UNTO US. unto us a child the birth of the Messiah a great light for all. Sermon

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1 UNTO US Wednesday before the Fourth Sunday of Advent (Year B) December 20, 2017 Lessons 2nd Samuel 7:1-11, 16 St. Luke 1:46b-55 or Psalm 89: 1-4, Romans 16:25-27 St. Luke 1:26-38 Pastor David J. Risendal facebook Dave Risendal Twitter: drisendal Saint Peter Lutheran Church 9300 East Belleview Avenue Greenwood Village, CO voice: 303/ fax: 303/ facebook.com/stplc Prayer of the Day Stir up your power, Lord Christ, and come. With your abundant grace and might, free us from the sin that would obstruct your mercy, that willingly we may bear your redeeming love to all the world, for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. unto us a child the birth of the Messiah a great light for all Sermon For unto us a Child is born Unto us a Son is given And the government shall be upon His shoulder And his name shall be called Wonderful Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father The Prince of Peace Did you hear it? In the background? The swelling string section? The soaring voices? I can t listen to these words without hearing in my mind the setting for this text created by George Frideric Handel in The moving text, excerpted by Charles Jennens from the King James Bible and the Book of Common Prayer. The powerful solos. The stirring choruses. It is no wonder this composition has become one of the best-known and most frequently performed choral works in Western music. From Messiah Sing-Alongs, to performances by top choirs and orchestras, it

2 Wednesday before the Fourth Sunday of Advent (December 20, 2017) 2 is presented countless times during every Christmas season in our country. For unto us a child is born! At the end of his original manuscript Handel wrote the letters SDG which stand for Soli Deo Gloria To God alone the glory. This inscription, along with the fact that he completed the entire work in twenty-four days, led to the belief that for Handel the creation of this masterpiece was a profoundly spiritual experience, in which he was caught up by the Holy Spirit and directly inspired by God. Handel may or may not have composed The Messiah in a fit of spiritual ecstasy, but he certainly captured the essence of these powerful words from the Prophet Isaiah. Tradition has it that these words go back to some 700 years before the birth of Christ. It was a time when Isaiah was issuing strong warning after strong warning to the leaders of Judah. The book begins with these inspiring words: 1:3 The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master s crib; but Israel does not know, my people do not understand. 4 Ah, sinful nation, people laden with iniquity, offspring who do evil, children who deal corruptly, who have forsaken the Lord, who have despised the Holy One of Israel, who are utterly estranged! 1 Isaiah is angry and deeply worried about his country. Its leaders have gone astray. Its citizens are preoccupied by the worries of life. Their faith has gone flat. They no longer turn to God for guidance. Their religious behaviors have become cold and meaningless. Throughout his ministry, which may have lasted as long as 64 years, Isaiah warns them that unless they mend their ways they will all be destroyed, as a sign of God s judgment upon them. And, in fact, that is exactly what happens. Eventually the armies of Nebuchadnezzar destroy Jerusalem, and take its leading citizens into captivity, where they will remain for some fifty years. In the midst of all these warnings, though, Isaiah offers his listeners a word of hope. While he remains troubled and offended by the unfaithfulness of his time, from somewhere deep within maybe from the same source that inspired Handel some 2,500 years later Isaiah has a vision of a day when this will all change. A time when God s people will once again give their faith a central role in their living. Of that day, Isaiah says, But there will be no gloom for those who were in anguish. In the former time [God] brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but 1 Isaiah 1:1-2a; New Revised Standard Version Bible ( 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America).

3 Wednesday before the Fourth Sunday of Advent (December 20, 2017) 3 in the latter time he will make glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. 2 For unto us a child is born! You see, Isaiah knew the love and grace of God. He knew that no matter how angry God might become at people s disobedience, forgiveness and renewal would eventually win out. He and his wife named one of their sons Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz, which means "Spoil quickly, plunder speedily" (Isaiah 8:3). But they named the other one Shear-jashub, which means "A remnant shall return" (Isaiah 7:3). From the way of the sea, from the land beyond the Jordan, from Galilee of the nations would come a Savior, sent by God, to be the salvation of the people. Isaiah foretold it. The early Christian church embraced it. George Frideric Handel captured it. The anticipated arrival of a Savior has inspired generations of believers, from the discouraged people of Judah held captive in Babylon, to believers today who find that the promise of God s presence is able to carry them through the most difficult of times. For unto us a child is born! This is the hope of Advent. Captured by two simple words: unto us We too struggle with various forms of darkness. Troubled relationships. Economic uncertainty. Health concerns. Worries about the future. Even during this season of comfort and joy these concerns can sneak in and take us away from the celebration. But Isaiah reminds us that just as the light of these candles pushes back the darkness of this room, so too the promise of God pushes back the darkness of our own struggles, reminding us that for thousands of years, God has been a source of hope and encouragement for believers. Unto us! So today, as we enjoy the light coming from these candles, it is helpful to remember that the promise of God is not just a claim for tonight for this moment but it is a reminder of who God is, and who God has always been. For us and for always, God is the one who promises to be with us and for us in our present and in our future. Meeting us in this meal, in this word, and in all that will come. Unto us! This is the promise of Isaiah. This is the promise of the Messiah. This is the promise of Advent. For you and for me, a God who promises to accompany us through even our darkest times, bringing us through to the light of a new day. May we travel together in this hope. And may it fill our Christmas celebrations with joy. 6 For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 2 Isaiah 9:2b-7, New Revised Standard Version Bible, op. cit.

