Sermon at All Saints’ Church,
Whiteparish – BCP Evensong – Second Sunday in Advent - Sunday 10 December 2017
Psalm 40; Romans 15:4-13
May the words of my
mouth and the meditation of all our hearts be always acceptable to you, O
Lord. Amen
In our
second lesson this evening Paul writes “For whatever was written in former days was written for
our instruction, so that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the
scriptures we might have hope. May the God of steadfastness and
encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with
Christ Jesus, so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Last
Sunday was the first Sunday in Advent when we lit the Prophecy Candle or Candle
of Hope and this morning we lit the second of the five candles which will be
lit on Christmas Day – this second candle is known as the Bethlehem Candle of
the Preparation to mark the fulfilment of the prophecy that the Messiah, the
Saviour would be born in Bethlehem – reminding us to prepare (“get ready”) for
his coming and as Christians, we are expected to prepare, get ready, for his
Second Coming – when he shall return to save Humankind and bring Heaven to
Earth.
Isaiah’s
words are repeated in Luke’s Gospel concerning John the Baptist’s ministry – “A voice of one calling in the wilderness,
Prepare the way for the Lord, make the straight paths for him. Every valley shall be filled in, every
mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough
ways smooth; and all mankind will see God’s salvation”.
Until
Christ returned, the Jews were waiting for the Messiah’s first coming – indeed
they still do today but we know that he did come and will come together; but.
As Paul tells us, we should not ignore the messages, the prophecies of the Old
Testament for they provide for us signposts to the New Testament and the glory
which is God’s incarnation.
For
this reason I think it would be rather lovely to reflect upon the psalm which
we said together this evening. The 150
psalms which we find right in the middle of the bible are examples of some of
the most beautiful sacred poetry we could ever find; many of which, but not
all, were written by King David. They
encompass nearly every human emotion possible – joy, despair, anger, fatigue,
bewilderment, and so on. They were the
basis for prayer in ancient times and Jesus quoted them often. This evening we
said together Psalm 40 and I deliberately chose that we should say it together
in full.
My
study bible tells me that this was one of the psalms which was indeed written
by David. It is a prayer for help when troubles abound but the causes of
David’s distress are not specified but David acknowledges that they are caused
by his own sins (which are more numerous than the hairs on his head). David calls upon God because he has helped
him in the past and therefore he knows that the prayers and praises are not in
vain and that by God’s love in answering his pleas of supplication he has been
singing a new song and that his songs of praise have turned others to
faith. He reminds us, as Jesus did with
the Lord’s Prayer, that before we make supplications (ask him for favours) we
should acknowledge him (“hallow his name”) and give praise for gifts already
received and that we are expected to acknowledge our sins and ask forgiveness
as part of that process.
David
also recognises that it’s not God’s wish for his people to simply offer burnt
sacrifices but it is important to do God’s will – to be obedient especially to
God’s moral law. David is acknowledging, also, his obligation as the king of
his people to ensure that his people likewise love and obey God.
David’s
troubles do not go away during the psalm, indeed he is in a bit of a mess and
his enemies seem to be getting the upper hand. Above all he ends by pleading
that God will not delay in delivering him from his current troubles.
Today,
we have a mediator in Jesus Christ who came down to Earth to be not only a
teacher, a rabbi, but also to sacrifice his life for us and save us; to be a
sacrifice for our sins provided we believe and acknowledge him, as God
incarnate, to be our saviour – just as David does when he says “burnt offering you do not require; but for me to do your will.”
Advent
then is a very important time for us Christians – not just a time of
preparation by buying presents, sending cards, decking the halls with holly and
so on but also for quiet reflection on the importance of Jesus’s coming over
2,000 years ago and waiting with wonderful expectation for his return. We sing
his praises and remember that he died for us on the Cross so that we might have
a means of having our sins washed clean – no matter if they are indeed as
numerous as the hairs on our head – I guess in my case I must be quite
righteous but in reality probably need another analogy.
God
told Samuel, when David came before the prophet to be anointed as king having
rejected the other sons of Jesse, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his
stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man
looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart”.
The theme of
Advent throughout the four weeks leading up to Christmas Day is “hope”. The hope of a future without pain, suffering
or tears. The hope of eternal life
through the Faith we have been given and which by the help of the Holy Spirit
is a wonderful gift free to all who believe.
David believed, David was sinful but David continued to have the hope
which he expresses in Psalm 40 and we can have hope by the knowledge of Jesus’s
birth, crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension.
Let us pray
Free us from
our Sins, O God
and may our
sacrifices be of praise
to the glory
of your Son
Our Redeemer,
Jesus Christ.
Amen
MFB/10122017/106
No comments:
Post a Comment