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.
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