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December 20, 2016

Sing the New Song: Our God Reigns!

John H. Collett, Jr.   |   Read Psalm 96:1-13

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Lectionary Week
December 19–25, 2016
Scripture Overview

Ecstasy over the Christmas miracle is the theme that binds this week’s passages together—unrestrained joy over what God has done and over who God is. These texts celebrate a God who reigns in strength. Yet this God is near and immediate, a participant in the human struggle for light and salvation. As worshipers, we join in rejoicing over the coming of the messenger “who says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns’”(Isa. 52:7). We also celebrate “the Lord, for he is coming to judge the earth . . . with righteousness, and . . . equity” (Ps. 98:9). Then the note of immediacy is struck by the focus on what God has done just now, in these “last days,” in which “he has spoken to us by a Son” (Heb. 1:2). The One who was present at creation, the eter- nal Word, “became esh and lived among us” (John 1:14).

Questions and Suggestions for Reflection

• Read Isaiah 9:2-7. What or who in your life helps you to continue to walk in the world’s darkness?
• Read Psalm 98. How do you discover hope even in the midst of dif cult times for the earth? How does this hope allow you to shout for joy and sing the Lord’s song?
• Hebrews 1:1-12. Advent reminds us of Jesus bridging the gap between God and humanity. How does this reality change the way you experience the world?
• John 1:1-14. Re ect on the incarnation of God in the form of a baby. In what ways does this in uence the way you see and understand God’s nature?

Respond by posting a prayer .

Psalm 96:1-13

1 Sing to the LORD a new song! Sing to the LORD, all the earth! 2 Sing to the LORD! Bless his name! Share the news of his saving work every single day! 3 Declare God’s glory among the nations; declare his wondrous works among all people 4 because the LORD is great and so worthy of praise. He is awesome beyond all other gods 5 because all the gods of the nations are just idols, but it is the LORD who created heaven! 6 Greatness and grandeur are in front of him; strength and beauty are in his sanctuary. 7 Give to the LORD, all families of the nations give to the LORD glory and power! 8 Give to the LORD the glory due his name! Bring gifts! Enter his courtyards! 9 Bow down to the LORD in his holy splendor! Tremble before him, all the earth! 10 Tell the nations, “The LORD rules! Yes, he set the world firmly in place; it won’t be shaken. He will judge all people fairly.” 11 Let heaven celebrate! Let the earth rejoice! Let the sea and everything in it roar! 12 Let the countryside and everything in it celebrate! Then all the trees of the forest too will shout out joyfully 13 before the LORD because he is coming! He is coming to establish justice on the earth! He will establish justice in the world rightly. He will establish justice among all people fairly.

Unless otherwise indicated, scripture quotations are from the Common English Bible. Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible. Used by permission.

How will creation sing to the Lord a new song in the age of climate change? With our belief that the earth demonstrates God’s glory and serves as God’s living creation and our abundant home, will not God heal and save the earth? But how will God’s justice come to...

Help us see, O God, your coming peace, good news, and salvation. Make us alert and ready to sing the song of your reign through love and justice. Amen.


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