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Dependent Hope — Hope of Advent

Links for today’s readings:

Dec 3  Read: 2 Chronicles 2  Listen: (3:41) Read: Psalms 107 Listen: (4:12)

Scripture Focus: Psalm 107.4-16

4 Some wandered in desert wastelands,

    finding no way to a city where they could settle.

5 They were hungry and thirsty,

    and their lives ebbed away.

6 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,

    and he delivered them from their distress.

7 He led them by a straight way

    to a city where they could settle.

8 Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love

    and his wonderful deeds for mankind,

9 for he satisfies the thirsty

    and fills the hungry with good things.

10 Some sat in darkness, in utter darkness,

    prisoners suffering in iron chains,

11 because they rebelled against God’s commands

    and despised the plans of the Most High.

12 So he subjected them to bitter labor;

    they stumbled, and there was no one to help.

13 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,

    and he saved them from their distress.

14 He brought them out of darkness, the utter darkness,

    and broke away their chains.

15 Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love

    and his wonderful deeds for mankind,

16 for he breaks down gates of bronze

    and cuts through bars of iron.

Reflection: Dependent Hope — Hope of Advent

By John Tillman

In the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson wrote, “mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves.” Jefferson referred to humans suffering from earthly despotism and tyranny, but the principle applies elsewhere.

The psalmist writes of being lost in wastelands from wandering, chained by tyrannies resulting from rebellion, and hopeless in darkness due to rejecting the light. All tyrants promise freedom. All evils call themselves good. All sin calls itself righteous. Believing these claims, we often go step by step down slippery slopes into the sufferings of many kinds.

The sufferings grow slowly, like gradually rising muck in a sinkhole or cave. At our ankles, we say, “It isn’t so bad.” At our knees, we say, “I can always go back.” At our waist, we say, “Well, I’ve come this far.” By the time we say, “This is intolerable,” it’s at our armpits. By the time we say, “I must get out,” it threatens our chin.

How do we hope to get out? The psalmist says we don’t. God comes to get us. That’s what Advent celebrates. God comes to lost wanderers and leads them out of the wilderness. God comes to those in darkness to bring light. God comes to those imprisoned to break bars and shackles. 

Jefferson disbelieved miracles. He called Jesus’ teachings a “sublime and benevolent code of morals” yet cut everything miraculous from his New Testament with a razor blade, including Jesus’ miraculous Advent.

Extraordinarily committed and fortunate individuals, like Jefferson and other Declaration signers, might shake off a human tyrant to enjoy a limited measure of freedom for a limited time. But from the tyrants that really matter, sin and death, we cannot break free. We cannot “right ourselves.” Our hope is not in glorious revolution or declaring our independence. Hope is dependent on God’s arrival. The advent of his kingdom is our only hope.

If Jesus’ kingdom was of this world, we would take up arms to fight. Instead we take up towels to wash feet in service, take up crosses to deny ourselves in humility, and take up his gospel to declare our dependence upon it.

Commit your life, fortune, and sacred honor to Christ’s description of his kingdom’s advent. May the spirit of the Lord be upon us bringing good news to the poor, loosing the captives, making the blind see, and lifting the oppressed to stand in freedom.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Call to Prayer

Let us make a vow to the Lord our God and keep it; let all around him bring gifts to him who is worthy to be feared. — Psalm 76.11

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Autumn and Wintertime by Phyllis Tickle.

Read more: Scandalous Surprise of Hope — The Hope of Advent

Who are we to have such hope as advent promises? That Christ would come to us is baffling, surprising, and to some, scandalous.

Scandalous Surprise of Hope — The Hope of Advent
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Enduring Love — Hope of Advent

Links for today’s readings:

Dec 2  Read: 2 Chronicles 1 Listen:(2:47)  Read: Psalms 106 Listen: (4:52)

Scripture Focus: Psalm 106.1-5, 44-47

1 Praise the Lord.

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;

    his love endures forever.

2 Who can proclaim the mighty acts of the Lord

    or fully declare his praise?

3 Blessed are those who act justly,

    who always do what is right.

4 Remember me, Lord, when you show favor to your people,

    come to my aid when you save them,

5 that I may enjoy the prosperity of your chosen ones,

    that I may share in the joy of your nation

    and join your inheritance in giving praise.

