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Advent Guide: 2016 - Introduction“The Holy Spirit has [in the Psalms] drawn to life all the griefs, sorrows, fears, doubts, hopes, cares, perplexities, in short, all the distracting emotions with which the minds of men are prone to be agitated.” – John Calvin 1

Christmas is a remarkable time of year, if for no other reason than for how deeply it affects us. It hits everyone differently. For some, it is a time for relaxation, for others celebration – and yet for others, stress and sadness. Christmas has a way of reminding of us all of what we have, what we want, and sometimes what we can only wish would be true.

A lot depends on our situation and season of life. There is a general sense in American culture that the month of December is reserved for “cheer” and “good will.” Sometimes Christians do this year-round. We are led to believe that a person can’t celebrate while being afraid, perplexed, or full of regret – almost as if the Christmas season or even the Christian gospel cannot handle the weight of tears or fixation or outrage, that those things must be suppressed or cast aside to truly enjoy life’s blessings at this time of year. Those of us who can’t conform can expect to be on the receiving end of a patronizing pep talk, if not uncomfortable silence.

We find ourselves in a dilemma. Grief or anxiety makes it awkward for those who just want to celebrate, while celebration is obnoxious, even offensive, for those fighting off something like depression or guilt. So what should we feel at this time of year?

The Bible’s account of Christmas enables us to empathize to some extent with just about every emotion - excitement and righteous anger and anxiety and agony. Those who live between Christ’s first and second appearances on earth know that our world has already been saved, and yet requires dramatic healing and sanctification because it is utterly broken. The work of Christ’s kingdom is already on display but not yet complete.

This Advent calendar turns to twenty five Psalms to help us explore our own disposition. This will not be a rehearsal of the details of the Christmas story, or of the prophecies about the Christ child in the Old Testament. Instead this be an exploration of how such a story would apply to our lives and hit us at a “gut level.”

John Calvin, Heart Aflame: Daily Readings from Calvin on the Psalms, ed. Sinclair Ferguson 1

(Phillipsburg, NJ; P&R Publishing, 1999), x.

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Psalms were the hymns of the Israelites; they gave voice to every emotion on the human spectrum, much like music or film does for us today. Some Psalms express confusion, doubt, and unspeakable pain, while others scream praise.

All of the Psalms would have been in circulation at the time of Jesus. From before his birth and throughout his life they were part of regular worship in the temple, in synagogues, and in many homes. Jesus himself knew the Psalms by heart. He used them in his prayers, in his public teaching, and even in his debates with Pharisees. They were even on his lips as he was dying on the cross. Based on the testimony of the four Gospels, Jesus quoted from the Psalms more frequently than any other book of the Bible.

Most of these Psalms will not seem to have much to do with Christmas, at least not directly. But they will give us an entry point into the emotions – particularly the bitter-sweetness so many feel at this time of year.

It is recommended that to get the full “effect,” the Psalms should be read aloud from start to finish, and in this way taken in together as a family. They can even be used as a way of praying back to God.

Week 1. Hope - Nov. 27 - Psalm 90

“Read your Bible – you will find great promises there. Peter describes them as ‘exceeding great and precious promises’ (2 Pet. 1:4), and indeed they are. Go through them, make a list of them, put them down on paper if necessary. And then, armed with these, go to God and plead them.” – Martyn Lloyd-Jones 2

The first Sunday of Advent is about Hope, and specifically the Hope of Salvation.

The candle lit on this Sunday is sometimes called “the Prophecy Candle” because of how the prophets spoke of the coming of the Christ child, the one who would take away the sins of the world.

In Psalm 90, Moses called out to God to find favor, as one who knew that his life was short. He knew that the creative power, mercy, wrath, and steadfast love of the Lord was far beyond anything he could imagine. He had seen with his own eyes how God was fully capable to bring salvation to the people of Israel and to bless all nations. Looking

Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Seeking the Face of God: Nine Reflections on the Psalms (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2

2005), 134.

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forward, Moses could also see a future hope that meant salvation not just from the oppression of governments, but salvation from sin and death.

In this same spirit of hope, the Hope Candle is lit to remind us to be alert and to watch for Christ’s return. Suggested Prayer: Lord, as we begin this celebration of the Advent season, we thank you for the careful thought and planning that you put into the salvation of your people. We thank you for the gift of hope found in Jesus. Through the reminders of your promises and the words of the prophets, you gave your people hope that salvation would come. This salvation would be from all the evils of this world, and from the punishment our sins deserve. Please help us to continue to trust in your careful planning as we live our lives. We pray this in Jesus’ name, and for your glory. Amen.

