The Hope of Advent: Day 4
Hope is tested when things do not happen the way we think they should or when we think they should, and perhaps that is when mystery turns from awe to doubt.
Hope is a future-oriented term, but it is grounded in past events. In the Old Testament, hope for the Messiah was anchored in God’s mighty deeds in history. This is why their concept of Messiah was closely linked with terms like “Deliverer”.
In fulfilling His promise to Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3), God delivered the Israelites out of bondage in Egypt and led them into the Promised Land. The Exodus event formed the basis of hope for the people of God. They told the story over and over again.
After Moses exhausts his arsenal of excuses, and after he basically accuses God of coming up short on his promise, God’s replies to Moses. God’s response is not about Moses’ doubt, but rather God appeals to the foundation of His promise, namely, the trustworthiness of His promise, and His ability to perform great deeds on earth (Exodus 6:1-8).
What we see over and over in the Bible is that true hope is not tested against our ability to hope, but rather against the foundation of God’s ability to deliver. Jean-Paul Sartre, a famous philosopher and atheist, said a month before he died that he so strongly resisted feelings of despair that he would say to himself, “I know I shall die in hope.” Then in profound sadness, he would add, “But hope needs a foundation.” Without a foundation we have only wishful thinking or personal ability.
If we are weak in hope, perhaps we have vested our hope it in weak things: wealth, possessions, reputation, relationships. Perhaps these are the things we long for now. Let us renew the hope of Advent in our hearts by remembering the mighty deeds of God, not least of which is coming into our world. Come again, Lord Jesus. We await your return.
Scripture Reading: Psalm 105
Lyrics for Contemplation: Seven Swans by Sufjan Stevens
We didn't sleep too late.
There was a fire in the yard.
All of the tress were in light.
They had no faces to show.
I saw a sign in the sky:
Seven swans, seven swans, seven swans.
I heard a voice in my mind:
I will try, I will try, I will try.
I will try, I will try, I will try.
We saw the dragon move down.
My father burned into coal.
My mother saw it from far.
She took her purse to the bed.
I saw a sign in the sky:
Seven horns, seven horns, seven horns.
I heard a voice in my mind:
I am Lord, I am Lord, I am Lord.
He said: I am Lord, I am Lord, I am Lord.
He said: I am Lord, I am Lord, I am Lord.
He will take you. If you run,
He will chase you.
He will take you. If you run,
He will chase you
'cause He is the Lord.
'Cause He is the Lord...
Seven swans, seven swans, seven swans,
seven swans, seven swans...
Hope is a future-oriented term, but it is grounded in past events. In the Old Testament, hope for the Messiah was anchored in God’s mighty deeds in history. This is why their concept of Messiah was closely linked with terms like “Deliverer”.
In fulfilling His promise to Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3), God delivered the Israelites out of bondage in Egypt and led them into the Promised Land. The Exodus event formed the basis of hope for the people of God. They told the story over and over again.
After Moses exhausts his arsenal of excuses, and after he basically accuses God of coming up short on his promise, God’s replies to Moses. God’s response is not about Moses’ doubt, but rather God appeals to the foundation of His promise, namely, the trustworthiness of His promise, and His ability to perform great deeds on earth (Exodus 6:1-8).
What we see over and over in the Bible is that true hope is not tested against our ability to hope, but rather against the foundation of God’s ability to deliver. Jean-Paul Sartre, a famous philosopher and atheist, said a month before he died that he so strongly resisted feelings of despair that he would say to himself, “I know I shall die in hope.” Then in profound sadness, he would add, “But hope needs a foundation.” Without a foundation we have only wishful thinking or personal ability.
If we are weak in hope, perhaps we have vested our hope it in weak things: wealth, possessions, reputation, relationships. Perhaps these are the things we long for now. Let us renew the hope of Advent in our hearts by remembering the mighty deeds of God, not least of which is coming into our world. Come again, Lord Jesus. We await your return.
Scripture Reading: Psalm 105
Lyrics for Contemplation: Seven Swans by Sufjan Stevens
We didn't sleep too late.
There was a fire in the yard.
All of the tress were in light.
They had no faces to show.
I saw a sign in the sky:
Seven swans, seven swans, seven swans.
I heard a voice in my mind:
I will try, I will try, I will try.
I will try, I will try, I will try.
We saw the dragon move down.
My father burned into coal.
My mother saw it from far.
She took her purse to the bed.
I saw a sign in the sky:
Seven horns, seven horns, seven horns.
I heard a voice in my mind:
I am Lord, I am Lord, I am Lord.
He said: I am Lord, I am Lord, I am Lord.
He said: I am Lord, I am Lord, I am Lord.
He will take you. If you run,
He will chase you.
He will take you. If you run,
He will chase you
'cause He is the Lord.
'Cause He is the Lord...
Seven swans, seven swans, seven swans,
seven swans, seven swans...
posted by Will | 4:03 PM
1 Comments:
seriously, take the time to listen to the song ... you cant get a feel for the meaning of the lyrics otherwise. It is haunting and comforting at the same time.
Post a Comment
<< Home