he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;

He has brought down the mighty from their thrones

and exalted those of humble estate;

He has filled the hungry with good things,

and the rich he has sent away empty.

He has helped his servant Israel,

in remembrance of his mercy,

as he spoke to our fathers,

to Abraham and to his offspring forever.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son

and to the Holy Spirit;

as it was in the beginning,

is now, and will be forever. Amen.

God our Father, you send your Son to free mankind from the power of death. May we who celebrate the coming of Christ as man share more fully in his divine life, for he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen [2]

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[1] The Visitation, Schnorr Von Carolsfeld woodcuts © WELS permission granted for personal and congregational use

[2] Collect for Friday8 of the week of Advent 4, For All the Saints, A Prayer Book For and By the Church, Vol. I © 1994 The American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, Delhi, NY

 

Thursday prior to Advent 4

[1]

Hebrews 10:5–10—Christ came as a tiny Baby born in a manger in Bethlehem, but let us take care not to romanticize the scene too much. He came for one purpose, and that was to do His Father’s will by offering up His body as a sacrifice for us, so that we—who could never please God, whether by our conduct or by any sacrifices which we ourselves could offer—so that we might be saved and made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Christ came into this world to do the will of the Father. In faith we trust the Father to work His will in us. The will of the Father was simply to do the work of redemption in this world. He came to break the bondage of the devil, death and sin. He came to be our substitute. He came to live under the Law perfectly. Jesus came to take your sin and to suffer and die for the sin of the entire world.

Jesus’ prayer was simple, “Thy will be done.” He fulfilled the will of the Father in His coming into this world, in His life, in His suffering, in His death and resurrection. He will perfect His will in your life as well. That is His promise to you this day.

Lord, hear the prayers of your people. May we who celebrate the birth of your Son as man rejoice in the gift of eternal life when he comes in glory, for he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen [2]

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[1] The Visitation, Schnorr Von Carolsfeld woodcuts © WELS permission granted for personal and congregational use

[2] Collect for Thursday of the week of Advent 4, For All the Saints, A Prayer Book For and By the Church, Vol. I © 1994 The American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, Delhi, NY

 

Wednesday prior to Advent 4

[1]

Micah 5:2–5a—Seven hundred years before the birth of our Lord, the prophet Micah was sent by God to rebuke the people for their idolatry and prophesy about the coming Christ. Here, he tells where the Savior is to be born: Bethlehem, the city of David (who was from the clan of Ephrathah). In his Gospel, St Matthew cites this prophecy as fulfilled in Christ Jesus.

The Scriptures is clear, “Out of Bethlehem a ruler will come.” The hymn writer put it this way, “O little town of Bethlehem…” A small, insignificant, tiny, town. Hardly anyone had heard of the place that is precisely where the Father determined that the Savior would be born. Not Jerusalem, not Bethel, not any of the other holy sites and cities. It was in the city of David, overlooked by all the experts, but the very place that he Father determined for the Savior to be born.

Out of Bethlehem will come a ruler who will be great in the world. Everything that the Father determined world to perfection. He will not leave anything to chance. The Father determined the very place where the Savior was to be born.

The will of the Father for your life is also determined by the testimony of His word. Trust that He has worked every single detail. The people, the place were all determined; your life is not life to chance. God has determined that His will shall be worked in your life. Trust His promises.

God of love and mercy, help us to follow the example of Mary, always ready to do your will. At the message of an angel she welcomed your eternal Son and, filled with the light of your Spirit, she became the temple of your Word, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen. [2]

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[1] The Visitation, Schnorr Von Carolsfeld woodcuts © WELS permission granted for personal and congregational use

[2] Collect for Wednesday of the Week of Advent 4, For All the Saints, A Prayer Book For and By the Church, Vol. 1 © 1994 The American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, Delhi, NY 

 

Tuesday prior to Advent 4

[1]

Psalm 80:1–7—Restoring Israel: The Sheep and Vineyard of the LORD

This psalm is titled To the Chief Musician. Set to “The Lilies.” A Testimony of Asaph. A Psalm. As with Psalms 45, 60 and 69, this psalm is set to “The Lilies.” The phrase may refer to the general beauty of the composition, to the tune, or even to a six-stringed instrument known as the Shoshannim (the literal translation of the Hebrew).

