Friday prior to Christmas 2

Luke 2:40–52—The Jewish rabbis were astounded by the teaching of this young Boy. How could such a One expound the Scriptures as He did? The antiphon from the Introit proclaims it well: The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. The Word made flesh expounded the written Word to these great teachers. We have not only the written Word (Old Testament) that they had, but we also have the benefit of the Holy Gospels, the record of the words and the deeds of the Incarnate Word. Let us never take God’s Word for granted, but diligently ‘read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest’ it, so that ‘by patience and comfort of [God’s] holy Word, we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life.

Jesus makes a return trip. To Jerusalem. To the temple. To listen to the scribes and the Elders. And to ask questions. This is His habit. This is His method of operation. That is His MO, His Modus operandi. His profile. There is nothing strange or odd in Jesus’ behavior.  We should not be surprised.

There are 41 events in the Gospels where the words amazed and astonished are used to describe people’s reaction to Jesus; where the people were either amazed or astonished in meetings Jesus. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers.

This is the only boyhood story about Jesus. In this snapshot of Jesus’ life we hear how the scribes, the teachers and other the people present were AMAZED at his understanding of scripture. When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.”

According to Luke, the boy Jesus ends up in the temple instead of heading home with his family after the Passover. When do parents start seriously thinking about getting their child a cell phone? At around the age of twelve. Because at the age of twelve, thirteen and fourteen kids begin hanging out together. Anyone who has lived with a twelve- year- old can related to this story. It could have happened today just as it did two thousand years ago.

Mary and Joseph assumed Jesus was with his friends. Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. (Vv.44-45)What they found was a pattern of growth that is necessary for us today.

Today marks the beginning of a New Year.  Many make New Year’s resolutions. Today’s reading makes a perfect resolution for us as a Friedheim family. Make this resolve…

1.       That we might be regular in our worship attendance. “They found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teacher both listening to them and asking them questions.” – Luke 2:46

2.       That we might grow.

Collect for the Feast of the Circumcision and Name of Jesus (1 January): Lord God, You made Your beloved Son, our Savior, subject to the Law and caused Him to shed His blood on our behalf. Grant us the true circumcision of the Spirit that our hearts may be made pure from all sins; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and rules with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.[1]

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[1] Collect for the Feast of the Circumcision and Name of Jesus, Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis

Thursday prior to Christmas 2

 

Ephesians 1:3–14—Even if we seem to be lacking in worldly wealth or wisdom, we are assured that we, the elect of God, have a treasure far greater than anything on earth. We have the salvation planned by in eternity by God and won in time by Jesus Christ, who has redeemed us with His blood and forgiven us of our trespasses. Furthermore, He has bestowed upon us His Holy Spirit as a guarantee of our inheritance until the Last Day, when all His promises will be fulfilled.

Today is the final day of 2020. In His own perfect timing, all will be made right at the end of days. Rejoice. Your Savior remains timeless. The old year is gone. A new one dawns. The past year is over. Another takes its place. Jesus remains the same, yesterday, today, and yes, forever. Your times are in His hands. Fare Thee well child of God. Fare thee well. From this year unto the next. Jesus remains the same, yesterday, today, and forevermore.

Collect for the New Year: Eternal God, we commit to Your mercy and forgiveness the year now ending and commend to Your blessing and love the times yet to come. In the new year, abide among us with Your Holy Spirit that we may always trust in the saving name of our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.[1]

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[1] Collect for the New Year, Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis

Wednesday prior to Christmas 2

 

1 Kings 3:4–15—In the tale of Aladdin’s lamp, Aladdin desires and receives great riches from the genie in the lamp. If you could have anything your heart desired, what would it be? Power? Wealth? Long life? Solomon humbly asked the LORD for wisdom to rule God’s people well. His request was granted, and Solomon became the wisest man ever to have lived. Because of his altruistically wise request, the LORD also gave Solomon what he did not ask for: great riches and honor, far beyond any other king.

The Old year as vast and strange and challenging as it has been is quickly coming to a close. What will befall us in the New Year of 2021? Only the Lord knows for sure. But this we can be assured the Lord will continue to order our days and direct our path. All the LORD requires of us is to trust him. As Solomon asked for wisdom, patience and strength so the LORD will direct each step we take.

