“The prophets announce
that the Messiah would come to be a ruler and savior.”
The word advent means “coming”. For
Christians, it marks the beginning of a season of anticipation of the arrival of
our king and savior. This is the time of the year we set aside to celebrate and
contemplate the most remarkable event in all of history. God came down to us
through the incarnation of His son Jesus. He did so in a way no one could have
imagined, could have expected, could have conceived. As a lowly child born in a
stable… because there was no room for him elsewhere. A savior and ruler sent
from God the Father, surrounded by hay, muck, and livestock. Not royalty. Not
splendor or spectacle. No fanfare worthy of a king heard or seen. Only
shepherds and their flocks, a manger, and two very young parents given the
charge of a child - who would change everything.
Scripture:
Isaiah 7:14, 9:6-7, 11:1-5, Micah
5:2-4
All right then, the Lord himself will
give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth
to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means God is with us).
For a child is born to us,
a son is given to us.
The government will rest on his shoulders.
And he will be called:
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 His government and its peace
will never end.
He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David
for all eternity.
The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies
will make this happen!
A Branch from David’s Line
11 Out of the stump of David’s family will grow a shoot—
yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root.
2 And the Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—
the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and might,
the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
3 He will delight in obeying the Lord.
He will not judge by appearance
nor make a decision based on hearsay.
4 He will give justice to the poor
and make fair decisions for the exploited.
The earth will shake at the force of his word,
and one breath from his mouth will destroy the wicked.
5 He will wear righteousness like a belt
and truth like an undergarment.
A Ruler from Bethlehem
2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,
are only a small village among all the people of Judah.
Yet a ruler of Israel,
whose origins are in the distant past,
will come from you on my behalf.
3 The people of Israel will be abandoned to their
enemies
until the woman in labor gives birth.
Then at last his fellow countrymen
will return from exile to their own land.
4 And he will stand to lead his flock with
the Lord’s strength,
in the majesty of the name of the Lord his
God.
Then his people will live there undisturbed,
for he will be highly honored around the world.
Carols:
O Come, O Come Immanuel
1 O come, O come, Immanuel,
and ransom captive Israel
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear.
Refrain:
Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel
shall come to you, O Israel.
2 O come, O Wisdom from on high,
who ordered all things mightily;
to us the path of knowledge show
and teach us in its ways to go. Refrain
3 O come, O come, great Lord of
might,
who to your tribes on Sinai's height
in ancient times did give the law
in cloud and majesty and awe. Refrain
unto your own and rescue them!
From depths of hell your people save,
and give them victory o'er the grave. Refrain
5 O come, O Key of David, come
and open wide our heavenly home.
Make safe for us the heavenward road
and bar the way to death's abode. Refrain
6 O come, O Bright and Morning Star,
and bring us comfort from afar!
Dispel the shadows of the night
and turn our darkness into light. Refrain
7 O come, O King of nations, bind
in one the hearts of all mankind.
Bid all our sad divisions cease
and be yourself our King of Peace. Refrain
I heard the Bells on
Christmas Day
1 I heard the bells on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace of earth, good will to men.
2 I thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along th'unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
3 And in despair I bowed my head:
"There is no peace on earth," I said,
"For hate is strong, and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men."
4 Then pealed the bells more loud and
deep:
"God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With peace on earth, good will to men."
5 Till, ringing, singing on its way,
The world revolved from night to day
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime,
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
Baptist Hymnal, 1991
Prayer:
Ask God to use this advent season in a special way in our lives and bring us to a greater understanding of who Jesus is and what He has done.
(don't be this guy...)
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