ADVENT • 5

What Changes when Hope is Fulfilled?

SONGS FOR PRAYER

reading for: Tuesday Night, 26 december

Luke 2:22-40

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    Scripture Reading: Luke 2:22-40

    22 And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, 28 he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,

    29 “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace,
        according to your word;
    30 for my eyes have seen your salvation
    31     that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
    32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
        and for glory to your people Israel.”

    33 And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed 35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

    36 And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, 37 and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. 38 And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.

    39 And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. 40 And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.

    Commentary:

    The birth of a baby is both a beginning and an ending. The beginning of a new life and the end of a long 9-month wait. In Simeon’s case he had waited all his life for this child and now he could die in peace. The difference between Simeon heart condition and many other aging and dying people, is hope. His eyes were turned to God who is his help and whom he trusts in:

    “I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? 2 My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” (Psalm 121:1-2)

    Furthermore unlike many others who have given up, Simeon has not let his heart fall into despair and he waited hope until God fulfilled His promise:

    “For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation. 2 He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.” (Psalm 62:1-2)

    Simeon’s story is intertwined with Israel’s larger story of hope, and in this case their hope for God to send His Messiah, and establish his kingdom (Daniel 2:44) whom many are hoping would soon happen. Like many other faithful ones, Simeon’s hope in God did not waver. He kept seeking God and waiting everyday for the great day his eyes would see God’s salvation.

    God keeps his word and fulfills Simeon’s great hope on that special day Joseph and Mary bring Jesus to the Temple. While unrecognisable to others, God’s Messiah comes to him in form of an infant, and Simeon who has been close and attentive to God, immediately recognises that he holds in his arms the very fulfilment of God’s promises.

  • REFLECT

The typical Singaporean, or modern city-dweller hates to wait. We want to move, fill-up the time, stay in control, and rush-off to our next appointment—and our impatience robs us of the certitude and trust in God that waiting patiently allows our hearts to ponder and rest in our souls, and we often totally we miss God. We don’t recognise He is in our lives and at work. This Christmas season, is your hope firmly rooted in Christ? Or have you placed great hope in yourself, or others? As Ps Terence preached at our Christmas Day service on Monday, God cares for us so let’s make space for Him, How can you keep Jesus in your line of sight this coming new year? How can you make space for him?

reading for: Wednesday Night, 27 december

Isaiah 61:10-62:3

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    Scripture Reading: Isaiah 61:10–62:3

    10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. 11 For as the earth brings forth its sprouts, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to sprout up, so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to sprout up before all the nations. 1 For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not be quiet, until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, and her salvation as a burning torch. 2 The nations shall see your righteousness, and all the kings your glory, and you shall be called by a new name that the mouth of the LORD will give. 3 You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.

    Commentary

    A few weeks ago, we looked at Isaiah 61 how Isaiah 61 speaks of the spirit of the Lord being on Jesus to bring good news to the poor, to proclaim liberty to the captives and the year of the Lord’s favour. We saw how Jesus in Luke 4:16-21 declare the fulfilment of this Scripture. Isaiah 61 is fulfilled in Christ. Jesus is the one that bring the year of the Lord’s favour and the day of judgment. He is the one that will grant to those who mourn in Zion a beautiful headdress.

    Today, we look at the concluding verses of Isaiah 61 and the starting verses of Isaiah 62. Isaiah 61:10 speaks of Jesus rejoicing in the Lord, it speaks of the soul of Jesus exulting in his Father and God. Jesus rejoices because he has been clothed with the garments of salvation and covered with the robe of righteousness. Jesus is the bridegroom that decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress. Jesus is the one that adorns us as his bride with her jewels. The Lord will cause righteousness and praise to sprout out before all nations in Christ.

    Jesus will not keep silent for Zion and Jerusalem’s sake and cause his righteousness to be seen so that all nations will see the righteousness and glory of the Lord. The people of the Lord, his bride, will no longer be called forsaken and desolate but will be called by a new name and be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord.

