This devotional focuses on the 15th-century German carol, "Lo! How a Rose E'er Blooming," highlighting its roots in Old Testament messianic prophecy.

Key Points of the Teaching:

• The Prophetic Core (Isaiah 11:1): The hymn is a poetic expression of Isaiah's prophecy that a "shoot from the stump of Jesse" would emerge. Jesse's "stump" symbolizes the royal line of David, which had been seemingly cut down, while the "Rose" represents Jesus, who miraculously springs forth as the promised Messiah.

• The Lineage (Jesse's Lineage): The carol affirms Christ's human connection to the royal house of David, while also acknowledging that as the Son of God, he is older than Jesse and the root of the lineage.

• The Virgin Birth (Isaiah 7:14): The second stanza is based on Isaiah's prophecy of the virgin birth of Immanuel ("God with us"), linking the event directly to Mary's experience (the Magnificat, Luke 1:46-55).

• The Incarnation's Impact: The final verse summarizes Christ's nature as "True man, yet very God." His coming (the blooming of the Rose) dispels the "gloom with glorious splendor," saving us from sin and death, and acting as our High Priest who "lightens every load."

Title: In the Bleak Midwinter

Speaker: Rev. Jason Van Bemmel

Series: Advent Devotionals 2025

Date: December 11, 2025

Bible: Matthew 2:11; Micah 6:8

The devotional analyzes "In the Bleak Midwinter" (1872 poem set to music in 1906) by Christina Rossetti, praising it as a profound expression of Christ's humility and the mystery of the Incarnation.

The teaching focused on three main Scriptural and theological connections:

Humility and Righteousness (Micah 6:8): Jesus' birth in a lowly condition (manger, poor parents) is the ultimate demonstration of God walking "humbly." By leaving heaven to come to earth, Christ began his mission to perfectly embody justice and kindness, ultimately earning the righteousness required of us.

God's Immensity and Condescension (1 Kings 8:27): The line "Our God, heaven cannot hold him, nor earth sustain" is a direct reference to Solomon's prayer, acknowledging God's infinite nature. The astonishing truth of the Incarnation is that this immense, uncontainable God chose to humble himself and take on a true human nature as a tiny, vulnerable baby.

The Gift of the Heart (Matthew 2:11): While the Wise Men offered physical treasures (gold, frankincense, and myrrh), the poem concludes by asking what we can give. The final line, "Yet what I can I give him: Give my heart," emphasizes that the most valuable gift Christ desires from us is our total devotion and affection.

Title: What Child is This?

Speaker: Rev. Jason Van Bemmel

Series: Advent Devotionals 2025

Date: December 10, 2025

Bible: Isaiah 9:6; Luke 2:11

Summary: What Child is This?

Speaker: Pastor Jason Van Bemmel, Forest Hill Presbyterian Church Series: Advent Devotional – Scripture and Carols

This devotional explores the theological depth and history behind the Christmas carol "What Child is This?"

Scriptural Foundation:

Isaiah 9:6: Identifies the child as both human ("child is born") and divine ("son is given"). The titles "Wonderful Counselor," "Mighty God," "Everlasting Father," and "Prince of Peace" describe His character and role as the fulfillment of the promise to David.

Luke 2:11: The carol's chorus reflects the angel's message to the shepherds, proclaiming Jesus as Savior, Christ, and Lord.

John 1: Highlights Jesus' divine nature as the eternal Word made flesh.

History of the Carol:

The Lyrics: Written in 1865 by William Chatterton Dix, a marine insurance manager, during a period of severe illness and spiritual awakening. The text comes from his poem "The Manger Throne".

The Music: The lyrics were paired with the 16th-century English folk tune "Greensleeves." Although originally a secular love song with sometimes immoral associations, the haunting melody had been associated with Christmas for centuries prior to Dix's poem.

Lyrical Message: The carol invites believers to recognize the humble infant as "Christ the King." It contrasts His "mean estate" in the manger with His future sacrifice (nails and spear) and calls for worship from all people—peasant and king alike—to "enthrone Him" in their hearts.

Title: Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence

Speaker: Rev. Jason Van Bemmel

Series: Advent Devotionals 2025

Date: December 9, 2025

Bible: Habakkuk 2:20; Zechariah 2:13

Our 7th Advent devotional is focused on the call to reverent worship in "Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence."

