9.30am Sunday 28 December 2003
Rev Des Botting
Reading: Psalm 111:1-10; Luke 2:21-40
Three weeks ago I received in the post a letter from the Baptist Church in Greymouth, and I wondered why on earth they would be writing to me. When I opened the letter I found a small piece of paper with my printing on it. Then I remembered that we had attended a service there on the 5 January this year. We were staying with the young man who had boarded with us for three years and this was the church he attended. The theme of the message that Sunday was having faith in God, and in response to the message, we were encouraged, if we wanted to, to exercise our faith and write down those things that we would believe God for in the year ahead, which I had done. The person leading the service said that they would post our responses to us at the beginning of December. I had completely forgotten all about it until I opened the letter and read what I had written. The encouraging thing was that two of the three things that I had written down had been fully answered, and the third to a degree.
It brought home to me the faithfulness of God. Although I had forgotten all about what I had asked him, he hadnt. So often we ask God for things and then, if is not a pressing matter, we forget about it. God isnt like that. He takes our requests seriously. He loves to give his children the desires of their hearts. And so this morning I want to provide an opportunity for you to give thanks to God for what he has done this past year, and, after the message, if you would like to, to share with the congregation some of those things.
To lead into this time of sharing, I want to offer some thoughts from Psalm 111 and Luke 2. Psalm 111 provides an outline of some of the things for which we may want to thank God. Its a Psalm that begins and ends with praise. Verse one says, Shout praises to the Lord! and the last verse, His praise endures to eternity.[1] In between these two statements the Psalmist lists the reasons for praising God:
1. First of all the Psalmist tells us that Gods works are great. He sings, The Lord has done many wonderful things! Everyone who is pleased with Gods marvelous deeds will keep them in mind.[2] As we think of what God did at the first Christmas, how true this statement is. It was certainly true for the shepherds who, when they returned to their sheep, kept praising God and saying wonderful things about him.[3] It was also true of Mary who kept thinking about all that the shepherds had shared. When we contemplate the wonderful works of God we cannot but sing, To God be the glory, for the things he has done!
2. Then we are told that Everything the Lord does is glorious and majestic, and his power to bring justice will never end.[4] Gods glory and majesty are far too bright for any human eye to behold, and it follows that all he does will have that same trademark about it. We see it in the grandeur of the mountains, in the tempest of the storm at sea, and in the millions of galaxies that make up the universe. Its far too great and too complex for the human mind to comprehend. Also the fact of Gods justice is so very reassuring. As Abraham said to God, Shall not the judge of all the earth do what is just? [5] He has the power to right all wrongs, and to see that justice is ultimately done for those who have been oppressed and treated unfairly. No matter how long it takes, God will see that everyone receives what they deserve.
3. Next his wonders are remembered, and these show how gracious and compassionate he is. Behind all what God does is his great mercy. He doesnt punish us as our sins deserve.[6] He is slow to anger and abounding in love.[7] We see the compassion of God in the way Jesus ministered to people while here on earth. Jesus attitude to those in need shows how much God really cares. But Gods compassion is seen supremely in what he did for us on the cross. He gave his Son to be our Saviour.
4. We are reminded in what follows of Gods generousness. He provides food for those who worship him and keeps faith with those who reverence him. He never goes back on his word.
5. Further, God is to be praised because his works in history are powerful. He has shown his mighty power to his people and has given them the lands of other nations.[8] Gods people were always to remember how he helped them possess their own land. God has an inheritance for us, too. It is not a geographic kingdom he has conquered but a spiritual kingdom, the kingdom of Satan. He broke Satans hold on this world. The Bible tells us God rescued us from the dark power of Satan and brought us into the kingdom of his dear Son, who forgives our sins and sets us free.[9]
6. In verses 7-8 the Psalmist tells us that God is consistent. His laws are completely trustworthy because they are true and right and will stand forever. We will be looking at this further at the end of January as we see the benefits of establishing our lives on Gods word.
7. The Psalmist finishes his song by saying that God has provided redemption for his people (verse 9), and this links in with our reading from Luke. Luke alone of all the Gospel writers tells us of two wonderful saints of God, Simeon and Anna. We are introduced to Simeon first. God promised Simeon that he wouldnt die before he had seen the fulfillment of his promise to Israel to send his Messiah. Led by the Holy Spirit Simeon came to the temple just at the time when Mary and Joseph had brought Jesus to be dedicated to the Lord. When he saw the child he recognised the One God has promised. He took the little child in his arms and praised God for his faithfulness. He said, Now I can die in peace, because you have kept your promise to me. With my own eyes I have seen what you have done to save your people.[10] With the eyes of faith Simeon saw not only what this child would do for Israel, but that Gods redemptive purpose embraced all nations. All the peoples of the earth would be blessed in him. Simeon shows us the blessings that come from walking in, or keeping in step with, Gods Spirit.
Next we meet Anna. Note two of the things we are told about her.
1. She was a widow. She had known sorrow in her life, and that at a young age, but it had not made her bitter. Sorrow can do one of two things. It can make us bitter or better. It can make us resentful and rebellious against God. Or it can make us kinder, softer, and more sympathetic, especially with those who are going through similar experiences. It can destroy our faith or make it stronger. It all depends on our attitude to God. If we think of him as unjust and unfair we will resent him. But if we think of him as a Father in the true sense of that word, we know deep down that he will never cause His child a needless tear.
2. Note her age - 84. Although she was old she never ceased to hope. Age will eventually take away the vigour and strength of our bodies, but it can do worse than that it can take away our positive attitude to life until we give up the hope we once cherished and become resigned to things as they are. There is nothing of this kind of attitude with either Simeon or Anna. There is a freshness and a vibrancy about their faith that is an example to us all, and especially to those who are getting on in years. It can and should be as Paul says in Corinthians, Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.[11] Again, it all depends on how we think of God. If we think of him as distant and detached we may well despair; but if we think of him as intimately connected with life, as having his hand on the helm, we, too, will be sure that the best is yet to be and the years will never kill our hope.
What was Anas secret?
1) She never ceased to worship. She spent her life in Gods house with Gods people. God gave us his church to be our mother in the faith. We rob ourselves of something that is priceless when we neglect to be one with his worshipping people.
2) She never ceased to pray. Public worship is important, but private worship is just as much so. As someone has truly said, They best pray together who first pray alone. The years had left Anna without bitterness and an unshakeable hope because day by day she kept in contact with him who is the source of strength and in whose strength our weakness is made perfect.
These two things will stand us in good stead as we prepare for the year ahead. Lets take time now to give God the glory for the things he has done.
[1] Psalm 111: 1 CEV; vs. 10 (Hebrew)
[2] Psalm 111:2 (All Bible references are from the Contemporary English Version unless otherwise stated.)
[3] Luke 2:20
[4] Psalm 111:3
[5] Genesis 18:25 NRSV
[6] Psalm 103:10
[7] cf Nehemiah 9:17
[8] Psalm 111:6
[9] Colossians 1:13-14
[10] Luke 2:29-30
[11] 2 Corinthians 4:16