Meditations for Advent 2013 - a month of preparation Oh, Come, Oh, Come Emmanuel Oh, come, oh, come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel, That mourns in lonely exile here until the Son of God appear. Oh, come, oh, come, great Lord of might, who to your tribes on Sinai s height In ancient times once gave the law in cloud, and majesty, and awe. Oh, come, strong Branch of Jesse, free your own from Satan s tyranny; From depths of hell your people save and give them victory o er the grave. Oh, come, blest Dayspring, come and cheer our spirits by your advent here; Disperse the gloomy clouds of night and death s dark shadows put to flight. Oh, come, O Key of David, come, and open wide our heav nly home; Make safe the way that leads on high, and close the path to misery. 1
Prophecies of the Messiah Seed of a woman Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; he shall bruise you on the head, and you shall bruise him on the heel. Galatians 4:4 But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law. Descendant of Abraham Genesis 12:3 And I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed. Matthew 1:1 The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Descendant of Isaac Genesis 17:19 But God said, No, but Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; and I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him. Luke 3:34 the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor Descendant of Jacob Numbers 24:17 I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near; a star shall come forth from Jacob, and a scepter shall rise from Israel, and shall crush through the forehead of Moab, and tear down all the sons of Sheth. Matthew 1:2 to Abraham was born Isaac; and to Isaac, Jacob, and to Jacob, Judah and his brothers; From the tribe of Judah Genesis 49:10 the scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler s staff from between his feet, until Shiloh comes, and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples. Luke 3:33 The son of Amminadab, the son of Admin, the son of Ram, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah, Heir to the throne of David Isaiah 9:7 There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from then on and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this. Luke 1:32-33 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; and His kingdom will have no end. 2
Anointed and eternal Psalm 45:6-7; 102:25-27 Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever; a scepter of uprightness is the scepter of thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated wickedness; therefore God, Thy God, has anointed Thee with the oil of joy above Thy fellows. Of old Thou didst found the earth; and the heavens are the work of Thy hands. Even they will perish, but Thou dost endure; and all of them will wear out like a garment; like clothing Thou wilt change them, and they will be changed. But Thou art the same, and Thy years will not come to an end. Hebrews 1:8-12 But of the Son He says, Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever, and the righteous scepter is the scepter of His kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; therefore God, thy God, hath anointed Thee with the oil of gladness above Thy companions. And, Thou, LORD, in the beginning didst lay the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the works of Thy hands. They will perish, but Thou remainest, and they all will become old as a garment, and as a mantel Thou wilt roll them up; as a garment they will also be changed. But Thou art the same, and Thy years will not come to an end. Born in Bethlehem Micah 5:2 But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity. Luke 2:4, 5, 7 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, in order to register, along with Mary, who was engaged to him and was with child And she gave birth to her first-born son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. To be born of a virgin Isaiah 7:14, Therefore, the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel. Luke 1:26-27, 30-31 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city Galilee, called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph of the descendants of David; and the virgin s name was Mary and the angel said to her, Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb, and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. Preceded by a forerunner Malachi 3:1 Behold, I am going to send My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple, and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming, says the LORD of hosts. 3
