Rejoicing
Commentary
Sometimes one can listen to the Christian community as it conducts its life, witness and worship and come away with all sorts of opinions about what ought to be foremost in the Christian life. Repentance, new life, worship, witnessing, expectation, work, faithfulness, righteousness -- these are just some of the themes that head our agenda.
What strikes me is that such a list seems to be an obligation list or a list that somehow is intended to move God to bless us and approve of us.
What strikes me about the lessons for today is that all of them share a common shout of joy and thanksgiving ... and for something that God has already done.
I think all too often we get things twisted around. We imagine there are many things we must do in order to receive a blessing. Our theme for this day reminds us that God has already done more for us than we can even catalog, let alone for which we can be properly grateful.
God came at the right time and led his people out of the wilderness. He came as had been promised by the prophets and brought his people back from exile. And his promise in Christ is that he will deliver us from these bondages, self-imposed or otherwise, which rob us of joy and peace in life. We can count on that.
Take time to do some work on the biblical meaning of all that the wilderness can symbolize. Then you will see why these poetic statements can move easily from one situation to another. The reason is that it is always the same God who comes to each situation with the gift of deliverance.
OUTLINE I
Singing in Good Times and Bad Times
Psalm 126
Introduction: Sometimes I think we forget that the Psalms are songs, poetry to music. The music we have no longer, but we do have the words. One ought to begin any consideration of a Psalm by remembering several things.
First: Most Psalms are undatable. Psalm 126 begins sounding like a post-exilic song but then, at verse 4, it seems to better fit at the beginning of the exile. There is a kind of timelessness about the Psalms. They speak to human experiences that are common in every age.
Second: DonÕt go to the Psalms for history and facts. Poetry deals with feelings and meanings. One has to listen with a different ear and attitude in order to hear the message. In this Psalm the overarching theme is clear, no matter what the dating. Here we are faced with the rejoicing of a people who are aware that their deliverance is from the hand of God.
Third: When you are dealing with psalms, poetry and hymns, expect some exaggeration. The Hebrew language was largely bereft of hyperbole useful for speaking of GodÕs actions and, as a result, exaggeration was generally used. After all, how else can one speak of what God has done for them? Now, re-read the Psalm and note the exaggeration, the wild evidences of joy. Often they seem out of place, but for the Hebrew poet nothing was out of place if it assisted him to speak of the glory and majesty and power of God.
Fourth: Note that this Psalm is listed among the Songs of Ascents. Such songs were generally sung by pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem for the celebration of feast days. Just imagine a group of them trudging up the hill toward the City of David singing this song together.
Little wonder this Psalm can serve as a call to worship. It has all the needed ingredients -- praise, exaggeration, worship, humility, readiness for group use, present and future concerns.
OUTLINE II
How to use the Great Christian Vocabulary
Philippians 1:3-11
Introduction: One is tempted to approach this Scripture by doing some homework on PaulÕs relationship to the congregation at Philippi and then commenting on that. Go ahead and do that if you wish. It can be a fruitful approach. This time, however, it seems to me that it can be productive just to scan through this marvelous greeting to his church and let some of PaulÕs words jump off the page. Then deal with them. They are part of the Christian vocabulary with which we all ought to be familiar.
A. Thanks. Gratitude is surely a prime Christian virtue. Here Paul gives his feelings a warm turn as he does not congratulate them, nor does he urge them on to greater things. He is grateful for what he sees now.
B. Joy. Here is something more than satisfaction or pleasure. This word has to do with a deep sense of inner peace and wonder that moves one to exult, to praise, to accentuate the positive.
C. Grace. Only those who share this common gift can really communicate with others about it. It needs no definition. It is a shared gift and enables persons to be one in spirit.
D. Affection. Note that this word is qualified as the affection of Jesus Christ. Paul feels the same care, the same concern, the same spirit, the same willingness to suffer for them that Jesus offered.
E. Love. ItÕs more than an attitude or a spirit. Here Paul pleads for a growing self-giving and concern for one another.
F. Knowledge. Christians ought to be constantly seeking to understand their faith and all that relates to it. We can covet that for one another, just as Paul coveted it for his people at Philippi.
Conclusion: Now, take it from there. There are other words: discernment, excellence, purity, blameless, righteousness. And then note the qualification that they come as gifts through Jesus Christ. Perhaps a sermon could be devised which serves as a sort of ministerial wish list for the congregation which listens.
OUTLINE III
Another Homecoming
Luke 3:1-6
Introduction: Everyone is familiar with these great words from 2 Isaiah, words that herald a homecoming, words that promise that the God who has let his people go into exile (so that they might be made worthy and righteous), now comes to take them home. Here again we encounter a song, a Psalm and all the hype and exaggeration that goes with it. Anyone familiar with what really took place knows that this is a visionary dream, a proclamation that motivates the hearers to see the hand of God in all that takes place.
In Isaiah it is return from exile that is heralded. In Luke it is deliverance from the bondage of sin, a return from the kingdom of Satan that is proclaimed. Listen as all the old themes are sounded again and God is at center stage, pictured as the one who comes to save.
A. Wilderness. Whether in the wilderness under the leadership of Moses, the wilderness of Babylonian exile, the wilderness experienced by Jesus during his temptations, or wilderness symbolizing lostness, this powerful symbol speaks of the inability of one to deliver himself. If he is to be set free then God must come and do it. And that is exactly what is proclaimed.
B. Prepare. There is no doubt that the images in these lines come from those times when the royal retinue was marching into the countryside. Every attempt was made to facilitate the arrival, to make things comfortable, to ensure safety, to remove danger and obstacles. It was a joyous occasion and they had a part in making it even more joyous.
Conclusion: Whether you are being delivered from a wilderness, sent home from exile, or freed from the guilt and bondage of sin it is a joyous occasion. Things may still be rough but now they appear to be smooth and easy. And why? Because it is the salvation of God that we see.