4 Wednesday before the Fourth Sunday of Advent (December 20, 2017) 4 7 His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onward and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this. 3 Amen. David J. Risendal, Pastor First Lesson; Christmas Eve 9.2b The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness on them light has shined. 3 You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as people exult when dividing plunder. 4 For the yoke of their burden, and the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. 5 For all the boots of the tramping warriors and all the garments rolled in blood shall be burned as fuel for the fire. 6 For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onward and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this Isaiah 9:2b-7, New Revised Standard Version Bible, op. cit. Isaiah 9:2b-7, New Revised Standard Version Bible, op. cit.

5 Wednesday before the Fourth Sunday of Advent (December 20, 2017) 5 Gospel Lesson; English Text In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you. 29 But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. 30 The angel said to her, Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. 33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end. 34 Mary said to the angel, How can this be, since I am a virgin? 35 The angel said to her, The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. 36 And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God. 38 Then Mary said, Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word. Then the angel departed from her. 6 Gospel Lesson; Greek Text: 1:26 Ἐν δε τῳ µηνι τῳ ἕκτῳ ἀπεστάλη ὁ ἄγγελος Γαβριη λ ἀπο του θεου εἰς πόλιν της Γαλιλαίας ᾑ ὄνοµα Ναζαρε θ 27 προ ς παρθένον ἐµνηστευµένην ἀνδρι ᾡ ὄνοµα Ἰωση φ ἐξ οἴκου Δαυι δ και το ὄνοµα της παρθένου Μαριάµ. 28 και εἰσελθω ν προ ς αὐτη ν εἰπεν χαιρε, κεχαριτωµένη, ὁ κύριος µετα σου. 29 ἡ δε ἐπι τῳ λόγῳ διεταράχθη και διελογίζετο ποταπο ς εἴη ὁ ἀσπασµο ς οὑτος. 30 και εἰπεν ὁ ἄγγελος αὐτῃ µη φοβου, Μαριάµ, εὑρες γα ρ χάριν παρα τῳ θεῳ. 31 και ἰδου συλλήµψῃ ἐν γαστρι και τέξῃ υἱο ν και καλέσεις το ὄνοµα αὐτου Ἰησουν. 32 οὑτος ἔσται µέγας και υἱο ς ὑψίστου κληθήσεται και δώσει αὐτῳ κύριος ὁ θεο ς το ν θρόνον Δαυι δ του πατρο ς αὐτου, 33 και βασιλεύσει ἐπι το ν οἰκον Ἰακω β εἰς του ς αἰω νας και της βασιλείας αὐτου οὐκ ἔσται τέλος. 34 εἰπεν δε Μαρια µ προ ς το ν ἄγγελον πω ς ἔσται τουτο, ἐπει ἄνδρα οὐ γινώσκω; 35 και ἀποκριθει ς ὁ ἄγγελος εἰπεν αὐτῃ πνευµα ἅγιον ἐπελεύσεται ἐπι σε και δύναµις ὑψίστου ἐπισκιάσει σοι διο και το γεννώµενον ἅγιον κληθήσεται υἱο ς θεου. 36 και ἰδου Ἐλισάβετ ἡ συγγενίς σου και αὐτη συνείληφεν υἱο ν ἐν γήρει αὐτης και οὑτος µη ν ἕκτος ἐστι ν αὐτῃ τῃ καλουµένῃ στείρᾳ 37 ὅτι οὐκ ἀδυνατήσει παρα του θεου παν ῥηµα. 38 εἰπεν δε Μαριάµ ἰδου ἡ δούλη κυρίου γένοιτο µοι κατα το ῥηµα σου. και ἀπηλθεν ἀπ αὐτης ὁ ἄγγελος. 7 Psalm; English Text 1.46 And Mary said, My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; 49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. 50 His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. 51 He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. 52 He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; 53 he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. 54 He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, 55 according A list of Bible lessons for the coming weeks is available at St. Luke 1:26-38, New Revised Standard Version Bible, opp. cit. St. Luke 1:26-38, The Greek New Testament, Aland, Kurt, Black, Matthew, Martini, Carlo M., Metzger, Bruce M., and Wikgren, Allen, ( 1983, Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft Stuttgart).

