Springwood Presbyterian Church: Whitsett, NC

Preachers these days are being taught to preach within the genre of the text.  The genres or type of Scripture range from the telling of the history, to spelling out the law to poetic literature and the proverbs or sayings. The prophets provide prophetic language for their day that needs to be interpreted for its meaning for today’s culture.  The gospel message of the life of Christ is filled with parables and stories.  And we can’t forget the letters Paul and the early missionaries wrote to the early churches.

Today our primary text is the song of Zechariah where he sings over the joyous news that he and Elizabeth will have a child.  They wondered what this special child would become and in the wondering John was filled with the Holy Spirit and this is the prophetic message that came through:

Luke 1:68-79

 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has looked favorably on his people and redeemed them.

He has raised up a mighty savior for us in the house of his servant David, as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,  that we would be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us.

Thus he has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors, and has remembered his holy covenant, the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham, to grant u that we, being rescued from the hands of our enemies, might serve him with out fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.

And you child, will be called the prophet of the Most High for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the forgiveness of their sins.

By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, to gie light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.    (God’s word for the people of God)

 This is from the Song of Zechariah.

Prior to our reading was a pleasant narrative showing the importance of family helping to name the child- that was the culturally acceptable thing to do.

And then we hear the inspired prophecy of the father, Zechariah.  It starts with “Blessed be…” so it has been referred to over time as the Benedictus- the Latin translation of blessed. 

Some scholars classify this part of Luke as a hymn and believe it was circulated among the followers of John when he was preparing the way for Jesus to come.  They provide for us on this last Sunday of the Christian year- a summary of both John’s role in bringing about the faith and that of Jesus  and the salvation that will dawn upon all peoples in his life and ministry.

What makes this song so meaningful is to realize that these were the first words uttered after he experienced the inability to speak. He had been mute for perhaps as much as a year since expressing his doubts that he and his wife Elizabeth could yet have a son.

It is sort of a typical hymn from that day, complete with imagery and arrangement that are consistent with any number of hymns within psalms praising God for blessing brought to Israel through the Davidic dynasty’s rulers.

What makes this one unique is the addition of the final part that names the coming of Jesus- who will bring salvation.

Like so much of the Lucan birth narrative, them, the song of Zechariah establishes continuity between what God had done for Israel and what he was doing now for all the world in Christ.  If there’s any break with the past, it’s the breaking of “the dawn from on high… to give light to those who sit in darkness and not a rejection of a formerly blessed people in favor of a new people.

Music is important in our worship.  What we sing, how our hearts and souls are moved during this time we spend worshiping God each week helps shape our faith and brings us together in unity as the body of Christ.

The praise and petition we offer by the sound of organ and piano and keyboard and guitar lead us on this journey we call worship.

Today is the last Sunday in the church year- with the theme of Christ- the King.  The hymns today serve as a guide for expressing how we feel, what we believe about Christ as our ultimate King/ the ruler of our lives and the head of our church family.

I struggled in preparing to preach today- with the whole ‘king’ notion.

But studying the words of all the verses of these three hymns- shed light on this important theological piece in our faith as Christians.

The first hymn of the red Service Hymnal, compiled not just for our singing when we come together to worship in God’s house, but intended for use in church , school and home.  Tthe first hymn leads off the first section of 19 hymns of Adoration.

I remind myself often that upon approaching to God, the first thing that should come to mind is that of Adoration.

So the first hymn we join together in singing, after we are called to worship is that of praise and adoration- this week for our King- Christ Jesus.  “Come, Thou Almighty King” set to the tune “Italian hymn”- it’s author is unknown.

We ask God to bless us and send the Holy Spirit to descend upon us. We acknowledge God is almighty and ask God to rule in every heart.  And in the last verse we promise to love and adore God for eternity 

“Jesus Shall Reign” Isaac Watts wrote and it is based on Psalm 72 which predicts or foretells the type of King God’s son will be.  Not the kind of king that abuses power and demands more from his subjects than he is willing to offer.  Not one who lords over the weak with such strength that dominates inappropriately.  No, the psalmist writes: 

May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass,

like showers that water the earth.