6 We have sinned, even as our ancestors did;

    we have done wrong and acted wickedly.

44 Yet he took note of their distress

    when he heard their cry;

45 for their sake he remembered his covenant

    and out of his great love he relented.

46 He caused all who held them captive

    to show them mercy.

47 Save us, Lord our God,zz

    and gather us from the nations,

that we may give thanks to your holy name

    and glory in your praise

Reflection: Enduring Love — Hope of Advent

By John Tillman

“Come to my aid when you save them…” Despite the long history of sin and rebellion the psalmist confessed, he expected God’s arrival, bringing salvation. He looked to God’s advent with hope.

The psalm begins with a familiar phrase: “his love endures forever.” (Psalm 136; Ezra 3.11; Jeremiah 33.10-11) The psalmist’s hope for salvation is not based on his or Israel’s worthiness. His hope is in God’s unchanging nature of faithful and enduring love. This enduring love is expressed in God’s self-description to Moses. (Exodus 34.6-7) 

When someone says, “Tell me about yourself,” what is the first thing you think to say? Your career? Your hobbies? Your music tastes? Your exercise habits? In these situations, we are often burdened with insecurities. Not only might we be unsure how to answer, we might not want to “overshare” or reveal too much in awkward social situations.

God doesn’t have insecurities or doubts about his nature and glory. God does not always reveal everything about himself to all people at all times, however, when he does reveal himself, he does so exactly as he intends. So when Moses asked to see God’s “glory,” it is notable that the first descriptors God chose to use were “compassionate” and “gracious.” 

God is a compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in faithful love kind of God. This faithful and enduring love does not overlook injustice and sin, withhold discipline, or bend righteousness to our crooked ways. God’s judgment, discipline, and even his wrath, are motivated by his love for the victims of the suffering sin causes and do us good by correction and restoration. God’s faithful love punishes, but also restores.

God’s faithful, enduring love sent Jesus to be born, exhibit righteousness, suffer testing and death, and be resurrected, victorious over all sin. 

During Advent, follow the psalmist’s example and examine yourself individually and ourselves collectively. Like Israel and the psalmist, we do not deserve salvation. Our Advent hope is based not in our worthiness but in God’s nature of enduring, faithful love.

Are we willing to confess our individual and collective sins and wicked actions? Are we hopeful that he will hear our cry? Do we praise the Lord for the mercy we have now and cry out in faith for the salvation to come?

Let us look to our past and repent and look to our future and rejoice. Our enduring hope flows from God’s enduring love.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Request for Presence

Show us the light of your countenance, O God, and come to us. — Psalm 67.1

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Autumn and Wintertime by Phyllis Tickle.

Read more: This We Proclaim — Hope of Advent

At the time when all seems to be sinking, God rises and raises us with him.

This We Proclaim :: Hope of Advent

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Generosity Gives Hope — Hope of Advent

Links for today’s readings:

Dec 1  Read: 1 Chronicles 29 Listen: (5:50) Read: Psalms 105 Listen: (4:02)

Scripture Focus: 1 Chronicles 29.14-16

14 “But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand. 15 We are foreigners and strangers in your sight, as were all our ancestors. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope. 16 Lord our God, all this abundance that we have provided for building you a temple for your Holy Name comes from your hand, and all of it belongs to you.

Reflection: Generosity Gives Hope — Hope of Advent

By John Tillman

As Christmas approaches, we often think of and see generosity. Generosity is inspiring.

David’s generous gifts to the temple inspired others to give as well. David prayed, acknowledging that Israel’s generosity was only returning what God provided. This mirrored Israel’s generosity toward building the tabernacle. The nation of former Egyptian slaves only had anything to give toward the tabernacle because God made the Egyptians favorable to them and they sent the Israelites away with expensive gifts. This is true for us too. All we have to give was given to us by God.

Are you generous?