    Jesus is the one that the Spirit of the Lord has anointed to bring restoration, freedom and righteousness to his bride and people. He is the bridegroom King that adorns his bride with jewels and gives her a new name. She will no longer be desolate or forsaken but will be beautiful and precious in the eyes of the Lord.

  • REFLECT

    Jesus is the one who came, is coming and comes again to bring about the year of the Lord’s favour. The Lord’s favour is found in him. He comes to adorn us as his bride with our jewels. He will cause righteousness and praise to sprout up before all the nations. This is the work that he has done, is doing and will do again.

    Will we as his bride partner him in this work? Will we adorn ourselves with our jewels? What are these jewels that Jesus is speaking of? How can we adorn ourselves with our jewels and be a crown of beauty in the Lord in 2024?

reading for: Thursday Night, 28 december

Galatians 4:4-7

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Scripture Reading: Galatians 4:4-7

4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

Commentary

The Apostle Paul is addressing Gentile (non-Jewish) Christians who are uncertain and reconsidering the Gospel that they had received from him – that God’s grace in redeeming and justifying Jews and Gentiles through faith in Jesus Christ meant that the Gentiles could become heirs of God’s promises and equal members of the people of God by abandoning their idols and trusting God’s redemptive action in Jesus Christ, without observing the law.

This was something God had intended from the beginning (3:6–9); found also as a teaching in the law (4:21–30); and a reality accepted by key leaders in Jerusalem (2:1–6); and a missional agreement between these leaders and Paul (2:7–10).

So Gentile Christians, who were followers of Christ, were now in full covenant relationship with the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Therefore, they were no longer to live as slaves or orphans in the world but to live out their new freedom - as equal children of God, the descendants of Abraham. They were also free from the demands of the Torah (Law) as taught and practiced by the Jews (Judaism) because as disciples and close followers of Christ, as they lived as He did, their righteousness with God would already superseded the requirements of the Law.

REFLECT

  • How will you live in your freedom as God’s child in 2024?

reading for: FRIDAY Night, 29 DECEMBER

psALM 148

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Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise him in the heights!

Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his hosts! Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, all you shining stars!

Praise him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens!

Let them praise the name of the Lord! For he commanded and they were created. And he established them forever and ever; he gave a decree, and it shall not pass away.

Praise the Lord from the earth, you great sea creatures and all deeps, Mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars! Beasts and all livestock, creeping things and flying birds!

Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the earth! Young men and maidens together, old men and children! Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted; his majesty is above earth and heaven. He has raised up a horn for his people, praise for all his saints, for the people of Israel who are near to him. Praise the Lord!

Commentary

How are you feeling as you approach 2024? Are you feeling optimistic and hopeful? Or are you feeling fearful and discouraged? What are those feeling based on? Is it based on circumstances that might or will happen?

Psalm 148 shows us that we can be filled with hope and praise if we make space for God and friends in 2024.

Psalm 148 ends interestingly telling us that the LORD will raise up a horn for His people (ESV) that He will make His people strong (NLT).

What is this horn? The horn is actually a symbol of victory. Like how a bull will raise up its horns in victory after a battle. So will God raise us up in victory. He will honour His people. His children who stay close to him (v.14).

That's the only condition laid out for us. That we stay close to Him. Victory will come to those who stay close to Him. We can ensure we will end 2024 in praise along with all the angels, all the hosts, sun and moon (v.2-6).

Even the great sea creatures, fire, hail, snow and mist the most scary and uncontrollable elements on earth have to praise Him. (V. 7-8)

Even the most majestic mountains and hills will praise Him (v.9). All kings, all people, young and old will praise Him (v. 11-12).

What more will His children who stay close to Him. We need friends who will help and encourage us to do that in 2024.

  • REFLECT

    The constant call in December has been to make space in 2024. First to know that we have a Father who cares more than we realise.

    Second to grow and become better and stronger examples for the next generation.

    And for friends who will help us with that.

    Who are a few friends whom you will commit to and make space for in 2024? How regularly will you meet with them and what will you talk and share about?

    Will you pray and ask the Lord to help you nurture those friendships?

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