Advent Devotions: Sunday, December 16, 2018

Isaiah 42:1-9                                                            The Savior is Coming

Here is my servant, whom I uphold,
   my chosen, in whom my soul delights;
I have put my spirit upon him;
   he will bring forth justice to the nations.
He will not cry or lift up his voice,
   or make it heard in the street;
a bruised reed he will not break,
   and a dimly burning wick he will not quench;
   he will faithfully bring forth justice.
He will not grow faint or be crushed
   until he has established justice in the earth;
   and the coastlands wait for his teaching.

Thus says God, the Lord,
   who created the heavens and stretched them out,
   who spread out the earth and what comes from it,
who gives breath to the people upon it
   and spirit to those who walk in it:
I am the Lord, I have called you in righteousness,
   I have taken you by the hand and kept you;
I have given you as a covenant to the people,
   a light to the nations,
   to open the eyes that are blind,
to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon,
   from the prison those who sit in darkness.
I am the Lord, that is my name;
   my glory I give to no other,
   nor my praise to idols.
See, the former things have come to pass,
   and new things I now declare;
before they spring forth,
   I tell you of them.

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Before I could wrote this devotion, I had to do a little background on Isaiah. I knew he was a prophet that wrote the Old Testament book with his name but that is about all I knew. So, I checked out some sources on Google.com and found some interesting information.

The name Isaiah means “The Lord Saves” and the Bible verse Isaiah 42: 1-4 is one of the servant songs. Isaiah was called to his ministry around 740 BC.

When Babylon defeated and conquered the kingdom of Judah, destroying the temple and plundering Israel’s treasures, they took them into bondage. The Israelites were completely devastated….they felt as though God had abandoned them!

Theologians have argued over the centuries as to what is the meaning of these verses.  Does the verses reference to the servant mean the Israelites or do they refer to the coming of our Savior, Jesus the Christ.

When I read these Old Testament verses, they foretell the coming and promise of our Savior, not just our Savior as Christians, but the world’s Savior. Verse 1 says “Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight;” This sounds very familiar doesn’t it?? When Jesus was baptized the voice from heaven said the same thing, perhaps different words, but essentially the same. Jesus came into this world quietly as a new born babe, and His ministry did not “shout or cry out, nor did He raise His voice”. Jesus never trod on a bruised reed (human being with faults/defects) but He was ever “faithful” in His efforts as man and God to bring forth justice to the world.  Isaiah 42:5-6, reminds us that “he who created the heavens and stretched them out…..has called us in righteousness.” Verse 8, reminds me of the First Commandment, where the LORD says, “I am the Lord thy God, thou shall have no other Gods before me!” Finally, verse 9, says to me past things are past, but there is a new beginning (very similar wording in Revelations). This new thing/beginning is the promise of a Savior for all the nations, Israelites, Gentiles and ALL of God’s beloved. We are All beloved children of God and Christ was sent to save us ALL!  Jesus is the Savior, I believe, His coming was foretold in Isaiah 42:1-9.

Heavenly Father, this Advent, please, be with all your creation and help us to prepare our hearts and minds for a thankful, loving celebration of the gift of your Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ. Amen.

Kathie Ruhs is a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Brewster, NY

Advent Devotions: Saturday, December 15, 2018

Daniel 6:14-28                                                       The Lions’ Den, Part 2

When the king heard the charge, he was very much distressed. He was determined to save Daniel, and until the sun went down he made every effort to rescue him. Then the conspirators came to the king and said to him, ‘Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no interdict or ordinance that the king establishes can be changed.’

 Then the king gave the command, and Daniel was brought and thrown into the den of lions. The king said to Daniel, ‘May your God, whom you faithfully serve, deliver you!’ A stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet and with the signet of his lords, so that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel. Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; no food was brought to him, and sleep fled from him.

 Then, at break of day, the king got up and hurried to the den of lions. When he came near the den where Daniel was, he cried out anxiously to Daniel, ‘O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God whom you faithfully serve been able to deliver you from the lions?’ Daniel then said to the king, ‘O king, live forever! My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths so that they would not hurt me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no wrong.’ Then the king was exceedingly glad and commanded that Daniel be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God. The king gave a command, and those who had accused Daniel were brought and thrown into the den of lions—they, their children, and their wives. Before they reached the bottom of the den the lions overpowered them and broke all their bones in pieces.

