Christmas Now and Then

“Those living in darkness have seen a great light….” (Isaiah 9:2, Matthew 4:16).

Luke 2

On December 16th my wife and I read the Christmas story from Luke 2 together. The verses that stood out to me were not the normal ones. We also read Psalm 16, which oddly seemed to parallel Luke 2 and what I was hearing and seeing at the moment.

“… Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, ‘Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed— and a sword will pierce even your own soul—to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed [emphasis added]'” (Luke 2:33-35).

“For my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a Light of revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel [emphasis added]” (Luke 2:30-32).

Psalm 16

“Preserve me, O God, for I take refuge in You. I said to the Lord, ‘You are my Lord; I have no good besides You.’ As for the saints who are in the earth, they are the majestic ones in whom is all my delight. The sorrows of those who have bartered for another god will be multiplied; I shall not pour out their drink offerings of blood, nor will I take their names upon my lips” (Psalm 16:1-4).

Psalm 16 is a beautiful meditation for our times ( all times really), times when our Lord is bringing a scalpel or a sword on the land because of unfaithfulness, injustice, and our worshiping idols — objects of worship made by our own hands and leading us in the pathways of destruction and death. We were created for so much more.

But we have chosen, and are choosing, to worship humankind and human creations over our loving, wise, sovereign, creator God — to our own hurt.

Our wise and good God gave us the choice, life or death, then encouraged us to choose life (Deuteronomy 30:19–20). But then He truly lets us decide, to honor us with that privilege, and to see what’s in our hearts. In my upcoming book Puzzling 2020, I quote C.S. Lewis who speaks with insight and truth into the ways of God: “Free will, though it makes evil possible, is also the only thing that makes possible any love or goodness or joy worth having.” Yes, even the manifold evil we see happening in our day and times.

“May our gracious Father, Creator, Lord have mercy — then supply to us grace for turning and living from His giant, good heart.” A Christmas prayer.

“The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You support my lot. The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; indeed, my heritage is beautiful to me” (Psalm 16:5-6).

“I will bless the Lord who has counseled me; indeed, my mind instructs me in the night. I have set the Lord continually before me; because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices; my flesh also will dwell securely” (Psalm 16:7-9).

“You will make known to me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; in Your right hand there are pleasures forever” (Psalm 16:11).

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“And there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 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. And he came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to carry out for Him the custom of the Law, then he took Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said,

‘Now Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to depart in peace, according to Your word; for my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a Light of revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel'” (Luke 25:32).

Amen. אמן Merry Christmas.