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December 26, 2018

From This Time Onward

Pamela C. Hawkins   |   Read Psalm 148:1-14

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Lectionary Week
December 24–30, 2018
Scripture Overview

The boy Samuel worshiped and served God from a young age. He grows in stature and favor, the same description that will later be applied to the young Jesus in this week’s reading from Luke. The psalmist praises God for raising up a “horn” for the people. This “horn” is referred to elsewhere in the Psalms as being the True King from the line of David, identified later by Luke (1:69) as Jesus. Paul encourages the Colossians to let love rule in their community and to praise God with songs and hymns (such as the Psalms). The additional readings for this special week focus our minds on the Advent of the Lord, the amazing truth that “the Word became flesh and lived among us” (John 1:14), as the prophets had prophesied long ago.

Questions and Suggestions for Reflection

• Read Isaiah 9:2-7. Where in your world do you see darkness? What lies within your power to dispel it?
• Read Psalm 148. How have you witnessed creation praising the Creator?
• Read Colossians 3:12-17. With what qualities from this list do you clothe yourself daily?
• Read Luke 2:41-52. When has a not-as-usual occurrence generated anxiety in your life? How was it resolved?

Respond by posting a prayer .

Psalm 148:1-14

1 Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD from heaven! Praise God on the heights! 2 Praise God, all of you who are his messengers! Praise God, all of you who comprise his heavenly forces! 3 Sun and moon, praise God! All of you bright stars, praise God! 4 You highest heaven, praise God! Do the same, you waters that are above the sky! 5 Let all of these praise the LORD’s name because God gave the command and they were created! 6 God set them in place always and forever. God made a law that will not be broken. 7 Praise the LORD from the earth, you sea monsters and all you ocean depths! 8 Do the same, fire and hail, snow and smoke, stormy wind that does what God says! 9 Do the same, you mountains, every single hill, fruit trees, and every single cedar! 10 Do the same, you animals—wild or tame you creatures that creep along and you birds that fly! 11 Do the same, you kings of the earth and every single person, you princes and every single ruler on earth! 12 Do the same, you young men—young women too! you who are old together with you who are young! 13 Let all of these praise the LORD’s name because only God’s name is high over all. Only God’s majesty is over earth and heaven. 14 God raised the strength of his people, the praise of all his faithful ones that’s the Israelites, the people who are close to him. Praise the LORD!

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

From Creation’s first breath, we are reminded through the poetry of the Psalms that every single part of life imagined, formed, and spoken into being by God is imbued with the capacity to respond to God in praise. Not only can everything praise God, but according to Psalm 148, everything...

O Lord of heaven and earth, of sweeping wind and falling stars, teach me to listen and notice; teach me to sing and be silent. I long to praise you with my whole being. Amen.


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