 Then King Darius wrote to all peoples and nations of every language throughout the whole world: ‘May you have abundant prosperity! I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people should tremble and fear before the God of Daniel:
For he is the living God,
   enduring forever.
His kingdom shall never be destroyed,
   and his dominion has no end.
He delivers and rescues,
   he works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth;
for he has saved Daniel
   from the power of the lions.’
So this Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

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Two years ago, I read an Advent devotional based on the life and works of Reverend Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Bonhoeffer was a Lutheran Pastor and anti-Nazi pacifist martyred by Hitler’s regime near the end of WWII. I won’t forget the somber nature of his writings on Advent, a liturgical season that takes place against the backdrop of holiday cheer and festive joy. As he wrote during his incarceration: “Life in a cell may well be compared to Advent: one waits, hopes…the door is shut and can only be opened from the outside.” 

 Advent is supposed to be a joyous time but too often, the month of December recalls painful loss. Joyful times since passed and loved ones who have died or are no longer involved in our lives. Israel was not buoyant in Daniel’s time. And yet, God delivers Daniel from the lions. Even if we must face death, the consequence of our sin, we hope for the promise of the life to come. When we too are in the lion’s den, hope is all we have. Hope is whispered in prophecies and dreamt in dreams. In the days of King Darius, no one knew hope would take the form of an impoverished barn-born child birthed in a far-flung outpost of an empire. Even today, we hold to hope in faith: that when the lions circle and the door shuts, a hand will open it from the outside.

Reverend Jacob Simpson is a native of Baltimore, Maryland and has been serving as the called Pastor of Trinity Lutheran in White Plains since May of 2018. He lives in Tuckahoe with his wife and son. 

Advent Devotions: Friday, December 14, 2018

Daniel 6:1-13                                                         The Lions’ Den, Part 1

It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred and twenty satraps, stationed throughout the whole kingdom, and over them three presidents, including Daniel; to these the satraps gave account, so that the king might suffer no loss. Soon Daniel distinguished himself above all the other presidents and satraps because an excellent spirit was in him, and the king planned to appoint him over the whole kingdom. So the presidents and the satraps tried to find grounds for complaint against Daniel in connection with the kingdom. But they could find no grounds for complaint or any corruption, because he was faithful, and no negligence or corruption could be found in him. The men said, ‘We shall not find any ground for complaint against this Daniel unless we find it in connection with the law of his God.’

 So the presidents and satraps conspired and came to the king and said to him, ‘O King Darius, live forever! All the presidents of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the counsellors and the governors, are agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce an interdict, that whoever prays to anyone, divine or human, for thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be thrown into a den of lions. Now, O king, establish the interdict and sign the document, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and the Persians, which cannot be revoked.’ Therefore King Darius signed the document and interdict.

 Although Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he continued to go to his house, which had windows in its upper room open towards Jerusalem, and to get down on his knees three times a day to pray to his God and praise him, just as he had done previously. The conspirators came and found Daniel praying and seeking mercy before his God. Then they approached the king and said concerning the interdict, ‘O king! Did you not sign an interdict, that anyone who prays to anyone, divine or human, within thirty days except to you, O king, shall be thrown into a den of lions?’ The king answered, ‘The thing stands fast, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be revoked.’ Then they responded to the king, ‘Daniel, one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or to the interdict you have signed, but he is saying his prayers three times a day.’

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Scholars explain that Daniel means “God, my judge”.  Dan means “judge”, the sound “ee” means “my” and el means “God”, It is interesting that scholars reverse the order.  Elidan would be the literal order of “God, my judge”.   Daniel is literally “Judge my God”.  Hmmm.  But back to the verses.  This is one of many instances in the Bible where people put their faith in God before everything else.  Daniel has always followed God.  His enemies try to trap him, using his obedience to God, but Daniel puts his God first and continues to pray to him three times a day.  Soon after this we will find that Daniel’s trust in God is rewarded. 

