Christmas Day
Preaching
Preaching And Reading The Old Testament Lessons
With an Eye to the New
This is the same Old Testament text that will be specified for Christmas Day in Cycles A and C. However, the riches of the scripture are never exhausted by one or more comments on them.
No matter how often we preach from this passage, we do need to clarify its historical background. It is modeled after the ancient Israelite custom of sending messengers across the hills of Palestine to announce the beginning of the reign of a new king, an event that always brought with it new hopes for the future. Addressing the exiles in Babylonia between 550 and 538 B.C., Second Isaiah borrows the form of that custom to proclaim to his people who have lost all hope for the future that salvation is coming to them, because not a new human king, but God himself reigns over their lives and is coming to deliver them (cf. Isaiah 40:9--11).
By preaching from this text, the preacher has the opportunity to enlighten the congregation about the meaning of salvation. Twice our text uses that word. The messenger speeding across the mountains, who is taking the good news, the gospel, to his despairing people, is taking the message of "salvation" (v. 7d). And that is a salvation that will be seen by "all the ends of the earth" (v. 10d). So what is the meaning of "salvation"? We use the word frequently. We ask, "Have you been saved?" Or we read on a bumper sticker, "Jesus Christ saves." Or we look forward to our final salvation. But what is the meaning of salvation, according to the scriptures?
In its root meaning in the Old Testament, "salvation" connotes "spaciousness," "broadness," in short, having room to live. "He brought me forth into a broad place," sings the Psalmist, "he delivered me, because he delighted in me" (Psalm 18:19). In other words, salvation is having deliverance from constricting powers, of death or sin, of other forces in society and the world. Salvation enables one to stretch to his or her full height, to take a deep breath, to feel free, to be able to say with Paul, "By the grace of God, I am what I am!" (1 Corinthians 15:10), and to live in fullness of being. To be sure, salvation in the New Testament involves the inheritance of eternal life with God. But it also involves these Old Testament thoughts of shalom, of well--being, of abundant life on this earth. And of course, Jesus said he came that we might have such life (John 10:10). He came to bring us salvation.
But what is the condition of having such salvation, according to our text? It is realizing that God rules over all. "Your God reigns," announces our prophet, and salvation is coming to the exiles because that is true. Despite their unfaithfulness in the past, for which they were sent into captivity, despite the despair and hopelessness that the Israelites have in Babylonia, their God reigns. The Bab--ylonians with their astrological gods are not in charge. The principalities and powers of this world are not supreme. No. God, the Almighty Lord of hosts, reigns, and as a result, he can deliver his people from the forces that hold them captive.
But if we realize that God rules over all history and nature, then it is also incumbent on us to live our lives in accord with that realization. We cannot just confess his kingship and then ignore it in our daily round, any more than we can celebrate the birth of Jesus as Savior of the world and then not rely on him. If God rules, if Jesus Christ is his chosen messianic king, then he is also king over our lives, is he not? His teachings and commandments become the guide of our living. His strength becomes the everlasting arms that undergird us in every trial. His purpose becomes the reason for our existence. His service and glorification become the goal of everything we do. We cannot confess that God in Jesus Christ reigns over all unless he possesses that reign also over our individual, common lives. Confession, belief, realization lead to behavior in the Christian faith or they are empty of any meaning. And so to know the good news of salvation on this Christmas day, is to surrender our lives to Christ's rule. Apart from that surrender, we cannot expect to be saved.
Just what does it mean to surrender to Christ, though? What should we do? Millions of books have been written on that subject, but putting it very briefly, surely surrender to our ruling Lord involves the four disciplines of the Christian life: regular worship, with its participation in the sacraments and its praise and glorification of God in the company of fellow Christians; daily individual prayer to God, in which we lay out all our lives before him and entrust them to his hands, remembering him and never forgetting his presence with us; daily study of his word in the scriptures that leads to an ever--deepening knowledge of the God we worship and to growth in goodness; and then, response to his grace and word, in thankful obedience and service. It really is impossible to live the Christian life without the practice of those disciplines, for surely they characterize the way of those who know that they have a Savior and a Lord. Not just anyone is a Christian, you see. Christians live distinctive lives. But they also lead joyful lives and can truly celebrate Christmas under the rule of their God.
Finally, one more truth from our text should be noted. Probably the principal failing of us Christians is the sin of pride. Perhaps some of you sitting in the pew right now are congratulating yourselves on the fact that you do indeed worship and pray, study the Bible and obey the commandments. We like to assure ourselves that we have it made! And so when we hear, "Your God reigns," we change that into "Our God reigns." He is our God, on our side, and we are the faithful and righteous who claim him, over--against all of those people here this morning who come to church perhaps only at Christmastime and Easter. I'm sure you've seen a lot of strangers around you this morning.
But did you hear the closing words of our text? "And all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God" (v. 10cd). God comes to exhibit his salvation to all people this Christmas. "Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy that shall be to all people." The gospel of salvation in Jesus Christ is intended for everyone. And God holds out to every soul here this morning the possibility of salvation in him, the possibility of abundant life, of joyful life, of life everlasting. We Christians do not own God. He has come to save his world. And the proper response to that on everyone's part is humility, on the part of Christians and non--Christians; on the part of believers and agnostics and atheists; on the part of casual observers who thought it just might be good to go to church on Christmas; indeed, on the part of every single sinful soul of us, gathered here this morning. Humility, surrender, that's faith - giving our lives into the merciful hands of that God who loves us all in Jesus Christ, and who has come to save us.