6 Wednesday before the Fourth Sunday of Advent (December 20, 2017) 6 to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever. 8 Psalm; Greek Text 1.46 Καὶ εἶπεν Μαριάµ Μεγαλύνει ἡ ψυχή µου τὸν κύριον, 47 καὶ ἠγαλλίασεν τὸ πνεῦµα µου ἐπὶ τῷ θεῷ τῷ σωτῆρι µου, 48 ὅτι ἐπέβλεψεν ἐπὶ τὴν ταπείνωσιν τῆς δούλης αὐτοῦ. ἰδοὺ γὰρ ἀπὸ τοῦ νῦν µακαριοῦσιν µεπᾶσαι αἱ γενεαί, 49 ὅτι ἐποίησεν µοι µεγάλα ὁ δυνατός. καὶ ἅγιον τὸ ὄνοµα αὐτοῦ, 50 καὶ τὸ ἔλεος αὐτοῦ εἰς γενεὰς καὶ γενεὰς τοῖς φοβουµένοις αὐτόν. 51 Ἐποίησεν κράτος ἐν βραχίονι αὐτοῦ, διεσκόρπισεν ὑπερηφάνους διανοίᾳ καρδίας αὐτῶν 52 καθεῖλεν δυνάστας ἀπὸ θρόνων καὶ ὕψωσεν ταπεινούς, 53πεινῶντας ἐνέπλησεν ἀγαθῶν καὶ πλουτοῦντας ἐξαπέστειλεν κενούς. 54 ἀντελάβετο Ἰσραὴλ παιδὸς αὐτοῦ, µνησθῆναι ἐλέους, 55 καθὼς ἐλάλησεν πρὸς τοὺς πατέρας ἡµῶν, τῷ Ἀβραὰµ καὶ τῷ σπέρµατι αὐτοῦ εἰςτὸν αἰῶνα. 9 First Lesson; English Text: 7.1 Now when the king was settled in his house, and the Lord had given him rest from all his enemies around him, 2 the king said to the prophet Nathan, See now, I am living in a house of cedar, but the ark of God stays in a tent. 3 Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that you have in mind; for the Lord is with you. 4 But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan: 5 Go and tell my servant David: Thus says the Lord: Are you the one to build me a house to live in? 6 I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent and a tabernacle. 7 Wherever I have moved about among all the people of Israel, did I ever speak a word with any of the tribal leaders of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, Why have you not built me a house of cedar? 8 Now therefore thus you shall say to my servant David: Thus says the Lord of hosts: I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep to be prince over my people Israel; 9 and I have been with you wherever you went, and have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. 10 And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may live in their own place, and be disturbed no more; and evildoers shall afflict them no more, as formerly, 11 from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel; and I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house. 16 Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me; your throne shall be established forever. 10 Second Lesson; English Text: Now to God who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages 26 but is now disclosed, and through the prophetic writings is made known to all the Gentiles, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith 27 to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever! Amen St. Luke 1:46b-55, New Revised Standard Version Bible, opp. cit. St. Luke 1:46b-55, The Greek New Testament, opp. cit. 2 nd Samuel 7:1-11, 16, New Revised Standard Version Bible, opp. cit. Romans 16:25-27, New Revised Standard Version Bible, opp. cit.

7 Wednesday before the Fourth Sunday of Advent (December 20, 2017) 7 Second Lesson; Greek Text: 16:25 [Τῷ δὲ δυναµένῳ ὑµᾶς στηρίξαι κατὰ τὸ εὐαγγέλιον µου καὶ τὸ κήρυγµα Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, κατὰ ἀποκάλυψιν µυστηρίου χρόνοις αἰωνίοις σεσιγηµένου, 26 φανερωθέντος δὲ νῦν διά τε γραφῶν προφητικῶν κατ ἐπιταγὴν τοῦ αἰωνίου θεοῦ εἰς ὑπακοὴν πίστεως εἰς πάντα τὰ ἔθνη γνωρισθέντος, 27 µόνῳ σοφῷ θεῷ, διὰ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, ᾧ ἡ δόξα εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας, ἀµήν.] Romans 16:25-27, The Greek New Testament, opp. cit.