Sunday, December 2, 2012

The Lord sets the prisoners free;
⁸   the Lord opens the eyes of the blind.
The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down;
   the Lord loves the righteous.
⁹ The Lord watches over the strangers;
   he upholds the orphan and the widow,
   but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin. (Psalm 146)

As Advent begins, we will have numerous readings (like today's Gospel) about keeping awake and alert, like those wise bridesmaids. Eschatology is a big Advent theme.

Even so, I'm drawn to the psalm appointed for today and in general to the songs of Advent, which Karen and are going to be preaching on this year. Starting on "Black Friday" (and even before) our culture keeps singing about how "it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas." We come to worship, however, and find that these great Advent hymns invite us into a counter-cultural conspiracy.

The psalmist knows that the Lord really does have a preferential option for the poor. The Lord takes the side of the prisoner, the blind, the humble, the righteous, the stranger, the orphan, and the widow. Why? Because again and again, the world pushes them to the side. But that isn't all: God also thwarts the plans of the wicked and the powerful. God, in other words, levels the playing field. Makes the hills low and the rough places even.

We'll see this theme woven throughout the season that lies before us. Mary's Song (The Magnificat) speaks of this same kind of change: "casting down the mighty from their thrones" even as God "lifts up the lowly." Like Isaiah before him, John the Baptist will be out in the wilderness also working to level the playing field by preparing a way in the desert. Mary and John are the two "stars" of Advent.

And of course after that little baby is all grown up, it will be hard to read this psalm without thinking of him too, and ultimately about his ministry for the sake of the Reign of God: of his dying, and his rising again to new life. Eventually these songs of Advent lead us to another song: O for a thousand tongues to sing my great redeemer's praise / the glories of my God and king, the triumphs of his grace!

(Rich Simpson)