May all kings fall down before Jesus-

so that when all is said and done- Jesus Shall Reign

His kingdom shall spread from shore to shore- or sea to shining sea.

Why will the kings worship the coming King Jesus Christ?  Psalm 72 says because he will deliver the needy when they call, the poor and those who have no helper.  He has pity on the weak and the needy, and saves the lives of the needy.  From oppression and violence he redeems lives.

Princes shall meet from east and west and north and south- to bring gifts and pay homage (sounds much like what we know about the 3 kings celebrating the birth of Jesus- but that piece will come in due time- once we prepare for four weeks – Advent.)

Our response to this King is that of prayer, endless praises are to crown his head.  It’s a different kind of king that we worship and adore.  Jesus the Christ leads us into the future and shows us the way

“Lead on Oh King Eternal.” Jesus leads as we march into the future- strong in our faith we promise to be faithful.

“Thy cross is lifted over us, we journey in its light- Lead on- O God of might.”  As we leave this worship service today, we follow the flame; the light of Christ the King leads us out into the world to serve.

And finally, our Colossians text provides yet another song to sing.  It has been called……………………….Christ’s hymn.

First Paul prays that all will be filled  with the knowledge of God’s will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding SO THAT you may lead lives worthy of the Lord- fully pleasing to him- as you bear fruit in every good work.

May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light.

He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers.  ALL things have been created through him and FOR him.

He himself (Christ) is before all things, and in HIM all things hold together.

For he is the head of the body (the church), he is the beginning, so that he might come to have first place in everything.  For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the cross.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, we are radically transformed by the life and death of Christ who lives and reigns among us- even now.

The power that comes from Jesus living among us- being like us- is almost beyond words…..He came as a king whose triumphal entry into Jerusalem was on the back of a donkey!

He died on the cross so that our sins might be forgiven.
Christ is God invisible- made visible-

so that we can get a glimpse of God
so that we might grow to know God.

This action our king took for our benefit does more than helps us understand and grow closer to God.  It provides a way for us to reconcile our differences and build relationships with one another.  “…all things have been created through him and for him.”  With Jesus before all things and in him all things hold together- the body of Christ comes together with strength- in God’s love.

It is through Christ that we can hope for a day when all of us will be of one accord;when we will live together in true unity.  This can be hard to grasp.  The story goes something like this: 

A seminary student visited Reinhold Neihbur in his study one day with a problem.  He placed a copy of the Apostles’ Creed on the desk between them and said, ‘I can’t say all these words’.  Rather than argue, the wise man turned the creed back to him and said, “Read this to me”. The younger one did but still claimed difficulty in believing.  Neihbur gently responded, “See, you CAN say them”.

And then he instructed “Keep saying them – until you believe.”  So we need to KEEP singing together, KEEP saying the words of the faith.  As what we believe becomes so woven into our thinking that we act as if we get it.

I watched women of this church gather and build fruit baskets yesterday.  They worked together, as the Body of Christ, to fill and balance and consider the needs of 14 members of the church.  Then they divided the task of delivery among themselves.  In a very gentle, giving way, this arm of the church reached out to those for whom coming to church is near impossible.  They took CHURCH to those who can no longer come and worship, and sing of their faith.

May we all enter this week of giving Thanks with humble hearts -being open to God’s calling, aware of Christ- our King-  and reminded with the songs of the faith that play over and over in our ears and minds and in our hearts.

Our job as Christians- is to proclaim Christ as King -and to live as if we believe it.

Our closing hymn, “Lead on O King Eternal”, takes us out the door into the world.  We will march forward with the knowledge that Jesus leads us. Strong in our faith, we shout “Lead ON oh King eternal.  Lead on!”

For when Christ rules our lives, watch out.       There’s no telling what good can come of it.  As we allow God to permeate our very beings, may grace and mercy and compassion extend beyond these walls, into the world as the KING leads us onward toward eternal life.

Christ is the King!  Alleluia- AMEN.

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things.  Blessed be his glorious name forever; may his glory fill the whole earth.   Amen