Ideas for Activities: 1. As a family, make a list of prayers for the coming year. What are some things you’d like to see happen? What are some concerns? 2. As a family, name three people who need encouragement this week. What is one thing you can do for each of them to encourage them?

Mon, Nov. 28 - Psalm 105“Lord you have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting, you are God.” – Ps. 90:1-2

When we are asked to be “thankful,” we are prone to randomly list the first things to come to mine, the way a child might start naming objects at the dinner table during prayer. But Psalm 105 does more than pay God fancy compliments. It goes beyond a vague sense of “thankfulness” and strikes at the heart of what it means to give thanks to God. It names specific signs and wonders, things that God did not have to do, but did anyway, out of sheer love. This is what Christmas is all about – rehearsing the signs and wonders that accompanied the Son of God coming to earth to remove sin and confront evil.

The world has its disappointments, but if we search far enough and reflect long enough, we will be able to think of specific things that God has done for us: friendships he has restored; people he has placed in our lives; dangerous situations that have been resolved;

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specific sins that have been washed over or specific temptations that have been removed; strength when we were convinced we had run out; love when we felt completely unworthy. These are the types of things that should be rehearsed in prayer and praise.

Tues, Nov. 29 - Psalm 22“The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are gone soon, and we fly away.” – Ps. 90:10

It is one thing for us to look back at what God has done in the past, but quite often we find ourselves in desperate need of God’s help in the present moment. Psalm 22 is most famous these days for being the song on Jesus’ lips while he was suffering in agony on the cross (v. 1; Mt. 27:46).

Psalm 22 makes two pleas – one to God and one to anyone else listening. It asks God for deliverance, plain and simple. It invites the others to praise God’s name, since he is the one who has the power and grace to save the afflicted.

There are moments in almost everyone’s life when God feels distant. It is in these times that we feel especially “poured out like water,” with a heart “melted” like wax within our chest, with strength dried up like shattered piece of clay (vv. 14-15). The Christmas season can bring this out especially, as we remember people no longer with us or in other losses we may have sustained over the years.

But even in these times, we can appeal to the one who endured the true distance of God on our behalf when he came to earth with the intent of suffering on the cross.

Wed, Nov. 30 - Psalm 18 “Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands!” – Ps. 90:17

Where Psalm 105 rehearses what God has done, and Psalm 22 cries out in desperation, Psalm 18 reminds us of both God’s power and his gentleness. On the one hand, he always judges fairly, always does what is right, and always has the power to save (as a “rock,” a “fortress,” and a “deliverer,” v. 2). At the same time he displays loving care, supporting

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those who are unfairly attacked with his right arm, and gently setting them on firm ground (vv. 35-36).

As we consider the depth of our sin, or the hopelessness that seems to envelop the world around us with wars and terrorist threats and scandals, or the profound loneliness that seems to be acutely felt by some at this time of year, Psalm 18 offers words of encouragement.

There is no enemy great enough, no fire hot enough, no darkness thick enough, nor pit deep enough, that God cannot rescue us.

Thurs, Dec. 1 - Psalm 31“Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, for as many years as we have seen evil.” – Ps. 90:15

Psalm 31 is once again a reminder of the fact that the hope of Christmas is not for the faint of heart or the sentimental. It takes human suffering and all the sadness that accompanies it at face value. It is full of raw emotion, even uncomfortable expressions of grief: “my eye is wasted from grief; my soul and my body also, for my life is spent with sorrow, and my years with sighing, my strength fails because of my iniquity, and my bones waste away” (vv. 9-10).

In the face of this turmoil, however, the psalmist (David) still trusts in God on the basis of his “abundant goodness” (v. 19), waiting on the Lord’s timing. It is not that these emotions magically disappear, only that they are overshadowed by a greater reality. Even at the very end of the song we are invited to be strong and take courage (v. 24), presumably because some remnant of the grief expressed earlier is still present.

What can we learn from this? Trusting God is a choice, one that may or may not bring any short-term relief. But because of what he has done in history for his people generation after generation, and what he has done on our behalf on the cross, we have every reason to wait on him for help.