The events of this past year remind us we are living outside of Eden. Yet we do not lose heart.  St. Paul would remind us, “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.  We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.  For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body.” -  2 Corinthians 4:8-11 

We do not lose heart because we really don’t belong here. 0ur eternal Home! In this coming year there will be baptisms and there will be funerals. Infants will be welcomed into the family called the Church. Dear saints will hear the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” We pray in the Te Deum “May we numbered with Thy saints, in glory everlasting.” The old song sings, “Soon and very soon, we shall see the King.” And yes! We will.

We can benefit from Solomon’s wisdom in the books of Ecclesiastes and Proverbs. We can benefit from the wisdom of God in all 66 books of the Holy Bible.

Heavenly Father, You have called us to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown... give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that Your hand is leading us and Your love supporting us.[1]

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[1] Collect for Divine Guidance, Lutheran Service Book © 2996 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis

Tuesday prior to Christmas 2

 

Psalm 119:97–104—Psalm 119 is an example of Hebrew poetry, which is different than English poetry. First, the psalm is an acrostic: that is, every line of each section starts with the same Hebrew letter, in this case ‘mem’ (מ). Another characteristic of Hebrew poetry is parallelism, where the two halves of each line complement each other in some way. Here, we see that the second half of each line serves to amplify the thought in the first half.

Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day.

Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies, for it is ever with me.

I have more understanding than all my teachers for your testimonies are my meditation.

I understand more than the aged, for I keep your precepts.

I hold back my feet from every evil way,  in order to keep your word.

I do not turn aside from your rules, for you have taught me.

How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

Through your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way.

The psalmist proclaims that the Word of God is the source of wisdom; it rewards the one who meditates on it by making him wiser than my enemies and having more understanding than all my teachers. So, too, let us not fail to immerse ourselves in the study of God’s Word, for it is sweeter than honey to my mouth.

Collect for Psalm 119: Lord, you are just and your commandments are eternal. Teach us to love you with all our hearts, and to love our neighbor as ourselves, for the sake of Jesus our Lord.

Collect for Psalm 119, For All the Saints, A Prayer book for and by the Church Vol.III © 1995 The American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, Delhi, NY

Monday prior to Christmas 2

 Psalm 147:1, 5, 11–12; Antiphon, John 1:14—The antiphon proclaims the mystery of the Incarnation: The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. In the original Greek, the word ‘dwelt’ is derived from word for ‘tabernacle’. That is, the God who dwelt with His people in the tabernacle in the wilderness, who delivered them from bondage in Egypt and brought them into the Promised Land—He is the same God that assumed flesh and dwelt with us as the God-man Jesus Christ, the same one who delivered us from our bondage to sin, and will, at the Last Day, take us into our Promised Land, eternal life with Him in heaven.

John states, "The Word became flesh." Notice the link with verse one: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." -John 1:1 The Word that always "was" v. 1 now became a temporal event at a point in history. Furthermore, the Word that "was God" v. 1c now came into being as flesh, that is, he exists as a human being. We often say that Jesus is God. That is true. But here's an incredible statement: God became Jesus of Nazareth!

When he stepped out, Jesus Christ became the visible expression of the invisible God. He became a visual aid, as it were, to reveal the nature of the Father. He was God in a suit of flesh. He was God expressing himself in a language that we could understand. He was God announcing to the world: "I have come!"

Collect for Psalm 147: God our Father, great builder of the heavenly Jerusalem. You know the number of the starts and call each of them by name. Heal hearts that are broken, gather those who have been scattered, and enrich all from the plenitude of your eternal wisdom, Jesus Christ our Lord.[1]

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[1] Collect for Psalm 147, For All the Saints A Prayer book for and by the Church, © 1995 The American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, Delhi, NY

Saturday prior to Christmas 1

 

Luke 2:1-20 – Sunday’s hymn of the Day is “Let All Together Praise Our God” Now that Christmas has come we can seriously think about the meaning of Christ’s coming into our world and our time. Even in troubled times God is with us.

Let all together praise our God upon the lofty throne,
for God unlocks the heavens today and gives to us a Son.
and gives to us a Son.

Christ lays aside his majesty and seems as nothing worth,

and takes on him a servant's form, who made the heaven and earth.
who made the heaven and earth.

Behold the wonderful exchange our Lord with us doth make!
Lo, he assumes our flesh and blood, and we of heaven partake.
and we of heaven partake.
 

The glorious gates of paradise the angel guards no more.
This day again those gates unfold; with praise our God adore!
with praise our God adore!