Prayer: Heavenly Father, as Daniel is our example, grant us a steadfast trust in you, Oh God, that we may be as faithful in our belief and that nothing causes our faith to falter in times of stress.  May we always believe and follow you in everything we do. Forgive us in our times of doubt. Strengthen us always and lead us to the life to come.  Amen

Don Icken is a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Brewster, NY

Advent Devotions: Thursday, December 13, 2018

Daniel 5:13-31                                    The Writing on the Wall, Part 2

Then Daniel was brought in before the king. The king said to Daniel, ‘So you are Daniel, one of the exiles of Judah, whom my father the king brought from Judah? I have heard of you that a spirit of the gods is in you, and that enlightenment, understanding, and excellent wisdom are found in you. Now the wise men, the enchanters, have been brought in before me to read this writing and tell me its interpretation, but they were not able to give the interpretation of the matter. But I have heard that you can give interpretations and solve problems. Now if you are able to read the writing and tell me its interpretation, you shall be clothed in purple, have a chain of gold around your neck, and rank third in the kingdom.’

 Then Daniel answered in the presence of the king, ‘Let your gifts be for yourself, or give your rewards to someone else! Nevertheless, I will read the writing to the king and let him know the interpretation. O king, the Most High God gave your father Nebuchadnezzar kingship, greatness, glory, and majesty. And because of the greatness that he gave him, all peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him. He killed those he wanted to kill, kept alive those he wanted to keep alive, honored those he wanted to honor, and degraded those he wanted to degrade. But when his heart was lifted up and his spirit was hardened so that he acted proudly, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and his glory was stripped from him. He was driven from human society, and his mind was made like that of an animal. His dwelling was with the wild asses, he was fed grass like oxen, and his body was bathed with the dew of heaven, until he learned that the Most High God has sovereignty over the kingdom of mortals, and sets over it whomsoever he will. And you, Belshazzar his son, have not humbled your heart, even though you knew all this! You have exalted yourself against the Lord of heaven! The vessels of his temple have been brought in before you, and you and your lords, your wives and your concubines have been drinking wine from them. You have praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which do not see or hear or know; but the God in whose power is your very breath, and to whom belong all your ways, you have not honoured.

 ‘So from his presence the hand was sent and this writing was inscribed. And this is the writing that was inscribed: mene, mene, tekel, and parsin. This is the interpretation of the matter: mene, God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end; tekel, you have been weighed on the scales and found wanting; peres, your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.’

 Then Belshazzar gave the command, and Daniel was clothed in purple, a chain of gold was put around his neck, and a proclamation was made concerning him that he should rank third in the kingdom.

 That very night Belshazzar, the Chaldean king, was killed. And Darius the Mede received the kingdom, being about sixty-two years old.

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When I first began a career in Music Ministry, I was shown a photograph by my cousin of her mother, also a choir director, with her singers dressed in typical Victorian garb from about 1885. She told me it was a keepsake of her mother’s production of Haendel’s oratorio Belshazzar. It was not long after, that I obtained a recording of this masterpiece and was blown away by the closing “Hallelujah, Amen.” Here is a powerful testimony by the German master of the story of the Babylonian King’s arrogance and defeat by the power of his captives’ God.

Daniel is a phenomenal prophet for many reasons, but most of all because of his quiet intuition and his patience in being in tune to the words of the Holy Spirit. In this season of Advent, there are many signs and signals bombarding and confusing us. Much of it is commercial and self-serving. For me, Advent means a time to quiet one’s self sufficiently to hear what the Father is telling us…that in His depth of love, He is sending a gift that we could easily miss unless we can quiet our busy minds and listen. His message is immense but it comes as still and small. As the carol says, “beneath our deep and dreamless sleep, the silent stars go by.” The message is the incredible gift of His Son who comes to us as an infant, so easily overlooked.

Yet the handwriting on the wall is there, and simply needs to be translated. Our prayers can serve as our Daniel. The handwriting of the Father puts to rest our selfish longings. It will be revealed as we ponder His words, our redemption draweth nigh. In this incredible gift, our unrest, worry, mistrust, and concern are defeated. We come in peace to meet God where He is, in our hearts and minds. The Savior comes! Let us rejoice and sing that incredible “Hallelujah, Amen” chorus.