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Fri, Dec. 2 - Psalm 33 “For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night. You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream, like grass that is renewed in the morning, in the morning it flourishes and is renewed.” – Ps. 90:4-6

Psalm 33 repeats many of the same things we have already mentioned earlier. It invites its listeners to praise and shout for joy, give thanks, recognize the faithfulness and power of God. This is how the people of Israel were accustomed to approaching God. This is exactly what the shepherds and angels in the fields and prophets at the temple did when they celebrated the first Christmas. They understood the true meaning of the word “blessing.”

The Psalm also speaks against other things human beings tend to flock to when there are problems. Things like political power, material wealth, technology, and science are wonderful gifts, and we might find all sorts of generosity at Christmas time, but none of these things on their own can bring lasting joy and peace on earth. They are not eternally satisfying enough to support our hopes and deflect our fears. As great as these things might be, they pale in comparison to the steadfast love and watchful eye of God, who is the same in every generation and for whom even time and space are not obstacles.

Sat, Dec. 3 - Psalm 70 “Return O Lord! How long? Have pity on your servants! Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.” – Ps. 90:13-14

Psalm 70 is a rallying cry for those who feel persecuted, poor and needy. We may imagine this psalm sung by Jews living in exile in Babylon or Persia, or by those crushed under the tyrannical rule of kings like Herod. The psalms calls upon God to bring “shame and confusion” and “dishonor” on enemies (v. 2), and deliver his people. We also find a plea that God would not delay (v. 5).

We may or may not be able to relate directly to the experience of truly poor, needy and persecuted people living under a tyrannical king. For one person it is poor health, for another person it is loneliness. Many find themselves having marital problems or other family situations with a wayward child. Many people feel the strain of lack of employment at Christmas time if they are having a hard time finding a job.

There are times in all our lives when we find ourselves in a holding pattern. We have already waited so long for our burdens to be lifted, but the Lord may ask us to wait for an indefinite period of time. Still, if Psalm 70 is in any way applicable to us, we can still ask God not to delay any longer.

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2. Love - Dec. 4 - Psalm 136: To him alone who does great wonders

“Love brought you from heaven to earth, from earth to the cross, from the cross to the grave. Love caused you to be weary, hungry, tempted, scorned, scourged, buffeted, spat upon, crucified, and pierced. Love led you to bow your head in death … This love is not intermittent, cold, changeable; it does not cease or abate for all my enmity.” – A Puritan Prayer 3

The second Sunday of Advent is about God’s Love and the comfort it brings.

The candle lit on this Sunday is sometimes called “the Angels’ Candle” because of how the angels sang of God’s perfect love, as expressed through the coming of Christ. God sent his beloved Son into a dark and disappointing world. Christ died for the sins of ungodly and wicked people. As John 3:16 tells us, these are the ultimate expressions of love.

In Psalm 136, we see this Love at work. The constant refrain speaks of God’s steadfast love. Throughout creation, throughout the leading of the people of Israel out of Egypt, throughout the conquering of Canaan, throughout the exciting and terrible times, throughout the relatively peaceful and mundane times, God’s steadfast love remains. It is a constant presence.

Christ embodied this steadfast love by coming to earth, becoming flesh and blood, and dying in our place.

In this same spirit of Love, the Love candle is lit to remind us of how God’s love is found in Jesus. Suggested Prayer: Lord, we acknowledge our own unworthiness as we receive the loving sacrifice of Christ. We thank you that you would consider us, as guilty men, women and children, people that can still be redeemed. We thank you for the gift of love found in Jesus. Through the kindness that you have shown to every generation, and through the comforting words of your revelation, you continue to put your Love on display. Please help us to trust in your power to wipe away every tear and offer comfort to all the afflicted. We pray this in Jesus’ name, and for your glory. Amen.

Ideas for Activities:

“Love” in The Valley of Vision, ed. Arthur Bennet (Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth Trust, 2011), 159.3

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1. As a family, make a list of three or four people (or families) who might easily feel lonely at Christmas time. Consider getting a gift for that person or inviting them over for a meal. 2. Consider planning a family trip to a soup kitchen or donating a gift to a charity.

Mon, Dec. 5 - Psalm 113“Give thanks to the God of gods, for his steadfast love endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his steadfast love endures forever.” – Ps. 136:2-3

The key difference between the God of the Bible and all other gods is his compassion. Yahweh, the God of the Israelites, showed love time and again to his precious nation, preserving them against all human odds, even when they proved to be stubborn and wicked.