Generosity is not measured by price tags. Expensive doesn’t equal generous. Through the widow’s mite, Jesus taught that one measure of generosity is related to how much one has to give. (Mark 12.38-44; Luke 21.1-4) Therefore, a ten-dollar gift from a day laborer with one hundred dollars in his bank account is far more generous than a thousand-dollar gift from a wealthy businessman with one million dollars. An hour of volunteering from a mother working double shifts is more generous than ten hours of volunteering from someone wealthy enough not to have to work. To whom much is given, much is expected. (Luke 12.48)

Generosity is also not calculated by percentages. Generosity is a matter of the spirit. You have to want to give. Scripture teaches that God loves those who give gladly and unreservedly, not grudgingly or under compulsion. (2 Corinthians 9.7) This is why taxes aren’t generosity. Taxes are a negotiated price for the services we desire our government to provide. Therefore, taxes are not theft or generosity, and Christians (and everyone else) should pay them. (Matthew 22.15-22; Romans 13.6-7) Generous giving is giving that you desire to do, not that you are compelled or obligated to do. Generosity causes you to curb spending so you can give more. Generosity causes you to give more than others consider reasonable or normal. This extraordinary kind of giving, whether it is financial donations or volunteer work, is a spiritual gift when it is directed towards the mission of the gospel in churches and ministry organizations. (Romans 12.6-9; 2 Corinthians 8.1-4; 9.8-11)

“Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope,” David says. But God’s generosity toward us and our generosity toward others in return brings light and hope to our world.

We pray that you experience God’s generosity this Advent season and pass on generosity to organizations that bring people hope through tangible and spiritual services.

Hope Gives Back: In addition to giving to your local church or to our ministry, we encourage you to find local organizations in your city that provide tangible help to the poor, the immigrant, and the prisoner. Donate time or money to them to give back what God has given so graciously to you. If you do not know of a local organization you’d like to give to, we’ve recommended some national organizations and some of our local organizations as well.

Mission Arlington/Mission Metroplex
For the Nations Refugee Outreach
World Relief
Texas Baptists River Ministry and Mexico Missions
Prison Fellowship

Divine Hours Prayer: The Refrain for the Morning Lessons

This is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes. — Psalm 118.23

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Autumn and Wintertime by Phyllis Tickle.

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Biblical Fairness Requires Subverting Human Systems

Links for today’s readings:

Nov 28  Read: 1 Chronicles 24-25 Listen: (7:01)  Read: Psalms 102 Listen: (2:45)

Links for this weekend’s readings:

Nov 29  Read: 1 Chronicles 26-27 Listen:(9:38) Read: Psalms 103 Listen: (2:07)
Nov 30  Read: 1 Chronicles 28  Listen: (4:45) Read: Psalms 104 Listen: (3:37)

Scripture Focus: 1 Chronicles 24.3-5, 30b-31

3 With the help of Zadok a descendant of Eleazar and Ahimelek a descendant of Ithamar, David separated them into divisions for their appointed order of ministering. 4 A larger number of leaders were found among Eleazar’s descendants than among Ithamar’s, and they were divided accordingly: sixteen heads of families from Eleazar’s descendants and eight heads of families from Ithamar’s descendants. 5 They divided them impartially by casting lots, for there were officials of the sanctuary and officials of God among the descendants of both Eleazar and Ithamar.

30 …These were the Levites, according to their families. 31 They also cast lots, just as their relatives the descendants of Aaron did, in the presence of King David and of Zadok, Ahimelek, and the heads of families of the priests and of the Levites. The families of the oldest brother were treated the same as those of the youngest.

Reflection: Biblical Fairness Requires Subverting Human Systems

By John Tillman

Chronicles describes how the work for the temple and positions of honor within it were distributed fairly, without corruption or favoritism. Remember—separation of church and state did not exist. These temple jobs, ministerial roles, and positions of influence were intimately connected to and controlled by the government. 

Important work and powerful positions are normally distributed based on culturally defined human systems of rank. In David’s time, the first would be nationality or ethnicity. Non-Israelites would be excluded or pushed to minor positions. Second would be family importance or influence. How close (and loyal) one’s family was to the king would be vital. Third would be intra-family rank by wealth or birth order. The most important positions would be claimed or given to the eldest and wealthiest within the family.

David, with the help of the two highest ranking priests, at least partially subverted and undermined these systems.