 O God, You make us glad with the yearly remembrance of the birth of Your only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ. Grant that, as we joyfully receive Him as our Redeemer, we may with sure confidence behold Him when He comes to be our Judge; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.[1]

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[1] Collect from Lutheran Service Book © Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis

Friday prior to Christmas 1

 

Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23 –The flight to Egypt and the return to Nazareth. The Lord suffers in all the afflictions of His people. Because of His love, He feels what we feel, He hurts when we hurt. He suffers when we suffer. When the Lord called Moses, He said that He heard the cries of His enslaved people. No one suffers alone. No one walks alone. No one dies alone. “In all their afflictions He was afflicted.

Joseph proved to be a friend and protector of Jesus. What would have happened to the baby if Joseph had not been a willing worker? Here we see a great truth: God’s concern, compassion and aid comes through the help of others. In today’s world of cruelty to the exploitation of children, God is still concerned about the threatened and oppressed little ones. He looks to his own to be the friends of afflicted children. Aware of the world’s threats Joseph acted immediately as He was open to the Father’s guidance – Vv. 13, 19, 22

Almighty God, You have poured into our hearts the true Light of Your incarnate Word. Grant that this Light may shine forth in our lives; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives, and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.[1]

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[1] Christmas Collect, Lutheran Service Book, © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis

2. Woodcut, by Baron Julius Schnoor von Carolsfeld, 1794-1872, a distinguished German artist known especially for his book, The Book of Books in Pictures copyright © WELS used by permission for personal and congregational use.

Thursday prior to Christmas 1

 

Galatians 4:4-7 – At the right time God sent His Son that we might become sons and daughters of God. 

What is the real significance of Christmas?  How is your life affected by the birth of Christ? Your whole status with God depends on the one who has entered our world. Paul explains, “But when the fullness of the time came.“(v. 4a). The word Paul describes as “fullness” suggests a basket that is full. But here it has the sense of completeness or the right time. The Lord’s timing is always right.

This son was God’s Son from the beginning. He “was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him. Without him was not anything made that has been made…. (And) the Word became flesh and lived among us. We saw his glory, such glory as of the one and only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth…. From his fullness we have all received grace upon grace” (John 1:2-3, 14, 16).

Paul’s most explicit picture of God’s sending his Son is found in his letter to the Philippians. “Have this in your mind, which was also in Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, didn’t consider equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, yes, the death of the cross. Therefore God also highly exalted him, and gave to him the name which is above every name; that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, those on earth, and those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:5-11).

Christ’s full humanity was manifested in his birth. He was “born of a woman”—not a princess or a queen, but an ordinary young woman. He was born, not in a palace, but in stable. His crib was a manger—a feeding trough for animals. He was raised, not in Jerusalem, the home of the temple, but in a small town in Galilee. The man who was to be known as his father was not a ruler, but a carpenter. Jesus could not have done more to identify with us in our humanity.

Luke had been Paul’s traveling companion, so Paul surely knew of the virgin birth. However, he doesn’t mention the virgin birth explicitly in any of his letters. We should not imagine that he rejected the idea of the virgin birth. More likely, that concept was so widely accepted that he felt no need to emphasize it.

Almighty God, grant that the birth of Your only-begotten Son in the flesh may set us free from the bondage of sin; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.[1]

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[1] Christmas Collect, Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis

Wednesday prior to Christmas 1

 

Isaiah 63:7-9 – Recounting the love and goodness of God to His people. This coming Sunday is the last Sunday of the calendar year. Another year has passed. 2020 has been a year none like we have ever expected yet through all of the changes and chances of this remarkable year the Lord has proven to be faithful.

Isaiah 63 is a lonely chapter. Salvation here is not triumphant. It is marked by loss and theological collapse. Isaiah 63:7-9 are some of the first words uttered after the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem (587 BC). Historical cues come in Isaiah 63:18 and Isaiah 64:10 where we learn that “our adversaries have trampled down your sanctuary” and “your holy cities have become a wilderness, Zion has become a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation.”

Yet Isaiah is bold to remind us that the LORD’s mercy and stead-fast love will always take center stage. His days are without end and His mercies cannot be counted.  Aware of the shortness and the uncertainty of this human life we ask that the Holy Spirit lead us all the days of our lives until that day comes when we pass from this world to one which has no end.

During this week, review in your mind the past year. Recount the good things that come from God as you commit yourself into His care.