Franklyn Commisso is Minister of Music at Trinity Lutheran Church, Brewster, NY.

Advent Devotions: Wednesday, December 12, 2018

Daniel 5:1-12                                      The Writing on the Wall, Part 1

King Belshazzar made a great festival for a thousand of his lords, and he was drinking wine in the presence of the thousand.

 Under the influence of the wine, Belshazzar commanded that they bring in the vessels of gold and silver that his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple in Jerusalem, so that the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines might drink from them. So they brought in the vessels of gold and silver that had been taken out of the temple, the house of God in Jerusalem, and the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines drank from them. They drank the wine and praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone.

 Immediately the fingers of a human hand appeared and began writing on the plaster of the wall of the royal palace, next to the lampstand. The king was watching the hand as it wrote. Then the king’s face turned pale, and his thoughts terrified him. His limbs gave way, and his knees knocked together. The king cried aloud to bring in the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the diviners; and the king said to the wise men of Babylon, ‘Whoever can read this writing and tell me its interpretation shall be clothed in purple, have a chain of gold around his neck, and rank third in the kingdom.’ Then all the king’s wise men came in, but they could not read the writing or tell the king the interpretation. Then King Belshazzar became greatly terrified and his face turned pale, and his lords were perplexed.

 The queen, when she heard the discussion of the king and his lords, came into the banqueting-hall. The queen said, ‘O king, live forever! Do not let your thoughts terrify you or your face grow pale. There is a man in your kingdom who is endowed with a spirit of the holy gods. In the days of your father he was found to have enlightenment, understanding, and wisdom like the wisdom of the gods. Your father, King Nebuchadnezzar, made him chief of the magicians, enchanters, Chaldeans, and diviners, because an excellent spirit, knowledge, and understanding to interpret dreams, explain riddles, and solve problems were found in this Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar. Now let Daniel be called, and he will give the interpretation.’

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There are moments in my life, when I knew I was about to do something wrong, but went ahead and did it anyway. Internally there were all sorts of warning signs- I was overly nervous about the decision, I was up at night, my gut alarm was going off, and I started self justifying my decision. When we get to the self justifying stage, we know it is going to get bad, don’t we?

Dare I say it? Even with the handwriting on the wall that I was about to make a huge mistake, I did it anyway. I know I am not the only one who has had that happen.

Belshazzar, in today’s reading is in the midst of making a huge mistake. We can blame the alcohol and the party, but in the end it still is Belshazzar’s fault as he made the choice. While worshipping other gods in a giant drinking party, King B gets the bright idea to grab the holiest vessels from the Temple and begin drinking out of those instead. I am not going to write what the consequences of his mistake are as that will come later this week, but I will write King B is about to make the biggest mistake of his life and the writing was literally on the wall for him.

Now when most of us make these big mistakes, it doesn’t turn out the same for us as Belshazzar, but it is kind of worse because we have to live with the consequences of our choices sometimes for the rest of our lives. As we are in the season of Advent, the theme of repentance is present in our worship space and readings.

For me, repentance isn’t only about the forgiveness of sins, but the recognition that I am completely capable of doing the wrong things intentionally at times. I may blame other things, but if I look inside, I know I am the one who made the choice. Repentance helps me hold the mirror up to myself reminding me of what I am capable of, but also that I have the opportunity to change through the grace of God. There are some decisions I have to live with for my entire life, but knowing that through Christ, I have new life and can change my ways, so that the next time the handwriting is on the wall, I can make a better choice.

Rev. Justin Johnson is the pastor of Our Saviour, Croton on Hudson. He has served in both Upstate and Metro NY Synods for the last 18+ years. He is a self proclaimed nerd, enjoying a wide variety of activities.

Advent Devotions: Tuesday, December 11, 2018

Daniel 3:13-30                                                 The Fiery Furnace, Part 2

Then Nebuchadnezzar in furious rage commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought in; so they brought those men before the king. Nebuchadnezzar said to them, ‘Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods and you do not worship the golden statue that I have set up? Now if you are ready when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, drum, and entire musical ensemble to fall down and worship the statue that I have made, well and good. But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be thrown into a furnace of blazing fire, and who is the god that will deliver you out of my hands?’