No matter how often we preach from this passage, we do need to clarify its historical background. It is modeled after the ancient Israelite custom of sending messengers across the hills of Palestine to announce the beginning of the reign of a new king, an event that always brought with it new hopes for the future. Addressing the exiles in Babylonia between 550 and 538 B.C., Second Isaiah borrows the form of that custom to proclaim to his people who have lost all hope for the future that salvation is coming to them, because not a new human king, but God himself reigns over their lives and is coming to deliver them (cf. Isaiah 40:9--11).
By preaching from this text, the preacher has the opportunity to enlighten the congregation about the meaning of salvation. Twice our text uses that word. The messenger speeding across the mountains, who is taking the good news, the gospel, to his despairing people, is taking the message of "salvation" (v. 7d). And that is a salvation that will be seen by "all the ends of the earth" (v. 10d). So what is the meaning of "salvation"? We use the word frequently. We ask, "Have you been saved?" Or we read on a bumper sticker, "Jesus Christ saves." Or we look forward to our final salvation. But what is the meaning of salvation, according to the scriptures?
In its root meaning in the Old Testament, "salvation" connotes "spaciousness," "broadness," in short, having room to live. "He brought me forth into a broad place," sings the Psalmist, "he delivered me, because he delighted in me" (Psalm 18:19). In other words, salvation is having deliverance from constricting powers, of death or sin, of other forces in society and the world. Salvation enables one to stretch to his or her full height, to take a deep breath, to feel free, to be able to say with Paul, "By the grace of God, I am what I am!" (1 Corinthians 15:10), and to live in fullness of being. To be sure, salvation in the New Testament involves the inheritance of eternal life with God. But it also involves these Old Testament thoughts of shalom, of well--being, of abundant life on this earth. And of course, Jesus said he came that we might have such life (John 10:10). He came to bring us salvation.
But what is the condition of having such salvation, according to our text? It is realizing that God rules over all. "Your God reigns," announces our prophet, and salvation is coming to the exiles because that is true. Despite their unfaithfulness in the past, for which they were sent into captivity, despite the despair and hopelessness that the Israelites have in Babylonia, their God reigns. The Bab--ylonians with their astrological gods are not in charge. The principalities and powers of this world are not supreme. No. God, the Almighty Lord of hosts, reigns, and as a result, he can deliver his people from the forces that hold them captive.
But if we realize that God rules over all history and nature, then it is also incumbent on us to live our lives in accord with that realization. We cannot just confess his kingship and then ignore it in our daily round, any more than we can celebrate the birth of Jesus as Savior of the world and then not rely on him. If God rules, if Jesus Christ is his chosen messianic king, then he is also king over our lives, is he not? His teachings and commandments become the guide of our living. His strength becomes the everlasting arms that undergird us in every trial. His purpose becomes the reason for our existence. His service and glorification become the goal of everything we do. We cannot confess that God in Jesus Christ reigns over all unless he possesses that reign also over our individual, common lives. Confession, belief, realization lead to behavior in the Christian faith or they are empty of any meaning. And so to know the good news of salvation on this Christmas day, is to surrender our lives to Christ's rule. Apart from that surrender, we cannot expect to be saved.
Just what does it mean to surrender to Christ, though? What should we do? Millions of books have been written on that subject, but putting it very briefly, surely surrender to our ruling Lord involves the four disciplines of the Christian life: regular worship, with its participation in the sacraments and its praise and glorification of God in the company of fellow Christians; daily individual prayer to God, in which we lay out all our lives before him and entrust them to his hands, remembering him and never forgetting his presence with us; daily study of his word in the scriptures that leads to an ever--deepening knowledge of the God we worship and to growth in goodness; and then, response to his grace and word, in thankful obedience and service. It really is impossible to live the Christian life without the practice of those disciplines, for surely they characterize the way of those who know that they have a Savior and a Lord. Not just anyone is a Christian, you see. Christians live distinctive lives. But they also lead joyful lives and can truly celebrate Christmas under the rule of their God.
Finally, one more truth from our text should be noted. Probably the principal failing of us Christians is the sin of pride. Perhaps some of you sitting in the pew right now are congratulating yourselves on the fact that you do indeed worship and pray, study the Bible and obey the commandments. We like to assure ourselves that we have it made! And so when we hear, "Your God reigns," we change that into "Our God reigns." He is our God, on our side, and we are the faithful and righteous who claim him, over--against all of those people here this morning who come to church perhaps only at Christmastime and Easter. I'm sure you've seen a lot of strangers around you this morning.
But did you hear the closing words of our text? "And all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God" (v. 10cd). God comes to exhibit his salvation to all people this Christmas. "Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy that shall be to all people." The gospel of salvation in Jesus Christ is intended for everyone. And God holds out to every soul here this morning the possibility of salvation in him, the possibility of abundant life, of joyful life, of life everlasting. We Christians do not own God. He has come to save his world. And the proper response to that on everyone's part is humility, on the part of Christians and non--Christians; on the part of believers and agnostics and atheists; on the part of casual observers who thought it just might be good to go to church on Christmas; indeed, on the part of every single sinful soul of us, gathered here this morning. Humility, surrender, that's faith - giving our lives into the merciful hands of that God who loves us all in Jesus Christ, and who has come to save us.