We have reached the last stanza of the preparatory hymn of the Advent season, “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”

O come, o come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emanuel shall come to thee, O Israel

 

O Emanuel, our king and our Lord, the anointed for the nations and their Savior: Come and Save us, O Lord our God[1]

    

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[1] O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis

Tuesday prior to Christmas 1

 

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,

O come, Desire of nations, bind
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]

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[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

Monday prior to Christmas 1

 

Jeremiah 31:5-17; Hosea 11:1 The prophet reminds us, “When Israel was a child I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.”This verse coincides with the Gospel lesson for this coming Sunday. As Jesus enters into Egypt and then returns to Nazareth, we recall the nation of Israel called by God to leave Egypt into the Promised Land.

Throughout your life the LORD has promised to direct you. Just as the LORD directed the wanderings of His people in the Old Testament so He directed His Son; His ultimate destiny was the cross on Calvary’s hill. Yet even as an infant the LORD directed him. So also the LORD has promised to direct your life. You are not alone; the Lord is with you. This week of Christmas if you think you have nothing in life; behold His manger as God's love for you. When life seems to change, turn to the Scriptures that never do. When you hurt and disappoint others, yourself, hear the Gospel that Jesus forgives you.

The story of Christmas contains the revelation of restoration and hope even in the midst of trouble and loss. "Why did the Christ-child 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.

Light and life to all He brings,
Risen with healing in His wings.
Mild He leaves His throne on high,
Born that man no more may die;
Born to raise the sons of earth;
Born to give you second birth.

The Baby Jesus received no good gifts. But that's not what He came to do. Instead, He received your sins, so that now, He, the giver of all good things, could offer you eternal life and salvation."[1]

From the hymn “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”

O come, Thou Dayspring from on high
And cheer us by Thy drawing nigh’
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice, Rejoice, Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel!

 

O Dayspring, splendor of light everlasting; come and enlighten those who sin in darkness and in the shadow of death.

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[1] From a Christmas homily written by former fieldworker Pr. Tim Daub Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Hecla, South Dakota

Saturday prior to Advent 4

 

The hymn of the day for tomorrow the 4^th Sunday in the season of Advent, O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (LSB #357), is an ancient hymn based upon seven even more ancient antiphons (called the ‘O’ Antiphons) which were used in the Office at Vespers (the evening office) during the last seven days of Advent.

Each antiphon and each hymn stanza refers to a different title for Christ: Wisdom, Adonai (‘Lord’), Root (or Branch) of Jesse, Key of David, Dayspring, King of Nations, Emmanuel (‘God with Us’).

Christmas is only one week away. As you prepare to celebrate Christ’s coming into this world meditate on this wonderful ancient Latin hymn.

O come Thou Branch of Jesse’s tree.
Free them from Satan’s tyranny
That trust Thy mighty pow’r to save,
And give them vict’ry o’er the grave
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O Root of Jesse, standing as an ensign before the peoples, before whom all kings are mute, to whom the nations will do homage; Come quickly to deliver us.[1]    

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[1] O Come, O Come Emmanuel, Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis

Friday prior to Advent 4

 

Luke 1:26–38—What a shock it must have been for this pious young woman to learn that she, not having known a man, would give birth to a baby boy. And no ordinary boy, but God Himself, the second Person of the Trinity! Due to the miracle wrought through the Holy Spirit, Child born would be ‘true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary.’ The Blessed Virgin is, therefore, truly the Mother of God, and her Son, the Savior of mankind, is properly named ‘Jesus,’ that is, ‘Yahweh saves.’

The promise told in the Old Testament lesson is fulfilled in this week’s Gospel lesson. A messenger from heaven comes to a young girl in Nazareth to tell her that she is to be the mother of the Messiah. Joseph was a son of David. By physical nature Jesus was a son of David. He was also son of God and his kingdom was to be eternal. This was all the LORD’s work, for the child would be the produce of the Holy Spirit. Humbly and submissively Mary consented to be Gods’ instrument in bringing his Son on earth as a human being.[1]

From the great Advent hymn, “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.”

O come Thou Lord of might
Who to Thy tribes on Sinai’s height
In ancient times didst give the Law
In cloud and majesty and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel!

O Adonai and ruler of the house of Israel, who appeared to Moses in the burning bush and gave him the Law on Sinai: Come with an outstretched arm and redeem us.[2]

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[1] Lectionary Preaching Workbook Series B, John Brokhoff © 1980 CSS Publishing, Lima, OH
[2] O Come, O Come Emmanuel, Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis

Thursday prior to Advent 4

 

Romans 16:25–27—A fitting end to the book of Romans, in which St. Paul has so clearly proclaimed Christ as the Savior of the world, apart from works, this doxology (hymn of praise) is especially appropriate during this Advent season, as we prepare for the coming of Jesus Christ, who ‘has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations.