 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered the king, ‘O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to present a defense to you in this matter. If our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire and out of your hand, O king, let him deliver us. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods and we will not worship the golden statue that you have set up.’

 Then Nebuchadnezzar was so filled with rage against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego that his face was distorted. He ordered the furnace to be heated up seven times more than was customary, and ordered some of the strongest guards in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and to throw them into the furnace of blazing fire. So the men were bound, still wearing their tunics, their trousers, their hats, and their other garments, and they were thrown into the furnace of blazing fire. Because the king’s command was urgent and the furnace was so overheated, the raging flames killed the men who lifted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. But the three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down, bound, into the furnace of blazing fire.

 Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up quickly. He said to his counsellors, ‘Was it not three men that we threw bound into the fire?’ They answered the king, ‘True, O king.’ He replied, ‘But I see four men unbound, walking in the middle of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the fourth has the appearance of a god.’ Nebuchadnezzar then approached the door of the furnace of blazing fire and said, ‘Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!’ So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out from the fire. And the satraps, the prefects, the governors, and the king’s counsellors gathered together and saw that the fire had not had any power over the bodies of those men; the hair of their heads was not singed, their tunics were not harmed, and not even the smell of fire came from them. Nebuchadnezzar said, ‘Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants who trusted in him. They disobeyed the king’s command and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God. Therefore I make a decree: Any people, nation, or language that utters blasphemy against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be torn limb from limb, and their houses laid in ruins; for there is no other god who is able to deliver in this way.’ Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon.

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They fully trusted in their Lord and Savior! If the God we serve is able to deliver us, then he will deliver us from the blazing furnace and provide for us not only on this earth but through eternity! God’s Blessings on us all!

Ken Mongold is a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Brewster, NY

Advent Devotions: Monday, Dec. 10, 2018

Daniel 3:1-12                                                   The Fiery Furnace, Part 1

King Nebuchadnezzar made a golden statue whose height was sixty cubits and whose width was six cubits; he set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. Then King Nebuchadnezzar sent for the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counsellors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces, to assemble and come to the dedication of the statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. So the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counsellors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces, assembled for the dedication of the statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. When they were standing before the statue that Nebuchadnezzar had set up, the herald proclaimed aloud, ‘You are commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages, that when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, drum, and entire musical ensemble, you are to fall down and worship the golden statue that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. Whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be thrown into a furnace of blazing fire.’ Therefore, as soon as all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, drum, and entire musical ensemble, all the peoples, nations, and languages fell down and worshipped the golden statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

 Accordingly, at this time certain Chaldeans came forward and denounced the Jews. They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, ‘O king, live forever! You, O king, have made a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, drum, and entire musical ensemble, shall fall down and worship the golden statue, and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be thrown into a furnace of blazing fire. There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These pay no heed to you, O king. They do not serve your gods and they do not worship the golden statue that you have set up.’

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Today’s reading is the beginning of the story I have always enjoyed reading at the Easter Vigil. In the reading a picture is created of mass confusion – lots of people, lots of noise. Chaos reigns. King Nebuchadnezzar sets up his image done in gold in the middle of the city so that the people could worship him. His astrologists denounced the Jews and the king made a decree that everyone who did not bow down would be thrown into a blazing furnace. This reading ends with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednago disobeying the king’s order and being reported to the king by his astrologists. We are not asked to bow down before the king in our worship. We are asked to show our respect and love by following the commandments and to love one another. We are living in a world of chaos and confusion. Belief of and compassion for others are creating lots of bad things today. Are we in danger of being thrown into a fiery furnace? We believe Jesus came into the world to save us from our sins. Is it time for the second coming?

Prayer: Heavenly Father we ask that You be with us and lead us to the Way, the Truth and the Light of Your son, Jesus Christ. Make us see the things that we should be doing to praise You and make things better in this chaotic world. This we ask in Jesus’ name. Amen

Dorothy Kafalas is a Deacon at Trinity Lutheran Church, Brewster, NY