Advent 4
Devotional
Streams of Living Water
Lectionary Devotional for Cycle B
2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16
Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me, and your throne shall be established forever.
-- 2 Samuel 7:16
This text in 2 Samuel is the source of the messianic expectations in Israel following the fall of Jerusalem in 586 BCE. It is the origin of that hope that finally resulted in the affirmation of Jesus as the Christ, the Son of David. It is a most appropriate text for the final Sunday in Advent.
Because of the ease with which the hope of Christmas is distorted in our society, it is interesting to note that this story describes how a faithful person, David, having consulted the chief spokesman for the faith, Nathan, and with the best of intentions, to honor God, can make decisions that are contrary to the purpose of God. David felt blessed by God in his life. He had prospered, triumphed over his enemies, and was struck by the contrast between the fine cedar house in which he lived and the tent in which the Ark of the Covenant resided. With the best of intentions, he proposed to honor God with a structure equal or better to that in which he lived.
Even when we act with the most sincere intentions and the support of all that we know from our faith, it can be dangerous to presume that we understand what God wants from us. Advent is a time for listening to God's intentions for our lives and a time for experiencing the freedom of God to move in our lives in a totally unexpected manner. David wanted to honor the eternal God with a finite structure and discovered that God chose to make an everlasting promise to the finite David. What is the everlasting promise that God is implanting in your life?
Luke 1:47-55
See the meditation for Advent 3.
Psalm 89:1-4, 19-26 (Psalm alternate)
I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to my servant David.
-- Psalm 89:3
Psalm 89 is unique in that it starts with praise and ends with lament. The psalmist sings of God's love and faithfulness (vv. 1-2). He recalls the terms of the covenant God made with David (vv. 3-4). He acknowledges God's unchallengeable power in the heavens (vv. 5-8) and on earth (vv. 9-11). The power of God reaches from the north to the south and is praised by the mighty mountain ranges (v. 12). God's power (v. 13) is built on righteousness, justice, love, and faithfulness (v. 14). Israel finds its joy in worshipping God (vv. 15-16) because by God's strength they need not fear the enemy (vv. 17-18). The psalmist recalls how God took an ordinary person (v. 19) and made him God's personal agent (v. 20). God gave David victory over all his foes from the Mediterranean to the Euphrates (vv. 21-25). Their relationship was as father to son (vv. 26-27), and God established a covenant with him for as long as the heavens endure (vv. 28-29). If David's children sinned, they would be punished; but the family line will always retain the throne (vv. 30-37). It is on the basis of this promise by this powerful God that the psalmist now raises the complaint to God about how Israel has fallen and become a mockery to their neighbors (vv. 38-45). How long, the psalmist cries, shall such contradiction between God's promise and Israel's experience continue? (vv. 46-48). Where now is God's steadfast love that God swore to David? (49). Remember, O Lord, how your servant is taunted (vv. 50-51). The reputation of God awaits God's action.
Romans 16:25-27
Now to God who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel ... to whom be the glory forever! Amen.
-- Romans 16:25, 27
Paul brings to a close his letter to the Romans with this doxology. Since it is easy to become myopic in our focus on Jesus during this season, it is an important reminder that this is the window into the mystery of God. God's glory is made manifest in the incarnation because here we see the reconciliation that is central to God's eternal purpose. The particular of the birth of a Jewish boy in the small Palestinian community is joined with the cosmic reality of God who transcends all time and space. The wisdom of God is experienced in a crucified Christ, and the hope for Gentiles is discovered in a Jew who explodes the prophetic writings to be a truth for the Gentile, as well as the Jew.
A doxology is meant to be an explosive crescendo of awe in the face of this mystery that, while never fully understood by us, is now available to us. In this life of a single person, all of creation comes together. Even as we are stunned by the power of God, we are humbled by God's willingness to become vulnerable to this world. As you near the end of your Advent preparations, you are invited to simply praise "the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever! Amen."
Luke 1:26-38
The angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth.
-- Luke 1:26b
Given all the important places there are at any given time in the world, it is striking that the announcement of Jesus' birth takes place in such an ordinary village as Nazareth. It confirms again how that which is really important in our world is often revealed in the most ordinary of events. We sometimes overlook the ordinary and pay attention to the spectacular in life and thereby miss the visitation of God. The birth of a baby is both miraculous and common. Babies are born all the time, and yet in each birth lies the potential revelation of God. We eat meals every day, and yet in each meal we see revealed the love of God. A bath or shower may be commonplace for us, and yet in that cleansing is hidden the cleansing power of God. In both young Mary and elderly Elizabeth, we see signs of God's presence. We search the ordinary events of life and listen for the greeting: "Greetings favored one, the Lord is with you." Commit yourself to focusing on the ordinary events of this day and listening in each event for the greeting of God.
Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me, and your throne shall be established forever.
-- 2 Samuel 7:16
This text in 2 Samuel is the source of the messianic expectations in Israel following the fall of Jerusalem in 586 BCE. It is the origin of that hope that finally resulted in the affirmation of Jesus as the Christ, the Son of David. It is a most appropriate text for the final Sunday in Advent.
Because of the ease with which the hope of Christmas is distorted in our society, it is interesting to note that this story describes how a faithful person, David, having consulted the chief spokesman for the faith, Nathan, and with the best of intentions, to honor God, can make decisions that are contrary to the purpose of God. David felt blessed by God in his life. He had prospered, triumphed over his enemies, and was struck by the contrast between the fine cedar house in which he lived and the tent in which the Ark of the Covenant resided. With the best of intentions, he proposed to honor God with a structure equal or better to that in which he lived.
Even when we act with the most sincere intentions and the support of all that we know from our faith, it can be dangerous to presume that we understand what God wants from us. Advent is a time for listening to God's intentions for our lives and a time for experiencing the freedom of God to move in our lives in a totally unexpected manner. David wanted to honor the eternal God with a finite structure and discovered that God chose to make an everlasting promise to the finite David. What is the everlasting promise that God is implanting in your life?
Luke 1:47-55
See the meditation for Advent 3.
Psalm 89:1-4, 19-26 (Psalm alternate)
I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to my servant David.
-- Psalm 89:3
Psalm 89 is unique in that it starts with praise and ends with lament. The psalmist sings of God's love and faithfulness (vv. 1-2). He recalls the terms of the covenant God made with David (vv. 3-4). He acknowledges God's unchallengeable power in the heavens (vv. 5-8) and on earth (vv. 9-11). The power of God reaches from the north to the south and is praised by the mighty mountain ranges (v. 12). God's power (v. 13) is built on righteousness, justice, love, and faithfulness (v. 14). Israel finds its joy in worshipping God (vv. 15-16) because by God's strength they need not fear the enemy (vv. 17-18). The psalmist recalls how God took an ordinary person (v. 19) and made him God's personal agent (v. 20). God gave David victory over all his foes from the Mediterranean to the Euphrates (vv. 21-25). Their relationship was as father to son (vv. 26-27), and God established a covenant with him for as long as the heavens endure (vv. 28-29). If David's children sinned, they would be punished; but the family line will always retain the throne (vv. 30-37). It is on the basis of this promise by this powerful God that the psalmist now raises the complaint to God about how Israel has fallen and become a mockery to their neighbors (vv. 38-45). How long, the psalmist cries, shall such contradiction between God's promise and Israel's experience continue? (vv. 46-48). Where now is God's steadfast love that God swore to David? (49). Remember, O Lord, how your servant is taunted (vv. 50-51). The reputation of God awaits God's action.
Romans 16:25-27
Now to God who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel ... to whom be the glory forever! Amen.
-- Romans 16:25, 27
Paul brings to a close his letter to the Romans with this doxology. Since it is easy to become myopic in our focus on Jesus during this season, it is an important reminder that this is the window into the mystery of God. God's glory is made manifest in the incarnation because here we see the reconciliation that is central to God's eternal purpose. The particular of the birth of a Jewish boy in the small Palestinian community is joined with the cosmic reality of God who transcends all time and space. The wisdom of God is experienced in a crucified Christ, and the hope for Gentiles is discovered in a Jew who explodes the prophetic writings to be a truth for the Gentile, as well as the Jew.
A doxology is meant to be an explosive crescendo of awe in the face of this mystery that, while never fully understood by us, is now available to us. In this life of a single person, all of creation comes together. Even as we are stunned by the power of God, we are humbled by God's willingness to become vulnerable to this world. As you near the end of your Advent preparations, you are invited to simply praise "the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever! Amen."
Luke 1:26-38
The angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth.
-- Luke 1:26b
Given all the important places there are at any given time in the world, it is striking that the announcement of Jesus' birth takes place in such an ordinary village as Nazareth. It confirms again how that which is really important in our world is often revealed in the most ordinary of events. We sometimes overlook the ordinary and pay attention to the spectacular in life and thereby miss the visitation of God. The birth of a baby is both miraculous and common. Babies are born all the time, and yet in each birth lies the potential revelation of God. We eat meals every day, and yet in each meal we see revealed the love of God. A bath or shower may be commonplace for us, and yet in that cleansing is hidden the cleansing power of God. In both young Mary and elderly Elizabeth, we see signs of God's presence. We search the ordinary events of life and listen for the greeting: "Greetings favored one, the Lord is with you." Commit yourself to focusing on the ordinary events of this day and listening in each event for the greeting of God.
