Living Toward the Light
- davidwperk
- Dec 17, 2024
- 6 min read
Devotional Reflection, Tuesday, December 17, 2024
The week of the third Sunday of Advent
The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D.
Key phrases for reflection from today’s Hebrew Scripture reading:
9:1But there will be no gloom for those who were in anguish. 2The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness- on them light has shined. 3You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as people exult when dividing plunder. . . . .6For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onward and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.
You will find the full text of this reading at the end of this reflection.
Daily Office Lectionary Readings (BCP, 938)
AM Psalm 45; PM Psalm 47, 48
Isa. 9:1-7; 2 Pet. 1:12-21; Luke 22:54-69
Today we celebrate the Feast of Dorothy Sayers. (See below.)
David's Reflections
Walking in darkness in antiquity differed from walking in darkness today. We have streetlights and flashlights, which they obviously lacked. To walk in the darkness would have been more risky for them, given the limits of torches and lamps, which makes this metaphor, “the people who walked in darkness,” even more vivid. The darkness here is not literal; rather, these pedestrians were living their lives in spiritual darkness, which had them "walking" (ordering their lives) at great risk.
Isaiah saw Judah walking in darkness, especially in the area of her national leadership. The king, Ahaz, had demonstrated spiritual insensitivity and a closed attitude toward the prophet's word from God (Isaiah 7). The prophet foresaw that another, more discerning descendant of David would arise who would lead the people according to God’s counsel. (verse 6, “a child has been born to us”)
In Advent this text indeed points us toward another descendant of David whose coming delivers us from darkness. The words of this text were interwoven with others and set to music by Handel in "The Messiah"--"Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace." These terms were commonly applied to ancient monarchs in their royal functions.
Isaiah saw a sunrise on the horizon. Those walking in the darkness were about to be delivered into light. Isaiah's vision was for a second David, that Immanuel he spoke of to Ahaz in Isaiah 7. That obedient, faithful king would be like a sunrise on a people gripped by the darkness of oppression and corrupt political leadership. Ahaz's son, Hezekiah, proved to be such a king, as did another descendent, Josiah.
Isaiah's words spoke primarily of an expectation to be realized in his own day, an anointed king who would be guided by God’s Spirit. “Messiah” comes from a Hebrew word meaning anointed one, so Isaiah uttered a messianic prophecy with a lower case “m.” However, subsequent readings of this prophecy found in it the ultimate fulfillment of Isaiah’s hope, a messianic prophecy with a capital “M.” Jesus was that ultimate descendant of David who would deliver the people from darkness to light.
Matthew quotes portions of this text in Matthew chapter 4 at the beginning of Jesus' public ministry. Jesus' arrival, preaching the Kingdom of God, healing the sick, releasing those oppressed, and receiving the outcasts brought Isaiah's vision of light dispersing darkness to its ultimate realization.
To walk, in Hebrew, is an idiom for living one's life. Paul spoke of "walking in the Spirit" (Galatians 5), which meant ordering one's life according to the leadership and energy of the Holy Spirit. To walk in darkness (to order one’s life in a self-directed and self-referenced way) would put a person spiritually at risk, like walking in the night without a flashlight or torch.
In what places are your and my life at risk? Where are we in danger of stumbling? Where are we caught and longing for freedom? As followers of Jesus, we are blessed with his presence in our lives. Christ seeks to reproduce in us his life and ministry in Galilee and Judea, to embody the healing and deliverance of God's kingdom in our life and experience and through us to others. In this Advent season, we have reason to rejoice, because on us the liberating light has dawned and continues to shine. Our hopes and dreams for freedom and salvation may be only partly realized at the moment, but Advent teaches us to live in hope of larger fulfillment, as did the prophet who uttered today’s oracle.
The questions above can be asked regarding others--friends, family, coworkers. We can share our experience of Jesus in conversation with people who evidence any kind of religious interest. We can pray for those about us who live a caught and entangled existence. We can offer ourselves to Jesus daily as witnesses and servants for their salvation and transformation. Jesus seeks to approach them and touch their lives in and through us. How exciting to anticipate the possibility of those moments each day and to know that they will come. How energizing to be part of a church where witness to those languishing in darkness has priority.
Remember verse one, "But there will be no gloom for those who were in anguish."
Collect of the Day, The Third Sunday of Advent
Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen. (BCP, 212)
Today we celebrate the Feast of Dorothy Sayers, spiritual writer and apologist (died 17 Dec 1957 CE).
Collect of the Feast of Dorothy Sayers
Almighty God, who strengthened your servant Dorothy Sayers with eloquence to defend Christian teaching: Keep us, we pray, steadfast in your true religion, that in constancy and peace we may always teach right doctrine, and teach doctrine rightly; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
A Collect for Peace
O God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries; through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 99)
For our Enemies
O God, the Father of all, whose Son commanded us to love our enemies: Lead them and us from prejudice to truth; deliver them and us from hatred, cruelty, and revenge; and in your good time enable us all to stand reconciled before you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 816)
A Prayer for Light
Grant us, Lord, the lamp of charity which never fails, that it may burn in us and shed its light on those around us, and that by its brightness we may have a vision of that holy City, where dwells the true and never-failing Light, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 110)
A Collect for Mission
Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of your faithful people is governed and sanctified: Receive our supplications and prayers which we offer before you for all members of your holy Church, that in their vocation and ministry they may truly and devoutly serve you; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. (BCP, 100)
Daily Office Old Testament Reading Isa. 9:1-7
9:1But there will be no gloom for those who were in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he will make glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. 2The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness- on them light has shined. 3You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as people exult when dividing plunder. 4For the yoke of their burden, and the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. 5For all the boots of the tramping warriors and all the garments rolled in blood shall be burned as fuel for the fire. 6For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onward and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.
Daily Prayer Offices in The Book of Common Prayer
Morning Prayer, Rite 2, page 75, Book of Common Prayer
Noonday Prayer, p. 103, Book of Common Prayer
Order of Worship for Evening (Vespers), p. 109, Book of Common Prayer
Evening Prayer, Rite 2, page 115, Book of Common Prayer
Compline (Night Prayer), Page 127, Book of Common Prayer
Daily Devotionals, page 136, Book of Common Prayer
Comments