Luke 1:76-79 And you, my child (John), will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for Him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace. Preceded by Elijah Malachi 4:5-6 Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the LORD. And he will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the land with a curse. Matthew 11:13-14 For all the prophets and the Law prophesied until John. And if you care to accept it, he himself is Elijah, who was to come. Readings for Advent The church calendar has assigned daily scripture readings relating to Sundays. Thursday through Saturday readings prepare for Sunday readings, and Monday through Wednesday reflect upon the Sunday readings. Often, it is helpful to focus on one section, i.e. decide to read all the Psalm selections or the Old Testament or New Testament together to follow the train of thought throughout the week. Advent Week One Candle of Prophecy Jeremiah 33:14-16 The days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will fulfill the gracious promise I made to the house of Israel and to the house of Judah. In those days and at that time, I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David s line; he will do what is just and right in the land. In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. This is the name by which it will be called: The LORD Our Righteousness. We pray, O Lord, stir up Thy might, we beg Thee, and come, that by Thy protection we may be rescued from the threatening dangers of our sins and saved by Thy deliverance, through Christ, Thy Son, our Lord. Amen Saturday, 11/30: Psalm 122; Genesis 6:11-22; Matthew 24:1-22 Sunday, 12/1: Isaiah 2:1-5; Psalm 122:1; Romans 13:11-14; Matthew 24:36-44 Monday, 12/2: Psalm 124; Genesis 8:1-19; Romans 6:1-11 Tuesday, 12/3: Psalm 124; Genesis 9:1-17; Hebrews 11:32-40 Wednesday, 12/4: Psalm 124; Isaiah 54:1-10; Matthew 24:23-35 Thursday, 12/5: Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19; Isaiah 4:2-6; Acts 1:12-17, 21-26 4
Friday, 12/6: Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19; Isaiah 30:19-26; Acts 13:16-25 Saturday, 12/7: Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19; Isaiah 40:1-11; John 1:19-28 Advent Week Two Candle of Bethlehem Micah 5:2 But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times. We pray, O Lord, stir up our hearts that we may prepare for Thy only begotten Son, that through His coming we may be made worthy to serve Thee with pure minds, through Christ Thy Son, our Lord. Amen Sunday, 12/8: Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19; Isaiah 11:1-10; Romans 15:4-13; Matthew 3:1-12 Monday, 12/9: Psalm 21; Isaiah 24:1-16a; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12 Tuesday, 12/10: Psalm 21; Isaiah 41:14-20; Romans 15:14-21 Wednesday, 12/11: Psalm 21; Genesis 15:1-18; Matthew 12:33-37 Thursday, 12/12: Psalm 146:5-10; Ruth 1:6-18; 2 Peter 3:1-10 Friday, 12/13: Psalm 146:5-10; Ruth 4:13-17; 2 Peter 3:11-18 Saturday, 12/14: Psalm 146:5-10; 1 Samuel 2:1-8; Luke 3:1-18 Advent Week Three Candle of Light Isaiah 9:2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned. We pray O Lord, we beg Thee, incline Thy ear to our prayers and enlighten the darkness of our minds by the grace of Thy visitation, through Jesus Christ Thy Son, our Lord. Amen. Sunday, 12/15: Isaiah 35:1-10; Psalm 146: 5-10; James 5:7-10; Matthew 11:2-11 Monday, 12/16: Psalm 42; Isaiah 29:17-24; Acts 5:12-16 Tuesday, 12/17: Psalm 42; Ezekiel 47:1-12; Jude 17-25 Wednesday, 12/18: Psalm 42; Zechariah 8:1-17; Matthew 8:14-17, 28-34 Thursday, 12/19: Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19; 2 Samuel 7:1-17; Galatians 3:23-29 Friday, 12/20: Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19; 2 Samuel 7:18-22; Galatians 4:1-7 Saturday, 12/21: Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19; 2 Samuel 7:23-29; John 3:31-36 5
Advent Week Four Candle of Peace Isaiah 40:1-5 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the LORD S hand double for all her sins. A voice of one calling: In the desert prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken. We pray O Lord, stir up Thy power, and come; and with great might help us, that with the help of Thy grace, Thy merciful forgiveness may hasten what our sins impede through Christ Thy blessed Son, our Lord. Amen. Sunday, 12/22: Isaiah 33:17-22; Revelation 22:6-7, 18-20; Luke 1:46b-55 Monday, 12/23: 2 Samuel 7:18, 23-29; Galatians 3:6-14; Luke 1:46b-55 Tuesday, 12/24: Isaiah 60:1-6; Luke 1:46b-55, 67-80 Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus Come, thou long-expected Jesus, born to set thy people free; From our fears and sins release us; let us find our rest in Thee. Israel s strength and consolation, hope of all the earth Thou art, Dear desire of ev ry nation, joy of ev ry longing heart. Born Thy people to deliver, born a child, and yet a king; Born to reign in us forever, now Thy gracious kingdom bring. By thine own eternal spirit rule in all our hearts alone; By Thine all sufficient merit raise us to thy glorious throne. The Nativity of our Lord Wednesday, 12/25: Psalm 98; Isaiah 52:7-10; Hebrews 1:1-12; John 1:1-14 6