Advent Devotion December 1st
December 1st, 2024
“I am certain that I will see the Lord’s goodness in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart be courageous. Wait for the Lord.” - Psalm 27:13-14
The 27th Psalm was written in what must have been one of the most difficult moments of David’s life. Though we cannot say with certainty, most scholars conclude that these words were written when David was either fleeing from the murderous jealousy of Saul or when David was fleeing from his own son, Absalom, who had conspired to take his throne. In a monarchy, the way you take the king’s throne is by killing the king.
Either way, it’s a horrible situation that David finds himself in and the vulnerability that he shows throughout this Psalm is both compelling and inspiring. He doesn’t hide his hurt or mask the reality of the situation that he is facing. He speaks openly of adversaries, enemies, and evildoers who had, and were, pressing in to “devour” him.
Yet, the bookends of the chapter are so hope-filled that it’s almost easy to miss the gravity of the situation that he finds himself in. He begins the chapter with a powerful declaration, “The Lord is my light and my salvation – whom should I dread”, and ends with an equally powerful statement that can be taken, by us, as a personal exhortation, “Wait for the Lord”.
Let’s focus in on those four words as we begin this Advent Devotional.
Did you know that there is a reference to “waiting” found in 116 times within the Bible? Laced throughout the pages of Holy Scripture are situations and circumstances in which people were waiting upon the Lord. Our Father used these times of waiting to build character, faith, and perseverance into the lives of His people. He does the same in our own lives.
From the story of Abraham waiting upon the fulfillment of Gods promise to the waiting on a specific answer to prayer that is found in our own stories, we understand waiting to be a normal, and ultimately beneficial, part of our walk with God.
The Advent season reminds us of that fact.
You see, the crown of our Lords creation, Adam and Eve, walked with God in the Garden of Eden. They enjoyed wonderful and intimate fellowship with their creator. Then tragedy struck as these image bearers willfully rebelled against the God who’d given then life. Their decision was a costly one. Their sin interrupted the deep intimacy that they shared with the Lord. The fellowship was now broken and there was nothing they could do to make up for the wrong that they’d done.
However, nothing would keep God from His creation.
In Genesis 3:15, God immediately gave a promise of hope to the very individuals who’d rebelled against Him. He promised that one day He would send a Savior to repair our broken relationship, restoring the fellowship with Him that had been lost.
This great promised would be fulfilled in the Lord's time and by the Lord’s zeal.
The Advent season is a celebration of that promise coming to pass on a starry night in Bethlehem means coming or arrival but also a reminder of the thousands of years that passed between God’s promise in Genesis and His presence in a lowly manger. Centuries and centuries of waiting in hopeful anticipation of the Messiah.
Here in this broken world, with our broken bodies, we wait. No longer for the coming of a virgin born child but for the return of the King. May the advent season remind us all that just as the Lord fulfilled His promise to send Christ the first time, He can be trusted to fulfill His promise to send Him again. Let’s remind ourselves throughout Advent that the Bible is filled with hope for those who wait on the Lord.
The 27th Psalm was written in what must have been one of the most difficult moments of David’s life. Though we cannot say with certainty, most scholars conclude that these words were written when David was either fleeing from the murderous jealousy of Saul or when David was fleeing from his own son, Absalom, who had conspired to take his throne. In a monarchy, the way you take the king’s throne is by killing the king.
Either way, it’s a horrible situation that David finds himself in and the vulnerability that he shows throughout this Psalm is both compelling and inspiring. He doesn’t hide his hurt or mask the reality of the situation that he is facing. He speaks openly of adversaries, enemies, and evildoers who had, and were, pressing in to “devour” him.
Yet, the bookends of the chapter are so hope-filled that it’s almost easy to miss the gravity of the situation that he finds himself in. He begins the chapter with a powerful declaration, “The Lord is my light and my salvation – whom should I dread”, and ends with an equally powerful statement that can be taken, by us, as a personal exhortation, “Wait for the Lord”.
Let’s focus in on those four words as we begin this Advent Devotional.
Did you know that there is a reference to “waiting” found in 116 times within the Bible? Laced throughout the pages of Holy Scripture are situations and circumstances in which people were waiting upon the Lord. Our Father used these times of waiting to build character, faith, and perseverance into the lives of His people. He does the same in our own lives.
From the story of Abraham waiting upon the fulfillment of Gods promise to the waiting on a specific answer to prayer that is found in our own stories, we understand waiting to be a normal, and ultimately beneficial, part of our walk with God.
The Advent season reminds us of that fact.
You see, the crown of our Lords creation, Adam and Eve, walked with God in the Garden of Eden. They enjoyed wonderful and intimate fellowship with their creator. Then tragedy struck as these image bearers willfully rebelled against the God who’d given then life. Their decision was a costly one. Their sin interrupted the deep intimacy that they shared with the Lord. The fellowship was now broken and there was nothing they could do to make up for the wrong that they’d done.
However, nothing would keep God from His creation.
In Genesis 3:15, God immediately gave a promise of hope to the very individuals who’d rebelled against Him. He promised that one day He would send a Savior to repair our broken relationship, restoring the fellowship with Him that had been lost.
This great promised would be fulfilled in the Lord's time and by the Lord’s zeal.
The Advent season is a celebration of that promise coming to pass on a starry night in Bethlehem means coming or arrival but also a reminder of the thousands of years that passed between God’s promise in Genesis and His presence in a lowly manger. Centuries and centuries of waiting in hopeful anticipation of the Messiah.
Here in this broken world, with our broken bodies, we wait. No longer for the coming of a virgin born child but for the return of the King. May the advent season remind us all that just as the Lord fulfilled His promise to send Christ the first time, He can be trusted to fulfill His promise to send Him again. Let’s remind ourselves throughout Advent that the Bible is filled with hope for those who wait on the Lord.
Personal Reflection
- What challenges do you face when asked to wait upon the Lord?
- Are there particular situations in your life right now where waiting feels especially difficult?
- Isaiah 40:31 says, "Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength."
How do you understand the connection between waiting and receiving strength? Have you experienced this in your life?
Prayer Prompt
Ask the Lord to help you to be faithful in seasons of waiting by granting you strength and grace, and reminding you of the trustworthiness of His promises.
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