by Christine Hayward
Psalm 89: 1-4, 19-26
1I will sing of your steadfast love, O Lord, forever; with my mouth I will proclaim your faithfulness to all generations.
2I declare that your steadfast love is established forever; your faithfulness is as firm as the heavens.
3You said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to my servant David:
4‘I will establish your descendants forever, and build your throne for all generations.’” Selah
19Then you spoke in a vision to your faithful one, and said: “I have set the crown on one who is mighty, I have exalted one chosen from the people.
20I have found my servant David; with my holy oil I have anointed him;
21my hand shall always remain with him; my arm also shall strengthen him.
22The enemy shall not outwit him, the wicked shall not humble him.
23I will crush his foes before him and strike down those who hate him.
24My faithfulness and steadfast love shall be with him; and in my name his horn shall be exalted.
25I will set his hand on the sea and his right hand on the rivers.
26He shall cry to me, ‘You are my Father, my God, and the Rock of my salvation!’
I chose this day in Advent because the Bible passage had to do with singing, specifically singing of the steadfast love of the Lord. Singing is something I do often, if not always well. A conversation, a prayer, a sermon can often bring to mind the lyrics of a song. In this season of waiting and preparation where so many things have been changed by the pandemic I find it comforting to hear the music and sing the words of familiar hymns and carols. They all remind me that God’s love is the one thing that is unchanged. Whether we “Prepare the Royal Highway” or the “People Look East” the haunting melodies and lyrics bring hope.
We may have to listen to the Boston Pops Christmas concert electronically or worship on Zoom but the music is still the same, pointing towards God’s steadfast love. So as we join in the singing of these familiar carols they prepare our hearts to receive the Lord as a tiny baby and continue to praise God.
From the ELW 252, we find the following:
“When race and class cry out for treason,
When sirens call for war,
They overshout the voice of treason
And scream till we ignore
All we held dear before.
So even as the sun is turning
To journey to the north,
The living flame,
In secret burning;
Can kindle on the earth
And bring God’s love to birth.”
Psalm 89: v.1 “I will sing of thy steadfast love, O Lord, forever.”