As we look at the smorgasbord of religious and philosophical ideas available to us today, we can observe that Jesus, as Yahweh incarnate, is superior. There were all sorts of evidences that Jesus was a great figure, both divine and human. Jesus possessed greater insight, more power, and the favor of God. He lived a perfect life. But it is only through Jesus’ profound love that he shows himself to be the God of the Bible. Which other god would willingly come to earth to suffer humiliation and death for the sake of stubborn, wicked enemies? “For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:7-8).

Tues, Dec. 6 – Psalm 114“[Give thanks] to him who divided the Red Sea in two, for his steadfast love endures forever, and made Israel pass through the midst of it.” – Ps. 136:13-14

Things that seem so ancient and immovable to us –seas, rivers, mountains, rocks, the stars in the sky – are temporary fixtures for God. God was there before any of them. Psalm 114 says that the sea looked and fled (v. 3), the mountains and hills skipped (v. 4), and the earth trembles (v. 7) at his presence. He breathed them into existence, and he will outlast them. He has complete power over them.

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These great acts of power are never divorced from God’s love. Psalm 114 portrays a loving God who would do anything to care for his people, like a doting parent forced to protect a child from danger. He does not roam the earth as a bully, ready for the next challenger, but instead watches out for the nation of Israel and for the church.

Wed, Dec. 7 - Psalm 8“It is he who remembered us in our low estate, for his steadfast love endures forever” – Ps. 136:23

Much like Psalm 114 reminded Israel of its special protection, Psalm 8 points to the glory of creation as evidence to all men that God cares about them. The vastness of space is set side-by-side with the shortness of our lives and relatively small amount that we do.

It is easy for us to forget our place. It is easy to start thinking that we do not matter. Psalm 8 reminds us that we are not alone in the universe. We exist in relation to a Creator, who takes great interest and even delight in us. No man or woman has the power to assign meaning to their lives, but in the context of God’s story, all lives have meaning.

Thurs, Dec. 8 - Psalm 25“To him who alone does great wonder […] to him who by understanding made the heavens, for his steadfast love endures forever.” – Ps. 136:4-5

Psalm 25 is for those living in uncertainty. It is a cry for help, not only for protection or deliverance, but for loving guidance: “make me know your ways … teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me; for you are the God of my salvation” (vv. 4-5).

Confusion at our present circumstance and uncertainty about the future can lead to all sorts of anxiety. We can spend so much of our time trying to figure out how we got to where we are, or where we are going. When we focus only on these things, the troubles of our heart are expanded and can seem to overtake us; we are prone to tunnel-vision. But as all the Psalms of previous weeks have been reminding us, so Psalm 25 does also: we should direct our focus to God, the Almighty One who is great enough to handle all the shame and anxiety the human heart can muster. Only he has the power to “pluck us out of the net” (v. 15).

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Fri, Dec. 9 - Psalm 103“Give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures forever.” – Ps. 136:26

In times of trouble we are bound to forget the true meaning of Christmas. We often forget all God’s benefits (v. 2). We treat God more like a distant stranger than a loving Father and friend. We go about our lives as if he might not even exist.

It is common today to portray the Old Testament God as perpetually angry and vengeful, passionate about laws and external rituals or rigid obedience. But this is a distortion. There are all sorts of ways that God shows grace and mercy long before the birth of Christ. The promises to Noah, Abraham, Moses, and David all speak to a God who is “merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love” (v. 8; Ex. 34:6).

When Jesus came into the world, it was not to rewrite the Old Testament but to fulfill it. Christmas signals the fulfillment of Psalm 103; Christ did what was necessary to definitively separate sins from sinners “as far as the east is from the west” (v. 12). Those who fear the Lord have access to true, lasting forgiveness.

Sat, Dec. 10 - Psalm 68“Give thanks to him who … overthrew Pharoah and his host in the Red Sea […] to him who led his people through the wilderness, for his steadfast love endures forever.” – Ps. 136:15-16

Up to this point we have been considering the emotional state of the psalmist. But Psalm 68 focuses on what God feels when he saves people. God is anything but indifferent.

The Psalm does not just tell us of God’s compassion or anger, it also shows us. God is depicted as one who is continually lifting people up, continually providing deliverances, both great and seemingly insignificant. Those who turn to him are received with joy. Those who defy him or threaten those he loves are punished.

It is worth mentioning that the Apostle Paul quotes Psalm 68 in Eph. 4:8, applying what is said about God to Christ. Christ “ascended on high, leading a host of captives” (v. 18), and will one day “ride in the heavens, the ancient heavens” with a “mighty voice” (v. 32; Rev. 19:11-21). If we are Christians, Jesus feels the same way about us as Yahweh felt about those he brought out of Egypt.

