December 7, 2024

Today's Reading: Introit for Advent 2 - Psalm 81:8, 10-11, 13; antiphon: Luke 3:4b

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 24:1-13; 1 John 1:1-2:14

“Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.” (Psalm 81:10)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

December 7th is a day that will live in infamy. So said President Roosevelt referring to the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, but long before that, December 7th was acknowledged by Christians as the feast day of Saint Ambrose.

Ambrose of Milan (340-397), a popular bishop and gifted theologian, is called the “Father of Western Hymnody” because he wrote liturgies and hymns. His most popular is “Savior of the Nations, Come.” Martin Luther translated this hymn into German in the 1520s, and it has been sung by Lutherans ever since. It has also been called the Advent hymn par excellence. 

God’s people have always sung praises to Him. It’s simply not enough to speak His praises, but our God’s amazing grace and mercy necessitates that we must sing. In Old Testament times, the hymns believers sang were the Psalms. The importance of the Psalms and our hymns is not that they have a catchy melody (though it’s nice when they do!) rather, the main thing is what they say. What do they teach us? How do they honor Jesus Christ and direct our thoughts toward Him and how He has rescued us from sin? 

The Introit for the second Sunday in Advent is from Psalm 81. The antiphon recalls John the Baptist’s role in preparing people to receive the Lord. He is the forerunner crying out and urging people to repent of crooked ways. The Psalm verses urge God’s people to listen to the Lord and lament that they did not listen and submit to Him.

Many voices compete for our attention and keep us from listening to God. For example, as I write this reflection, I have been interrupted by text messages six times! It is difficult to find uninterrupted time to listen to the Lord. That is why we must be intentional about it.

You are reading a devotion that invites you to listen and reflect upon God’s Word. –That’s a great start! You also have the opportunity to listen to the Word each week in worship. Also consider this: how much of the hymnody and liturgy do you really listen to? It’s easy to get stuck on ‘auto-pilot’ and just go through the motions without any consideration of the words that are coming out of your mouth! (Don’t ask me how I know.) 

Most of our liturgy is straight out of Scripture, and our hymns are likewise founded in the Word of God. For that reason alone, we do well to pay attention to the words we say and sing in worship. Psalm 81 records God saying to His people: “Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.” That’s what happens when we listen to God’s Word and respond to Him with our songs of praise that are based on His revealed Word.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Savior of the nations, come, Virgin’s Son, make here Your home! Marvel now, O heav’n and earth, That the Lord chose such a birth. (332:1)

-Rev. Joel Shaltanis, pastor of Lord of Life Lutheran Church, Plano, TX.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.

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