Month: December 2025

Posted on

Spirit-Filled Temples — Hope of Advent

Links for today’s readings:

Dec 5   Read: 2 Chronicles 5-6.11  Listen: (9:47) Read: Psalms 110-111 Listen: (1:57)

Links for this weekend’s readings:

Dec 6   Read: 2 Chronicles 6.11-42 Listen: (7:17) Read: Psalms 112-113 Listen: (1:49)
Dec 7   Read: 2 Chronicles 7  Listen: (4:07)  Read: Psalms 114-115 Listen: (2:18)

Scripture Focus: 2 Chronicles 5.13-14

13 The trumpeters and musicians joined in unison to give praise and thanks to the Lord. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals and other instruments, the singers raised their voices in praise to the Lord and sang:

“He is good;
his love endures forever.”

Then the temple of the Lord was filled with the cloud, 14 and the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the temple of God.

2 Chronicles 6.1-2

1 Then Solomon said, “The Lord has said that he would dwell in a dark cloud; 2 I have built a magnificent temple for you, a place for you to dwell forever.”

Luke 1.35

35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.

Reflection: Spirit-Filled Temples — Hope of Advent

By John Tillman

The arrival, the Advent, of God’s Spirit brings order, love, light, life, and power.

When the angel told Mary the Holy Spirit would come on her, the Most High would overshadow her, and Jesus would be the Son of God, it was consistent with many other ways God revealed himself, including the dense cloud which filled Solomon’s temple.

Solomon said God dwelt “in a dark cloud” that now filled the temple he built. Solomon referred to the pillar of cloud over the tent where Moses met with God. This cloud once showed God’s approval and presence with Moses. Now it showed God’s presence in, and approval of, the temple, a space for meeting with all people.

Throughout the Bible, God manifested his presence and appeared to his people through various means.

God’s spirit hovered over the dark chaos waters, bringing light to the darkness at creation. God’s spirit filled the nostrils of the first humans with life, turning dirt creatures into dancers, lumps of earth into gardeners, and dead matter into magistrates of the cosmos. When those human rulers rebelled, spinning creation back toward chaos and death, God’s spirit groaned with all creation over its subjugation.

Through long generations of failures, rebels, destructive villains, and faithful remnants, God’s spirit hovered over us, judged the wicked, blessed the righteous, and saved those who called on him.

God showed his character as a true God among false gods (Psalm 4.2), a righteous judge (Genesis 18.25), a promise keeper (Genesis 21.1), a bringer of life and laughter (Genesis 21.6-7), a dream giver (Genesis 37.5-11), a changer of fortunes (Genesis 41:39-43; 45.7-8), a liberator (Exodus 6.6), a destroyer of empires (Exodus 14.30-31), a sustaining source in the wilderness (Exodus 16.9-12), and a faithful shepherd to lead his people home (Ezekiel 34.11-16).

God’s ultimate self-revelation is not as cloud or fire but as Jesus. (Colossians 1.15-20) Jesus is the perfect, clear, and tangible image of God and the most real, alive, loving, gracious, caring human who has ever lived. Jesus shows us both God as God wishes to be known and humanity as God wishes us to be.

God’s Spirit brings hope wherever it hovers, alights, moves, or indwells. In this season and every season, remember that his spirit indwells you. You are more precious than Solomon’s temple and all its gold. The Holy Spirit is upon us to announce the good news of the gospel (Luke 4.16-21). As  Christ’s body, we are the Spirit-filled temple through which God chooses to manifest his works and meet with all people (Ephesians 2.18-22).

Divine Hours Prayer: The Refrain for the Morning Lessons

For God, who commanded the light to shine our of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. — 2 Corinthians 4.6

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

Consider Supporting Our Work

Our work needs support every month and every year. Every post and email is funded by donors just like you. Please consider becoming a donor.

Supporting our Work
Read more: Unexpectedly Tangible Presence — Hope of Advent

Rather than a non-corporeal cloud, he became a poor, unhoused, itinerant carpenter and died as a slandered, tortured rebel.