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3. Joy - Dec. 11, Psalm 126

“‘Heaven’ is a state in which angels now, and men hereafter, are perpetually employed in praising God. This does not mean, as it can so dismally suggest, that it is like ‘being in Church’. For our ‘services’ both in their conduct and in our power to participate, are merely attempts at worship; never fully successful, often 99.9 per cent failures, sometimes total failures … To see what the doctrine really means, we must suppose ourselves to be in perfect love with God – drunk with, drowned in, dissolved by, that delight … Fully to enjoy is to glorify. In commanding us to glorify him, God is inviting us to enjoy him.” – C. S. Lewis 4

The third Sunday of Advent is about Joy, and how this Joy is expressed through a hope that God will restore all things.

The candle lit on this Sunday is sometimes called “the Shepherds’ Candle” because of how the shepherds were given “good news of great joy” (Lk. 2:10). This Joy was so profound that it caused a multitude of angels in heaven to break out into song, but it was a joy that could be appreciated by mankind.

In Psalm 126, we see this Joy at work as the Lord turns tears into joy. He changes the fortunes of the poor, oppressed, and hungry. Those who go out into the fields expecting a dead, dry yield, come back with a greater harvest than they had any right to expect.

Christ’s coming to earth marked the beginning of a ministry in which the blind received sight, the lame walked, and the prisoners were set free. We also know that this work has only just begun. Just as Christ came to earth once, one day he will return to truly bring a state of “heaven on earth.”

With this in mind, the Joy candle is lit to remind us of how God has already brought joy to this broken world, even as we look ahead to its full restoration with Christ’s return. Suggested Prayer: Lord, we praise you for your ability to redeem this world and repair its broken parts. We thank you that you would reveal some part of this plan to us in your Word. We thank you for the gift of joy found in Jesus. We pray that this substantial joy – the joy experienced even by the angels in heaven – would be felt in our lives and that you would set us free from the evils we are experiencing in our daily lives. Even in times of great sorrow and loss, we thank you that the joy you provide is stronger and outlasts the pain, because it is rooted in the eternal hope of the renewal of all things. We pray this in Jesus’ name, and for your glory. Amen.

C. S. Lewis, Reflections on the Psalms (San Diego, CA: Harcourt, Inc., 1986), 96-97.4

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Ideas for Activities: 1. As a family, make a list of prayers God has answered in the last year. Were there any surprises in how God answered those prayers? 2. Visit someone who is in a nursing home or in a hospital – someone you know, who you haven’t seen in a long while. 3. If you like to sing, go Christmas caroling with a group.

Mon, Dec. 12 - Psalm 19“Our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, ‘The Lord has done great things for them.’” – Ps. 126:2

Psalm 19’s beauty is evident even in translation. The pace, the imagery, and the themes bounce off the page almost effortlessly. We may as though we are standing next to David looking at the night sky.

As a painting speaks to the skill of the painter, as an engaging novel speaks to the imagination of the author, and as a new technology speaks to the brilliance of an inventor, God’s glory is on full display in all of creation, and especially in the lives of his followers.

From the beginning of this study, we have observed over and over again how the hope of salvation and the love of God find their roots (biblically speaking) in creation. The same God who created and sustains everything, expresses his love for his people and is powerful enough to deliver them from any calamity. To this, Psalm 19 reminds us that creation and also God’s law are things we can take joy in – the universe as it gives evidence to God’s creativity and the law as it gives evidence to God’s perfection. God created us and gave us life, and the law tells us how we should live.

Tues, Dec. 13 - Psalm 43“Restore our fortunes, O Lord” – Ps. 126:4

Some of us, perhaps out of a fear of seeming too selfish, or presumptuous, or because we rightly see the errors of the “health and wealth” gospel in American churches, think that it

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is wrong to pray that God would ease our burdens or send us help. Christmas can make us feel profoundly unworthy.

Over and over again, the Psalmists bring their concerns to God, especially in times of trouble. Here in Psalm 43, the question is asked: “Why do I go about mourning because of the oppression of my enemy?” (v. 2).

The error, it seems, is not in asking for help, or even in expecting that God will help. The error comes when we demand it of God, or pretend that those who are suffering in this life are only suffering for a lack of faith. Notice how Psalm 43 boldly and without embarrassment brings requests to God (“vindicate me, O God, defend my cause,” v. 1), but also acknowledges that there are people who suffer unjustly in this life (why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me?” v. 5).