As with several of the Asaph psalms, this one is often attributed to a later Asaph. “Here not only the southern kingdom but also the northern kingdom – it calls God the ‘Shepherd of Israel’ and speaks of Ephraim and Manasseh, two of the major northern tribes – and since it asks for Israel’s deliverance, it is best seen as a plea for the deliverance of the northern kingdom sometime before its fall to the Assyrian armies in 721 B.C.” (James Montgomery Boice)[2]

Twice in this section (and thrice in the entire psalm), the refrain beseeches the Lord, Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we | may be saved! The immediate context of the psalm was the dark days which had fallen upon the Northern Kingdom of Israel, the people and her kings having forsaken the true God and lapsed into idolatry. For us, the darkness is that of sin, which we desire to be put away and atoned for. Such has been accomplished for us by the Savior of the world, God in man made manifest to us: Jesus Christ. He has saved and restored us.

Collect for Psalm 80: Lord God, you so tend the vine you planted that now it extends its branches even to the farthest shore. Keep us in your Son as branches on the vine, that, rooted firmly in your love, we may testify before the whole world to your great power working everywhere; through Jesus Christ our Lord .[3]

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[1] The Visitation, Schnorr Von Carolsfeld woodcuts © WELS permission granted for personal and congregational use

[2] https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/psalm-80/

[3] Collect for Psalm 80, For All the Saints, A Prayer Book For and By the Church Vol. I © 1994 The American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, Delhi, NY 

 

Monday prior to Advent 4

[1]

 1 Samuel 2:1b, 2, 5b–7; Antiphon, Luke 1:46b–47—As the birth of our Lord draws near, the sense of anticipation and expectation is heightened. The antiphon is taken from the Magnificat, the song of the blessed Virgin when she visited and was blessed by Elizabeth, and the as-yet-unborn John leaped in Elizabeth’s womb in joy of being in his Savior’s presence. The entire antiphon looks forward to the salvation of the Lord, the salvation made concrete when the Son of God assumed flesh, and the salvation which was accomplished when He died on the cross. By His death and resurrection, He has brought us to life, made us rich, and exalted us.

The theme for the Fourth Sunday in Advent is How God Sent His Son. Next Sunday, we turn our attention toward the Nativity of Our Lord. With Mary we await the coming of the Christ, her Son, conceived in her womb by the Word and Spirit of God. As the Lord dealt graciously with her and did great things for her (Luke 1:48–49), so also he manifests Himself and His glory to us in mercy and gentleness. He comes to rule His people in peace, to “shepherd His flock in the strength of the Lord.” He comes forth not from the great capital city of Jerusalem, but from lowly little Bethlehem (Micah 5:2, 4). He comes to sacrifice Himself, in fulfillment of His Father’s will, for the salvation and sanctification of His people (Hebrews 10:10). He who once visited Elizabeth while hidden in the womb of Mary (Luke 1:39–45), now comes to visit us today, hidden in the lowliness of simple water, bread and wine.

Collect for the Fourth Sunday in Advent: Stir up Your power, O Lord, and come and help us by Your might, that the sins which weigh us down may be quickly lifted by Your grace and mercy; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. [2]-

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[1] The Visitation, Schnorr Von Carolsfeld woodcuts © WELS permission granted for personal and congregational use

[2] Collect for Advent 4, Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis

 

FOURTH SUNDAY IN ADVENT – Series C study notes

 

Micah 5:2–5a
Hebrews 10:5–10
Luke 1:39–45 (46–56)

The Lord Comes to Visit Us in Peace

Stir up Your power, O Lord, and come and help us by Your might, that the sins which weigh us down may be quickly lifted by Your grace and mercy; 

The Fourth Sunday in Advent turns our attention toward the Nativity of Our Lord. With Mary we await the coming of the Christ, her Son, conceived in her womb by the Spirit of God. As the Lord dealt graciously with her and did great things for her (Luke 1:48–49), so also He manifests Himself and His glory to us in mercy and gentleness. He comes to rule His people in peace, to “shepherd His flock in the strength of the Lord.” He comes forth not from the great capital city of Rome or Jerusalem, but from lowly little Bethlehem (Micah 5:2, 4). He comes to sacrifice Himself, in fulfillment of His Father’s will, for the salvation and sanctification of His people (Hebrews 10:10). He who once visited Elizabeth while hidden in the womb of Mary (Luke 1:39–45), now comes to visit us today, hidden in the lowliness of simple water, bread and wine.

