Seasonal Considerations

I use some software (Logos) to help me with my study of God's Holy Word. One of the many features in this application is the daily presentation of a lectionary-based reading plan. For my edification I read according to The Revised Common Lectionary.

Not knowing much about lectionaries, I notice that this particular resource is divided into different 'times' and that the 'time' we are about to begin is called 'advent'; tomorrow is the first Sunday in 'advent.' My dictionary defines 'advent' as "the period beginning four Sundays before Christmas and observed by some Christians as a season of prayer and fasting" and secondarily as "the coming of Christ at the Incarnation" or "second coming."

Now I must admit that I am fascinated by the concept that there are 'times' when we are to consider the coming of Christ. The thought of setting aside essentially a month as a "season of prayer and fasting" in anticipation of the return of Christ seems like a rather compartmentalized approach to His imminent return. I'm of the opinion that we should be in a perpetual state of prayer and fasting in anticipation of the coming of the Lord.

Nevertheless, there is some part of me which respects tradition and ritual so I read the lectionary as a means of guiding my study of God's Word through the Christmas season. So it is today that I begin a month-long study based on the directed readings from my lectionary.

As we pause to consider (or perhaps accelerate into) the Christmas season, it's attendent joyful celebrations, intentional feasting and the sacrificial giving of gifts, it is fitting and appropriate that my study begins with Isaiah. The recommended reading is Isaish 64:1-9 but today I will focus on V1-3.

Isaiah 64:1-3 (NIV)
1 Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains would tremble before you! 2 As when fire sets twigs ablaze and causes water to boil, come down to make your name known to your enemies and cause the nations to quake before you! 3 For when you did awesome things that we did not expect, you came down, and the mountains trembled before you.

[1]
[1] The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984

Many people that I speak with are always looking for signs of God's presence and express a desire to experience a 'feeling' of His presence. While I feel it is right that we look for signs of God's presence, it's not as if we aren't surrounded by them. I often think it is more a matter of noticing the signs in front of our face than it is discovering some sort of hidden indication of God's manifest presence in our lives. In V1 of this passage, the prophet cries out for the 'coming of The Lord' even with the understanding that upon His arrival, the very mountains themselves, the foundations of the Earth will tremble.

Now I've experienced a few Earth tremors and by my best recollection they are moments of shear terror. In those times, we realize just how little (none) control we actually have over the ground we walk on and we are confronted with the fact that when that which we stand on gives way, we are utterly lost. As a concept then, calling for The Lord to come down is very much asking for something which will reduce us to scared and quivering creatures huddled on the floor with our eyes tightly shut and our arms wrapped around us for protection. Yet, the 'coming down' of The Lord is exactly what was needed and is needed still. In this passage, the prophet is looking ahead to the coming of The Son of Man and the utter salvation of the faithful. And indeed, in the face of salvation, the mountains of the Earth are as nothing by comparison. Whether you think of mountains as beautiful, big or challenging, on all three counts Salvation exceeds our wildest imaginations.

In V2, the prophet reduces the coming of The Lord metaphorically to something we can grasp. We know that when tender is ignited, it leads to a fire. We know that a fire is a powerful thing that can reduce ice to water and raise water to steam. The prophet likens the coming of The Lord to that fire; a fire which consumes, warms and improves our lives. And in this there is a two-fold purpose to His 'coming down.' There is the immediate benefit to us (the believers, God's chosen people) and also a benefit in that by His coming, His name will be lifted up by His enemies. I find it interesting that even the enemies of God may bring glory to His name. No shock there since 'every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus if Lord.' And lest we forget, Satan himself knows that Jesus is Lord of all. Anyway, at the coming of The Lord, His enemies, those nations which reject Him or repress His people, like the mountains they too shall quake when confronted by His Glory.

Now V3, references the historical fact of how God has manifested His power. This is something that every person reading this should be able to testify; the power of God in their own lives. In my men's group, I encourage each man to have his testimony ready to give upon a moment's notice. Afterall, as a believer we have our own personal story in which we are the sole expert that can be used to edify, encourage or exhort the non-believer to whom it is presented. And one important aspect of these testimonies speaks to V3 or rather V3 speaks to this in us. Namely that God did awesome things in our lives that we did not expect. Can any believer deny that this is true? While I believe that God is faithful, I do not take that to mean that He is predictable!

So as we celebrate the 'coming down' of Jesus during the season of His birth, let our hearts tremble, let us recall the earth-shaking power of God and let us recount the many awesome things He has done in our lives.

I close today by asking your indulgence. This just popped into my head... perhaps you will recognize the tune... "oh, the sin is me is frightful but His blood is so delightful... and since He came down to show... let us go, let us show, that they will know!"

High-er,
Carl