Summary

In this devotional, Jason Van Bemmel explores the ancient hymn Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence, noting its potential rivalry with Of the Father’s Love Begotten as the oldest Christian hymn still in use. Originating from the Liturgy of St. James—which dates back to the 4th or 5th century and is still used by Syriac and Indian Orthodox churches—the text began as a Eucharistic prayer intended to inspire awe during the Lord's Supper.

The devotional highlights the hymn's scriptural roots in Habakkuk 2:20 and Zechariah 2:13, which call for silence before God's holy presence. This silence represents humility, reverence, and the fear of the Lord, mirroring the posture of angels who cover their faces before God. The lyrics, translated from Greek by Gerard Moultrie in 1864 and later set to music by Ralph Vaughan Williams in the early 1900s, emphasize the Incarnation and the spiritual feeding of believers through Christ's body and blood.

Title: Of the Father's Love Begotten

Speaker: Rev. Jason Van Bemmel

Series: Advent Devotionals 2025

Date: December 5, 2025

Bible: John 1:1-14

Welcome to the second week of Advent devotionals for 2025! Today, we're looking at "Of the Father's Love Begotten," the oldest Christmas carol still sung by the church, dating back to around 410.

Title: I Heard the Bells

Speaker: Rev. Jason Van Bemmel

Series: Advent Devotionals 2025

Date: December 4, 2025

Bible: Psalm 29:10-11; John 14:27

In 1863, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote one of the most moving poems about faith in God persevering and triumphing over evil in the world.

This is our 5th devotional in our Advent series on Scripture and Carols.

Title: O Little Town of Bethlehem

Speaker: Rev. Jason Van Bemmel

Series: Advent Devotionals 2025

Date: December 3, 2025

Bible: Micah 5:2-5

Pastor Jason presents our fourth Advent devotional, covering "O Little Town of Bethlehem."

Advent is a season of yearning for Christ's second coming while simultaneously looking back at His first. Seven hundred years before Jesus was born, the prophet Micah prophesied that the Messiah would come from Bethlehem Ephrathah. Though the town was too little to be counted among the significant clans of Judah, it was the city of King David and the promised source of a Ruler whose origins are from ancient days. This Ruler stands and shepherds His flock in the strength of the Lord, serving as their ultimate peace.

This truth is reflected in the carol "O Little Town of Bethlehem," written by Phillips Brooks, a Philadelphia pastor, following the American Civil War. Inspired by a Christmas Eve visit to the Holy Land in 1865, Brooks wrote of the "everlasting light" shining in the dark streets while mortals slept. The carol teaches that the "wondrous gift" is given silently; just as He came quietly to Bethlehem, Christ enters into "meek souls" who receive Him still. Ultimately, the message is a prayer for Emmanuel to descend, cast out sin, and be spiritually born in our hearts today.

Title: Come, Thou Long-Expected

Speaker: Pastor Jason Van Bemmel

Series: Advent Devotionals 2025

Date: December 1, 2025

Bible: Malachi 3:1; Luke 2:22-32

Our second Advent devotional focuses on "Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus," written by Charles Wesley in 1744.

Title: O Come Emmanuel

Speaker: Rev. Jason Van Bemmel

Series: Advent Devotionals 2025

Date: November 28, 2025

Bible: Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 11:1

Day #1 of our Advent Devotionals for 2025 - "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel."

Summary: Let the Redeemed Give Thanks (Psalm 107)Theme: Reflecting on God's Hesed (steadfast, redeeming love) through four pictures of salvation.The Thread of Hesed: The teaching identifies the Hebrew word Hesed (steadfast love) as the central theme, describing it as God's loyal, covenant love toward His people.Four Pictures of Redemption: The pastor breaks the Psalm down into four metaphors describing life without God and the rescue He provides:Desert Wanderers: Represents the soul starving in a world that cannot satisfy. God leads believers out of the wasteland to a "city to dwell in" (the Church/New Jerusalem).Prisoners in Darkness: Represents those bound by the chains of sin and rebellion. When they cry out, God bursts their bonds apart.The Foolish/Afflicted: Represents the insanity of sin, where people loathe the "food" of God's Word. God saves them by sending forth His Word to heal them.Storm-Tossed Ships: Represents the unstable pursuit of earthly wealth and ambition (the stock market rising and falling). God calms the storm and brings them to a haven of peace.Conclusion: The teaching urges the "redeemed of the Lord to say so," reminding believers that real security is found only in God, not in worldly success.