Luke 1:39 – 

Ἀναστᾶσα δὲ Μαριὰμ ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ταύταις ἐπορεύθη εἰς τὴν ὀρεινὴν μετὰ σπουδῆς εἰς πόλιν Ἰούδα,

In the days(those days) of Mary and Elizabeth's pregnancy.  She goes in haste. 

The only action of Mary...everything else is Elizabeth. 

2 Samuel 6, The ark and Mary are met with shouts of joy..."how should the ark come to me?" says David. Both the ark and Mary stay three months...notice the parallelism...”Savior of the nations come.” 

Luke 1:40 –

καὶ εἰσῆλθεν εἰς τὸν οἶκον Ζαχαρίου καὶ ἠσπάσατο τὴν Ἐλισάβετ.  

she entered the house of Zachariah and greeted Elizabeth. 

A reversal? Shouldn't Elizabeth greet Mary?  See if there a Jewish greeting..."what is the news of the day?" 'When I heard the sound of your greeting...'

Luke 1:41 –

καὶ ἐγένετο ὡς ἤκουσεν [a]τὸν ἀσπασμὸν τῆς Μαρίας ἡ Ἐλισάβετ, ἐσκίρτησεν τὸ βρέφος ἐν τῇ κοιλίᾳ αὐτῆς, καὶ ἐπλήσθη πνεύματος ἁγίου ἡ Ἐλισάβετ, 

when Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting (it happened) the baby- brephos- (John) - leapt and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit...

at that moment she is inspired...we can trust her message. Specifically applied here, not universal.

Mary asks - "how shall this be?"

Zachariah asks - "how shall I know?" Wrong question...he looks for proof outside of the Word. 

Note: when Zachariah was to speak he should have spoken Aaron's benediction "the Lord bless...". Instead, he speaks, "blessed be the Lord..."

Luke 1:42 –

αὶ ἀνεφώνησεν [b]κραυγῇ μεγάλῃ καὶ εἶπεν· Εὐλογημένη σὺ ἐν γυναιξίν, καὶ εὐλογημένος ὁ καρπὸς τῆς κοιλίας σου.  

In a loud voice, my means of a great cry...“blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you bear."

she offers here a prayer...descriptive...objective, different then the beatitudes of Matthew 5. Completely passive. “You are blessed by God...”

Luke 1:43 –

καὶ πόθεν μοι τοῦτο ἵνα ἔλθῃ ἡ μήτηρ τοῦ κυρίου μου πρὸς [c]ἐμέ; 

why wherefore what do I owe this that am I favored that the mother of my Lord comes to me? 

The zygote is my Lord. 

John Jefferson Davis, in his book Evangelical Ethics, points out that the incarnation of Jesus Christ has an important role to play in affirming the value of human life (p. 158). He points out that the Creed places the beginning of the life of Christ not at birth but when “he was conceived by the Holy Spirit.” 

Likewise, he references Hebrews 2:17 which applies the efficacy of the incarnation to the fact that “in all things He had to be made like his brethren.” Many of the early Church fathers understood the significance of this in terms of their Christology. The early maxim was ‘whatever is not assumed is not healed.’ Thus, God became a zygote in order to heal all zygotes. God became an embryo to heal all embryos. God became a fetus to heal all fetuses. God took upon himself the entirety of human nature from conception on. God became human to heal humanity. Thus, abortion, at any stage of pregnancy, is an implicit attack on the incarnation.

Luke 1:44 – 

ἰδοὺ γὰρ ὡς ἐγένετο ἡ φωνὴ τοῦ ἀσπασμοῦ σου εἰς τὰ ὦτά μου, ἐσκίρτησεν [d]ἐν ἀγαλλιάσει τὸ βρέφος ἐν τῇ κοιλίᾳ μου.

as soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 

Right now the Word reached my ear an event in time. 

Luke 1:45 –

καὶ μακαρία ἡ πιστεύσασα ὅτι ἔσται τελείωσις τοῖς λελαλημένοις αὐτῇ παρὰ κυρίου. 

blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will  happen, be fulfilled. 

Mary is blessed because she bears the Word and believes the Word. This is pro-formative speech. 

Humility is a subjective position not false degradation. Not looking to self. Forget self and receive what is given to you. 

