As a part of our Advent observances at Grace, we are making use of Concordia Publishing’s Behold the Child materials for worship. Our web devotions through Christmas will be guided by Pastor Kevin Golden’s devotional booklet written in support of the Behold the Child theme (you may purchase a downloadable copy of Pr. Golden’s book by following this link).
Prayer Pointers:
For the protection and care of the poor
In gratitude that our Heavenly Father has covered us with the name of his Anointed
For EMTs, firefighters, police and other first-line responders
Text: Psalm 72:4
Our guilt is undeniable, yet in steps our defender, Jesus Christ. –Pr. Golden
THE DUELING SCENE TOWARD the end of the Broadway show Hamilton was the culmination of a story that showed the man Alexander Hamilton being determined at all cost to preserve the honor of his name. Wealth, family, and achievement meant nothing in that world if you were without honor. When someone insulted you—attempted to pillage your character—you were as within your rights to shoot him, said the famous English man of letters Samuel Johnson, as you were to if he attempted to pillage your home.
The concept of dueling came from the older practice of knights who fought one another in defense of their own honor or as the champion of one who could not fight, as in the “lady fair” of medieval romance. The knight champion would put his own body, his own life, on the line as a testimony that the one he was defending was honorable.
This concept about honor is worth holding in mind whenever we read about God defending the poor. In every society the poor are often and easily treated dishonorably: made to wait, ignored, discarded, thought to be under heaven’s curse. But the great God lends his honor to them, holding the poor in special regard, and the Psalmist declares that God’s Anointed should also act to defend those who are defenseless.
Even more wonderfully, all of us—who are without honor, having broken faith with God, sinning again and again—are covered by God’s glory, covered with his name, and defended by the Champion who comes to fight for us, putting his own body to the test.
And he has won the battle!
May you live in Advent hope ~ Pr. Dave Brooks
--Quoted materials are from Behold the Child Daily Devotions #12-4563
© 2019 Concordia Publishing House. Used with permission under license 20:12-1. www.cph.org