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December 20, 2023

Waiting in Hope

Richard L. Morgan   |   Read Psalm 96:1-13

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Lectionary Week
December 18–24, 2023
Scripture Overview

In the fourth week of Advent, we focus on prophecies of the arrival of the Messiah. Isaiah foretells the coming of the Prince of Peace who will reign on the throne of David forever. In the first reading from Luke, Mary rejoices after her visit to Elizabeth, for she understands that her child will play a key role in God’s redemptive work. Paul reminds Titus that our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, has brought salvation to all. The second reading from Luke might more logically have come first this week, for it describes how Mary reveals the importance of her child in her song of rejoicing.

Questions and Suggestions for Reflection

Read Isaiah 9:2-7. What title for Jesus stands out to you today? How does that inform your discipleship?
Read Luke 1:46-55. Consider how you magnify the Lord. How do you pass on your faith to future generations?
Read Titus 2:11-14. Why would today’s reading jump right to waiting for Jesus’ return? What does this say about his birth?
Read Luke 1:26-38. In this season of giving and receiving, how do you remember that God is the giver of all good gifts? How do you return your God-given gifts to God?

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.

When I taught psychology at a community college, I always took students during Advent to an Operation Santa Claus mission at a state mental hospital. Part of our experience was to tour wards, singing Christmas carols. We finished singing at one locked ward, and the attendant unlocked the door so...

O God, may the singing of Advent and Christmas music bring joy and light to those who live in darkness. In the name of the One who has come and will come again—Jesus, the Christ. Amen.


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