The age old mystery was revealed to all nations in the Scriptures and preaching of Christ. This reading constitutes the closing words of the book of St. Paul’s letter to the Romans, “Now to him…be glory…” The passage is appropriate for this week because of Paul reference to the disclosure of the mystery kept secret for ages. The revelation is the coming of Christ. This was forecast and promised by the prophets. This Gospel of revelation is now shared with all nations.

[1]

The child born in a manger in Bethlehem was none other than the Son of God, the promised Messiah. Because “The word became flesh,” Advent as the time of preparation for the Messiah, makes sense. This holy child is “very God of very God.” In him God invaded human history. He was the Christ-event, the Word-event. If this is not true, then there is no meaning or message to Advent.[2]

As we get closer to the time of celebrating Christ’s coming we prepare earnestly in prayer. The following prayers correspond with the words of the great Advent hymn, “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.”

O Come Thou wisdom from on high,
Who ord’rest all things mightily;
To us the path of knowledge ho
And teach us in the way to go
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel 

O Wisdom, Proceeding from the mouth of the Most High, pervading and permeating all creation, mightily ordering all things; come and teach us the way of prudence.[3]

 

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[1] Image copyright © Ed Riojas, Higher Things
[2] Lectionary Preaching Workbook Series B, John Brokhoff © 1980 CSS Publishing, Lima, OH
[3] O Come, O Come Emmanuel, Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis

Wednesday prior to Advent 4

 

2 Samuel 7:1–11, 16—King David’s desire was to build a permanent structure for the Ark of the Covenant, that is a permanent place for God to reside with His people. But the Lord tells David that He will establish a ‘house’ and a kingdom for David, which shall have no end. We are not to look to Israel for fulfillment of God’s promise, but to David’s Descendant, Christ Jesus, who has established His throne of dominion forever, by His defeat of sin, death, and the devil at Calvary.

The Lord promises David that he will make his name great, give him rest from his enemies, and will establish him in an everlasting kingdom. David was promised that his descendants would rule God’s people forever. Each succeeding king as a son of David was considered a savior-king, a son of God. Each was looked to as a messiah.

At the exile this belief was no longer held for the messiah could be a priest or prophet rather than a Davidic king. David’s son was conceived as an agent of God’s salvation and his reign would usher in a permanent age of righteousness and peace. This prophecy was fulfilled in Jesus, the Son of David.[1]

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] Lectionary Preaching Workbook Series B, John Brockhoff © 1980 CSS Publishing, Lima, OH
[2] Collect for the Fourth Sunday in Advent, Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis

Tuesday prior to Advent 4

 

Psalm 89:1–5—What is the believer’s response to all that the Lord has done for us through Christ? ‘I will sing of the steadfast love of the Lord, forever; with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations.’ In doing so, we join the throngs in heaven (v. 5), just as we say in the Preface to the Lord’s Supper, ‘with angels and archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify Your glorious name, evermore praising You… Our worship here on earth is the same worship directed to Christ in glory.

The opening four verses of Psalm 89 contain a trove of theological catch-words from the Old Testament. Verses 1 and 2 are parallel in the proclamation of God's "steadfast love" in their first lines and "faithfulness" in their second. These two traits are central in defining God's character and relationship with Israel. The single Hebrew word translated as "steadfast love" is difficult to convey with any single English expression, and thus we see different English Bibles using a variety of translations in different contexts: steadfast love, loving kindness, love, kindness, mercy, loyalty, favor, devotion, goodness, and still others.

Whatever Ethan the Ezrahite (the psalm's author as stated in the superscription) and his original audience would have heard in these words, for Christians the eternal establishment of the Davidic covenant is accomplished with the coming of Christ. The angel Gabriel's annunciation to Mary expresses this very idea: "the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end" (Luke 1:32b-33). Thus when we as Christians read this psalm in worship, we are proclaiming the faithfulness and steadfast love of God as expressed ultimately in Jesus Christ.[1]

Collect for Psalm 89: Mighty God, in fulfillment of the promise made to David’s descendants you established a lasting covenant through your firstborn Son. You anointed your servant Jesus with holy oil and raise him higher than all kings on earth. Remember your covenant, so that we who are signed with the blood of your Son may sing of your mercies forever; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.[2]

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[1] https://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=957

[2] Collect for Psalm 89, For All the Saints A Prayer book for and by the ChurchVol.III © 1995 The American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, Delhi, NY