Even if we feel as if God has rejected us (v. 2) we should not hesitate to state our concerns to God and ask him for help.

Wed, Dec. 14 - Psalm 119:1-32“Make me understand the way of your precepts, and I will meditate on your wondrous works.” – Ps. 119:27

Psalm 119 is the longest psalm in the Bible. For this devotional, we will only look at the first thirty-two verses out of time considerations, but the entire psalm runs through just about every theme imaginable. It centers on the law of God, and the immeasurable value of having God’s very words in our hands for our study, meditation, and obedience, the psalm also talks about God’s steadfast love (v. 41), hope and comfort during affliction (vv. 49-50), and deliverance from enemies (vv. 121-123).

It may seem counterintuitive to think of the law of God as a source of joy (doesn’t the law keep us from many things we desire?), but the law is a guide to restrain evil and sin in our lives. One of God’s wondrous works was giving the law to Moses, to give Israel guidance for how it was to live as a nation in the land of Canaan.

Christ, who lived as a perfect man and did not cut corners when it came to the law, fulfilled every last commandment of the law and obeyed to perfection. Though all men and women besides Christ find themselves guilty in the eyes of God for the sins they have committed in their lives and in their hearts, Christ was the perfect keeper of the law, the one whose soul was “consumed with longing” to keep God’s law at all times (v. 20).

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Thurs, Dec. 15 - Psalm 32“He who goes out weeping bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.” – Ps. 126:6

Psalm 32 reminds us of the deep sorrows of unconfessed sin. What may start as a careless action bottles up as guilt and can fester in a person’s soul for years doing untold damage. Often we grieve most deeply not for the things that are done to us, but for things we regret doing to others.

Even in the Old Testament, before the full knowledge of God’s plan was known, there was profound power in naming one’s sins openly and asking God for forgiveness. There are countless stories of public repentance among Israelites (for example, under Ezra and Nehemiah) or among the nations (for example, the people of Ninevah in the book of Jonah).

Now that even more New Testament promises have been written down, promising complete renewal and resurrection from the dead, we have even more reason to pray the prayers of Psalm 32 with renewed confidence. Jesus came into the world to bring joy back to broken relationships by making good on God’s promise for forgiveness. He came with sinners like us in mind, not to somehow make light of our sin, but to eradicate it by atoning for it.

Fri, Dec. 16 - Psalm 51“When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream.” – Ps. 126:1

This stirring psalm has an even more personal touch than Psalm 32, because it is part of David’s personal confession of sin after he had been found guilty of murder of Uriah and adultery with Bathsheba his wife (2 Sam. 12). In Psalm 51 the great King David is reduced to begging for God’s undeserved mercy, even despairing that sacrifices would not be enough: “you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it” (v. 16).

It is easy for us, as Christians, to skip ahead to Easter – to the part where we acknowledge that in Christ, all believers have a greater sacrifice, one that atones for all sin and can “blot out” all iniquities (v. 9). When we do this, we gloss over how devastating sin is.

Each of us at some point in our life will come to a point of reckoning, when we also acknowledge the depth of the sin in our lives, and the hatred of the things of God that can still sometimes creep into our lifestyles. We must acknowledge that we really are as wicked as the Bible says we are. God will bring us to a place where we have “broken and contrite hearts” (v. 17). Only then can we truly appreciate the value of Christ’s coming to earth to live and die on our behalf.

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Sat, Dec. 17 - Psalm 150“Those who sow in tears, shall reap with shouts of joy.” – Ps. 126:5

For those of us who are quiet or introverted, Psalm 150 may seem completely over the top with its call to shout for joy without ceasing. How can joy be so forced? But if we understood the magnitude of the Bible’s story, we would also be compelled to worship God without ceasing, in the most heartfelt, loud and bombastic ways that we can possibly mustered, with every instrument at our disposal.

Consider one of the sideplots of the Christmas story. Along with the angels, shepherds, and later the wise men from the east, there was a woman named Anna who was a prophetess in the temple. She was from the northern tribes; she came from a long line of people who had been oppressed by foreign powers, killed and exiled, and even rejected by their Jewish brothers and sisters in the south. Luke says that even at an old age, after she had laid eyes on Jesus, the child of promise who had just been circumcised, she “did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer day and night” (Lk. 2:37). She may not have understood all the things Jesus would do, but she knew that her people were going to be restored, and this was worthy of praise.