Unexpectedly Tangible Presence — Hope of Advent

Posted on

Steadfast Hope — Hope of Advent

Links for today’s readings:

Dec 4  Read: 2 Chronicles 3-4 Listen: (5:42) Read: Psalms 108-109 Listen: (4:28)

Scripture Focus: Psalm 108.1, 10-13

1 My heart, O God, is steadfast;

    I will sing and make music with all my soul.

10 Who will bring me to the fortified city?

    Who will lead me to Edom?

11 Is it not you, God, you who have rejected us

    and no longer go out with our armies?

12 Give us aid against the enemy,

    for human help is worthless.

13 With God we will gain the victory,

    and he will trample down our enemies.

Reflection: Steadfast Hope — Hope of Advent

By John Tillman

Do even steadfast hearts waver?

Having a “steadfast heart” is a common theme in psalms and elsewhere in scripture. It typically describes those who are determined to be firm, unwavering, and loyal to God.

The first few lines of Psalm 108 are a beautiful testimony of praise. But even the psalmist of the steadfast heart has moments where his heart skips a beat and doubts, anxieties, and fears flutter to the surface.

In the middle of the poem, the psalmist recalls God’s voice from the sanctuary and his promises. God speaks like a warrior returning from conquering enemies and liberating the oppressed. Shechem, Sukkoth, Gilead, Manasseh, Ephraim, and Judah represent God’s people as prized possessions. Moab, Edom, and Philistia represent the people’s subdued enemies. The psalmist remembers that God promised honor and safety to his people, and victory over their enemies. But where is that victory? The psalmist doesn’t see it. The psalmist doesn’t see God.

The psalmist is outside a fortified city, where God no longer goes out with his people. The people need to be saved. There are enemies to be defeated and dangers to be delivered from, but where is God? The “right hand” of God does not move to help. The God who would lead them to safety or to victorious battle has rejected them. The “human help” they have reached for is worthless, and the aid of the Almighty is absent. The God who would gain the victory seems to have abandoned them.

Yet the psalmist still hopes. “With God we will gain the victory…” Despite not seeing God, despite feeling abandoned, despite being rejected, despite looking up at the fortified walls of an undefeatable enemy, the steadfast heart hopes.

This psalm ends unresolved. The psalmist waits, sometimes wavers, but holds steadfast hope. Do you feel like the psalmist? I do. Dangers and enemies seem abundant. Where is God in the midst of this chaos and darkness?

Like the psalmist, return to what God has spoken. The psalmist heard God from the sanctuary. Our sanctuary is in the words of Jesus. The promises we have in Jesus are already true and not yet fully manifested. In Advent, we wait and hope in the dark, remembering that the light has already come and has promised to come again.

When your steadfast heart wavers, return to Jesus’ promises. In him, we have and will have victory.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Greeting

Your testimonies are very sure, and holiness adorns your house, O Lord, forever and forevermore. — Psalm 93.6

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

Read more: Mercy Seat and Manger — Hope of Advent

David met an angel, made a sacrifice, and prepared a place to welcome God’s presence. Generations later, David’s daughter, Mary, did the same to welcome Jesus.

Mercy Seat and Manger — Readers’ Choice
Consider Supporting Our Work

There is no Park Forum without our donors. Please consider becoming a donor and supporting ad-free content that brings biblical devotionals to inboxes across the world.

Supporting our Work
Posted on

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
Consider Supporting Our Work

Both monthly and end-of-year donors are vital to keeping our ministry functioning. Please consider becoming a donor.

Supporting our Work
Posted on

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

Consider Supporting Our Work

So many places where people search for spiritual and biblical guidance are driven by ad revenue. Our donors help us be different. Please consider becoming a donor to help make an ad-free space for biblical devotionals.

Supporting our Work
Posted on

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.

Consider Supporting Our Work

The average online donation to our ministry is approximately $70. Large amounts are great! But donations of every amount make this ministry possible. Please consider becoming a donor.

Supporting our Work
Read The Bible With Us

The end of the year is a great time for your friends to join our Bible reading plan. Invite a friend to read with you at our sustainable, two-year pace.

https://mailchi.mp/theparkforum/m-f-daily-email-devotional