How is she perceived?  The Pharisees would say to Jesus, "we were not conceived of fornication." – John 8:41

The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition. Copyright © 2010 by Society of Biblical Literature and Logos Bible Software

Advent 4

 

Luke 1:39-45
“Blessed is the Woman”

Elizabeth extols exalts and praises the blessedness of Mary. Today there is a fight over Mary. Some want to make Mary equal to God. Others consider her of little value. Elizabeth considers her blessed. Why?

1.   Blessed because Mary was chosen as the mother of the Lord. V 42 “Blessed are you among women and blessed is the child you will bear”

Mary is just an ordinary girl. Yet, she is chosen by the Father to work His will in this world. Jesus is conceived by the Holy Spirit to fulfill the will of the Father. Jesus is born of a virgin to fulfill Scripture. Jesus came into this world according to a divine plan.  The story of Christmas reminds us that God is in control of all of these events that lead to the birth of Jesus. He is in control of the events of this world and especially is He in control of the events of your life – every single detail!    

Christmas is a reminder from God Himself that you are not alone. The Prophet Isaiah said that Jesus’ name would be called “Immanuel,” which means “God with us.” (Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:23). The Father revealed in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus a reconciling love that rescues us from separation and loneliness.

At this Christmas season you can be assured that Jesus Christ is here. He is here to give you hope, to forgive your sins, to give you a new song, to impart faith and to heal your emotional and spiritual wounds.

Nothing is left to chance. If the Father has so orders the events of Mary's life, how much more will He be more then able to order your days and direct you path - to bring them to completion according to His perfect will?   

Transition: Mary is blessed because she has been chosen to be the Mother of Jesus – this is no ordinary child – He is the Savior of the world!

2.      She’s blessed because Mary’s child is the Lord! V 43 – “But why am I so favored that the mother of my Lord should come to me?”

As soon as she learns from the angel Gabriel that she will carry Jesus Mary bolts out of town. Mary leaves the tiny village of Nazareth. She leaves to visit her cousin Elizabeth who too is expecting a baby. Elizabeth will give birth to John the Baptist. This is not a chance meeting. Everything goes according to plan; the Father's plan.

Although we might not be able to see it, there is obviously something miraculous happening here. God is directing these events. Mary, who at this moment is less than a few days pregnant, is caring the Savior of the world within her.

When Mary's voice reaches the ears of the Baptist, John leaps for joy; for he is in the very presence of the holy Son of God. What a miracle. What a blessing for us today. If John can hear the voice of Mary and recognize her voice; if John can recognize the presence of Christ before he is born, should we be surprised that infants too, by faith, recognize the voice of their Savior?

 From conception to grave the Lord’s hand is upon you. You are never out of His sight or away from His concern. You are constantly under the Lord’s watchful eye. The Psalmist reminds us, “You know me inside and out, You know every bone in my body; You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing. Like an open book, You watched me grow from conception to birth; all the stages of my life were spread out before you. The days of my life all prepared before I'd even lived one day.” Psalm 139:15-16 [1]

3.      Blessed because Mary believed the Word of the Lord. V 45 – “Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished.”

Christ came into the world to do the will of the Father. In faith, we trust the Father to work His will in us. The will of the Father was simply to do the work of redemption in this world. Jesus came to break the bondage of the devil, death, and sin. He came to be your substitute. He came to live under the Law perfectly. He came to take your sin and to suffer and die for the sin of the world which includes you. Everything you lack is found in Jesus.

His sad life is your eternal one. His loss your gain. His shame your righteousness.  He left all He had above to take your sins upon Himself. Left heavenly bliss to suffer hell in your place. Why did He do all this? Forsake everything He had? To come into a sad world, suffer, and die? Because He knew, from eternity, that in His resurrection, His Father would give Him the most amazing of gifts, something far greater than anything He left behind: you.

Mary is truly blessed. Blessed, because she was chosen as the mother of the Lord. Blessed, because Mary’s child is the Lord. Blessed, because Mary believed the word of the Lord.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths -. Proverbs 3:5-6 

All the Lord asks of you this day place your confidence in Him.  Believe in this plan of salvation. Trust Christ and none other.   “Blessed are those who believe that what the Lord has said will be accomplished!”

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Words- 970
Passive Sentences –13%
Readability – 79.7%
Reading Level –5.0

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[1] The Message  https://www.biblestudytools.com/msg/psalms/passage/?q=psalm+139:2-23