In the same way, as we look back on the story of Christmas and the way it developed, we can consider the ways Jesus coming to earth changes things for our family, for our cities, for our nation.

4. Peace - Dec. 18 - Psalm 2: King over the nations

“To speak grandly of the example of Jesus’ love, or even of his identification with human suffering, is entirely meaningless unless there is some end in view. We must never lose sight of the fact that that end is our salvation – our pardon, our reconciliation to God, our restoration to a proper relationship with both God and other human beings, and ultimately our transformation when Christ comes again.” – D. A. Carson 5

The fourth Sunday of Advent is about Peace, and how this comes through Christ’s justice.

The candle lit on this Sunday is sometimes called “the Bethlehem Candle.” Bethlehem was sometimes called “the city of David,” because that is where King David was born. Likewise the prophets said that this was where the Christ child was to be born.

D. A. Carson, How Long O Lord? Reflections on Suffering and Evil (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 5

1990), 192.

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In Psalm 2, we see this Peace at work through the reign of the Lord’s anointed king over all the nations. As Christians living at a future point in time, we know that Jesus Christ was the anointed king of which the psalmists spoke, and his reign will last forever.

With this in mind, the Peace candle is lit to remind us of how God brings everlasting peace to this broken world, even as we look ahead to its full restoration with Christ’s return. Suggested Prayer: Lord, we celebrate the peace you have given to believers, but we also look forward to the day that this everlasting peace is truly realized throughout the world. We thank you for the gift of peace found in Jesus. We pray that this substantial peace – like the hope, love, and joy – would be felt in our lives, despite what we might be going through and despite the reality of sin. We pray for complete reconciliation in all conflicts that we have a part in, whether we are offended or we are the ones who offend. We pray this in Jesus’ name, and for your glory. Amen.

1. Write a “thank you” note to a member of the police, fire department, EMS, or branch of the military. These are people who need a lot of encouragement and do not see a lot of “peace” in their jobs. 2. Write down the names of two people you have a conflict with. Maybe they’ve hurt you, or maybe you have hurt them. Consider contacting them to offer or ask for forgiveness and peace.

Mon, Dec. 19 - Psalm 4“The Lord said to me, ‘You are my Son; today I have begotten you. Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession.” – Ps. 2:7-8

It is very easy, when we see someone in a time of need, to offer up vain words and lies. We do it all the time, without even thinking about it. We do it when we tell people that we’ll pray for them, but never take the time to do it. We do it when we offer vague words of comfort about having “faith” or “hope,” without tying those words to real promises found in the Bible.

Psalm 4 reminds us that the peace experienced in God’s promises outweighs all the temporary comforts of this world. “You have put more joy in my heart,” writes David,

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“than they [those seeking after vain words and lies] have when their grain and wine abound” (v. 7).

This peace is rooted in the fact that God actually hears what we say. When we truly go to him with our prayers, whether for ourselves or on behalf of other people, he actually hears us. The same God who created the universe, who delivered the Israelites out of Egypt, who orchestrated all the events of history, and who atoned for our sins by sending his Son into the world, hears our prayers.

Tues, Dec. 20 - Psalm 29“You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.” – Ps. 2:9

Psalm 29 makes a grand sweep from the glory of God among the heavenly beings (v. 1), to his display of might during a thunderstorm over the sea (v. 3) and over land, splitting trees (v. 4) and echoing out into the desert (v. 8). The psalm closes with a picture of the Lord living in peace with his people.

This psalm would have prepared the Jews of Jesus’ day to look for their deliverance from Rome in a mighty display of God’s power, turning back the armies of the Romans much like he turned back the armies of the Egyptians so many years prior. What they were not expecting, however, was that this same powerful God would become flesh and bone, and be born of a poor young girl from a small town in Galilee.

Yet God demonstrates his might and glory in diverse ways, both in the thunder and lightning of the strongest storm, and in the gentle sighs of a newborn baby.

Wed, Dec. 21 - Psalm 23“Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.” – Ps. 2:11

The simplicity and clarity of Psalm 23 in the King James Version has made it easily the most popular psalm in the English. It compares the believer to a sheep and the Lord to a shepherd. Just as a sheep is utterly dependent on the shepherd for food, shelter, and protection from predators, so the nation of Israel is dependent upon their Lord. Christ, as

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both God and man, enters into this analogy at both ends. He is both the Lamb of God offered up sacrificially (Jn. 1:29) and the Good Shepherd (Jn. 10:11-18).

