I was watching a version of this well-known Christmas Carol on a clip on You Tube this last week, and it was set in Bethlehem. Only the first verse was in English – the rest of it sounded like Arabic to me, but even so, by mid-song I was in tears. It reminded me how the whole world is crying out for hope, for love, for unity, for peace, for a King and for a Saviour. Especially with all the trouble over the years in the Middle East.
For a lot of people this last year has been kind of tough. Corona virus has bought huge challenges for a lot of people. I have heard of someone’s 22yo granddaughter who committed suicide in the midst of lockdown as she felt isolated and pained at seeing her parent’s business fold. A client of mine lost 3 of her siblings in Croatia to the virus, and a lot of people have had financial struggles. I also have a client who is nursing her husband who has terminal cancer after having lost her son also to the disease last year. It is the human condition. We are in need of some good news.
Come, they told me….. A newborn King to see. This has always been one of my favourite Christmas Carols. At the time of Jesus’ birth there were stars in the sky that lined up in an extraordinary way as to announce the birth of a King. It was the fulfillment of promises from prophets in ancient times. A new life unfolding full of promise and hope and possibilities….. Really??? The following verses were written around 600 and 700 BC respectively (give or take a few decades). Both of these prophetic writings were written the purpose of calling God’s people back to Him and to His ways. Extraordinary…
Jeremiah 23: 5 – 6 (New Living Translation)
“For the time is coming,” says the Lord, “when I will raise up a righteous descendant from King David’s line. He will be a King who rules with wisdom. He will do what is just and right throughout the land. And this will be his name: ‘The Lord Is Our Righteousness.’ In that day Judah will be saved, and Israel will live in safety.
Isaiah 9: 6 – 7 (TPT)
A child has been born for us; a son has been given to us. The responsibility of complete dominion will rest on his shoulders, and his name will be: The Wonderful One! The Extraordinary Strategist! The Mighty God! The Father of Eternity! The Prince[l] of Peace! Great and vast is his dominion. He will bring immeasurable peace and prosperity. He will rule on David’s throne and over David’s kingdom to establish and uphold it by promoting justice and righteousness from this time forward and forevermore. The marvellous passion that the Lord Yahweh, Commander of Angel Armies, has for his people will ensure that it is finished!
I love the past tense in this Isaiah passage, even though it was written well before Jesus’ time. Jesus was given to us before the beginning of time. At just the right time, he made his appearance on this earth, for God’s chosen people – the Israelites, but for more than that – for all of us, for generations to come and for all eternity. He indeed came with healing for the sick and dying, with hope for the hopeless, with freedom for the captives, and with a renewed sense that God is, indeed, intimately concerned with the affairs of men.
Romans 5:6 -8
You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
The other thing I love about these verses is that God’s word is true!!! The promises and the call came through the prophets of old, and they were not slow to be fulfilled. God is faithful and true!! We often can’t see past our own little lives and circumstances and our own contexts (700 years is a long time, after all), but hope is alive! Jesus is alive and the grave couldn’t hold him down! We have a kind and humble King who is personable and involved in our lives. He is Emmanuel, God with us, yet He is also the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. I love this idea of complete dominion that comes through in the Passion Translation of Isaiah. I also love the idea of immeasurable peace and prosperity - it is very much to my liking!
A newborn King to see. And what shall we bring to honour him? One who is the mighty God and Prince of Peace. And I thought my shopping list was difficult this year…. Being a baby born in a stable in the back sticks of a little town, 2000 years ago, is there anything I could bring him today, in 2020, that would warm his heart?
Hebrews 13:15-16 (NLT)
Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name. And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God.
Even if we feel small or like we don’t have a lot to bring, just like the little drummer boy, we can offer a sacrifice of acknowledgement, and of praise and worship. A declaration of love and recognition of who Jesus is to us personally as well as who He is to the world we live in. Praise and Worship brings us together as His people and it pleases his heart, especially in the seasons where we don’t quite get it and life is tough. Our heart towards Him pleases His heart. He still smiles today.
One of my favourite poems / words to a hymn was written by Charlotte Elliot in 1834 in England. At the age of 32 she suffered a debilitating illness and became an invalid. She struggled with anger and conflict in her faith. Charlotte didn’t have much of a drum to play, but she did still bring a sacrifice of praise and heart after the heart of God, as she took up writing hymns. I am sure He met her right there. The blood of the Lamb was enough back then for Charlotte, and it remains enough today.
Just as I am, without one plea But that Thy blood was shed for me And that Thou bid'st me come to Thee O Lamb of God, I come! I come
Just as I am, though tossed about With many a conflict, many a doubt Fighting and fears within without O Lamb of God, I come, I come
Just as I am, and waiting not to rid my soul of one dark blot to thee whose blood can cleanse each spot O Lamb of God, I come, I come
Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind Sight, riches, healing of the mind Yea, all I need, in Thee to find O Lamb of God, I come, I come!
Just as I am, Thou wilt receive Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve Because Thy promise I believe O Lamb of God, I come, I come
I played my drum for Him. I played my best for Him. Then He smiled at me, Par um pum pum pum. Me and my drum.
The invitation is simply to come. To look to our King of Glory.
Comments