Who were the first people to work on building the temple? Foreigners living in Israel. (1 Chronicles 22.1)

David assembled foreigners together and appointed stonecutters to dress stone for the temple’s foundation. (Later Solomon used forced labor, but that is not specified here.) The temple’s foundations were laid by foreigners who would be limited in accessing the completed temple. However, Isaiah later wrote that foreigners “bound to the Lord” would be included among God’s people and would “minister to him,” “love the name of the Lord,” and “be his servants.” God pledged to bring foreigners to his “holy mountain,” give them joy, and accept their offerings and sacrifices because the temple was “a house of prayer for all nations.” (Isaiah 56.3-7) This is one of the passages Jesus quoted when he cleansed the temple. (Mark 11.15-17)

What principles were used to distribute the ministerial roles in the temple? Equity and impartiality. (1 Chronicles 24.5, 31) 

One priestly family was much larger, yet the positions were distributed impartially by casting lots. Casting lots was also used by the Levites, to equitably treat children of the youngest the same as those of the eldest.

How are our culturally defined human systems of rank different from those of David’s time? Who are we tempted to exclude? To whom are we tempted to show favoritism? Against whom do we hold prejudices?

David and the priests used casting lots as one means of subverting human favoritism and prejudice. What means, as Holy Spirit empowered followers of Jesus, might we use to subvert today’s prejudicial systems of favor?

Divine Hours Prayer: The Morning Psalm

Our iniquities you have set before you, and our secret sins in the light of your countenance.
When you are angry, all our days are gone; we bring our years to an end like a sigh.
The span of our life is seventy years, perhaps in strength even eighty; yet the sum of them is but labor and sorrow, for they pass away quickly and we are gone.
Who regards the power of your wrath? Who rightly fears your indignation?
So teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts to wisdom. — Psalm 90,8-12

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Autumn and Wintertime by Phyllis Tickle.

Read more: Balancing Justice and Mercy

Having balanced systems minimizes the opportunity for human corruption, but doesn’t eliminate it.

Balancing Justice and Mercy
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A Psalm for Thanksgiving

Links for today’s readings:

Nov 26   Read: 1 Chronicles 22 Listen: (3:25)   Read: Psalms 97-98 Listen: (2:19)

Links for tomorrow’s readings:

Nov 27   Read: 1 Chronicles 23  Listen: (4:20) Read: Psalms 99-101 Listen: (2:42)

Scripture Focus: Psalm 100:4

4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving

Reflection: A Psalm for Thanksgiving

By Erin Newton

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.

Gather around the dinner table, smile and laugh. Curl up in chairs and on the floor with blankets by the fire’s warm glow. Breathe in the crisp autumn air and let your creaturely body run wild and free. Everywhere nature sings to God: the orange and yellow leaves; the crisp brown crunch of acorns; the rustling winds through the bare grass; the birds fluffing their feathers, capturing the warmth; the mild days and the quiet, longer nights. The days slow down, giving our souls the chance to join creation in a shout of joy.

Know that the Lord is God.  It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Quiet your mind and let go of your grip. He holds our breath. He holds our life. He holds our future. Like children tucked in warm blankets drifting carefree, we are his. This green planet is our pasture. We graze and frolic and rest under his care. He has created us to enjoy the blue skies, the sunsets and the sunrises, the full moons and the shooting stars. We give thanks, and he keeps guard.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.

The whole of creation, the shelter of our homes, the tabernacle of our bodies invite him in with thanksgiving. Enter the gates of life with unending thanksgiving to him. Enter into community with family and friends, knowing he has created this world for you to thank him.

For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;  his faithfulness continues through all generations.

He is good. He is “the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God.” Knowing the Lord is the joy that can never be taken away. It endures. It endures hardship. It endures time. It endures the dark nights of the soul. You are loved. You are known. And you are never forgotten from generation to generation. For as our Lord is good and loving, he bestows that on you.

May your Thanksgiving and holiday season be a gateway to hope that exceeds expectation, that exceeds present circumstances, that surprises even yourself. And may we enter his gates with thanksgiving this season.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Call to Prayer

Taste and see that the Lord is good; happy are they who trust in him! — Psalm 34.8

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Autumn and Wintertime by Phyllis Tickle.

Read more: We Gather Together – Hymns for Giving Thanks

This God who leads us through the challenges of life is worthy of our humble adoration. “Thy Name be ever praised! O Lord, make us free!”

We Gather Together – Hymns for Giving Thanks
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