One remarkable part of the psalm is how it looks the realities of evil and danger squarely in the face, and acknowledges God’s presence, even his discipline and correction, in the darkest times. Compared with the fierce power of God, nothing else is to be feared (v. 4).

Thurs, Dec. 22 - Psalm 85 “He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision.” Ps. 2:4

Psalm 85 has a lot to teach us about the nature of revival. It does not try to downplay the many failures in Israel’s past or dismiss God’s anger.

In every generation there will be depravity and hypocrisy – from the most powerful people in this world all the way down to the seemingly insignificant. God has every reason to hold all people accountable for every last one of their sins. But rather than call down judgment, we can repeat the words of Psalm 85, and appeal to God’s “steadfast love and faithfulness” (vv. 10-13) as a basis for peace and forgiveness.

Fri, Dec. 23 - Psalm 118“I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.” – Ps. 2:6

Psalm 118 takes us once again on a tour of the redemption out of Egypt, a theme that is prominent in so many of the psalms. This song was a part of the Passover celebration at the time of Christ, one of many psalms that speak of God’s steadfast love.

No one in that generation would have been able to guess how one of the stanzas would take on special significance in Christ’s ministry and especially after Christ’s death. Psalm 118 declares, “I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation. The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone” (vv. 21-22). A similar version of this statement is found in Is. 28:16. Later these passages are applied to Jesus (Mt. 21:42; 2 Pet. 2:7).

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What does it mean that Jesus was a cornerstone? It means that he served as a foundation for redemption, ultimate redemption and reconciliation to God, even when the people who were supposed to be on the lookout for him (Jews, who would be carefully reading their Old Testaments) utterly rejected him and turned him over to the Romans to be crucified. It is a testament to God’s control of history that the very rejection of Christ is what brought about the atoning sacrifice to save us from our sins.

Sat, Dec. 24, Christmas Eve - Psalm 16“Serve the Lord with fear, kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.” Ps. 2:11-12

Psalm 16 expresses so many emotions. In the face of danger it pleads for preservation and refuge (v. 1). In the face of unbelievers it expresses only grief (v. 4). When reflecting on God’s secure faithfulness, it expresses gladness and joy (vv.9-11).

Peter, in his sermon at Pentecost, identified the resurrected Jesus as the “holy one” in Psalm 16 (Acts 2:25-32). Jesus fulfilled even the strongest words and phrases of the psalms of David, and in this way he has come to be known as “David’s greater son.” The claims David made are magnified in one of his descendants a thousand years later.

It may not seem like much to rehearse the same claims over and over again, especially on Christmas Eve, when children might be thinking of gifts, parents might be straining through the demands or awkward interactions with the extended family. Many are missing loved ones that were such a delight at this time of year. There are so many other things vying for our attention in this busy season.

The words “beautiful inheritance” (v. 6) may not leap off the page at us at first. But if we believe in Christ, the same “beautiful inheritance” that David boasted about and Jesus provided when he came to earth is available to us.

From generation to generation after Christ’s first advent, the secure hope, tangible love, deep joy, and lasting peace drive us on to anticipate his return.

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5. Christ - Christmas Day - Psalm 110 “But here we see the peace of God is not the absence of negative thoughts, it is the presence of God himself.” – Tim Keller 6

The fifth of candle of Advent is about Christ himself.

The candle lit on this occasion is sometimes called “the Christ Candle.” It may also be called “the Light Candle” in reference to the opening words of Isaiah 9: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone” (Is. 9:2).

Christ’s Peace comes through his Kingly rule. Psalm 110, out of all the psalms, paints the clearest picture of Christ coming as the son of David to execute judgment on the nations and restore peace on earth. In this day, kings will be shattered, and people will be brought low, as Christ takes his place as the eternal Priest and King.

The Christ candle is lit to remind us that the King of kings and Lord of lords, the light of the world, came to earth as a baby, and will return one day to judge the living and the dead. Suggested Prayer: Father, we gather for Advent reflecting on all that you have done in history. Thank you for the hope we share with other believers. Thank you for the profound love that God has shown to the world. Thank you for the joy we can experience as we look to Christ’s second coming. And thank you for the everlasting peace you promise. But most of all, we remember that without Jesus Christ’s first visit to this world, none of those things would exist. We pray this in Jesus’ name, and for your glory. Amen.

Tim Keller, Walking with God through Pain and Suffering (New York, NY: Riverhead Books, 2013), 297.6

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