What We Learn from the Stork

 The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation

is nearer now than when we first believed.      

Romans 13:11

When the people of Jeremiah’s time failed to repent, ignoring the time of return to the Lord, the prophet exclaimed: “Even the stork in the sky knows her appointed seasons… but my people do not know the requirements of the Lord” (Jeremiah 8:7). While observing the stork, who wintered in Africa and returned to Palestine in the spring, it was noted that it kept a regular schedule, coming & going as seasons changed. Perhaps you too have noticed this in an animal’s behavior. They seem to have this gift of knowing; to be on schedule; and it’s as regular as clockwork; it’s on time from when the squirrels began to gather pinecones to when the first robin appears.

The word for stork in the Hebrew (חסידה hhasiydah)(pronounced: chasidah), is derived from the word “chesed,” meaning mercy reflecting God’s love and compassion. The stork was thought to be affectionately attentive to its young. Perhaps that’s why the stork is associated with babies, who certainly need much loving care.

The stork, along with other migratory fowl, knows the times, the prophet said. Even storks acting purely by divinely implanted instinct, are more responsive to the Maker than His rational creatures.  Which prompts the question: Do you know “our times”?

Jesus once shed tears over the city of Jerusalem because its unholy people didn’t know the time of their visitation saying “Would that you, even you, had known on this day (the day set for Christ’s coming to suffer & die on the cross) the things that make for peace” (Luke 19:42). And He was referring to the events leading up to His death that would bring peace and to the ultimate destruction of Jerusalem to which they remained blind. The people ignored or misunderstood God’s gracious visit in His Son.  St. Paul, the Apostle writes: “The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber; because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over, the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light” (Romans 13:11-12).

Dear friends in Christ, now is the time. “Clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ,” the Apostle goes on to say, “make do provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.”

Christ’s death and resurrection have provided salvation, but He will come again and lead us to experience it fully. Each day, His 2nd coming is one day closer. The present age of darkness is passing away; light is dawning upon us. Therefore put on the armor of Light (who is Christ). He is the proper attire for the day, our day, in which we live and work and take our pleasure.

Of ourselves we have no righteousness in which we can stand before God on this day or that day so don’t be blind to the fact that “our day” is coming. And it is God who clothes us in the robe of Christ’s righteousness… a holy garment of salvation, earned for us as Christ stood in our place, in our stead to keep God’s law and by His death, make atonement for us all that we are forgiven and given peace. And we pray: “Father, You have loved me in Christ Jesus and declared me to be Your righteous child. Empower me to love and serve others through Jesus Christ, my Savior, in whose name I pray. AMEN

In the cross of Christ I glory, towering over the wrecks of time.

All the light of sacred story gathers round its head sublime.

When the sun of bliss is beaming light and love upon my way,

From the cross the radiance streaming adds more luster to the day.

A note about the song.

One Sunday, Mr. Conkey, the choir director and organist, was very disappointed that the members of the choir didn’t appear, as only one soprano came. Mr. Conkey was so discouraged that after the prelude, he closed the organ and locked it and went home. That afternoon, he sat down at the piano for practice and he recalled the pastor’s message: “On the Words of the Cross.” He then and there composed the hymn above: “In the Cross of Christ I glory.”

Later, he prepared the music for his choir to sing the following Saturday evening during rehearsal for the Sunday service at Central Baptist Church in Norwich, Connecticut, where, with the choir’s full attendance, it was sung for the 1st time.

And one more note. The song is sung to the tune: “Rathbun.” Well, Mr. & Mrs. Beriah S. Rathbun were both members of the choir. Mrs. Rathbun was the leading soprano. 

The First Noel

 For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy.  

Romans 15:8-9

From the time the Lord first called Abraham, rescued Isaac, and blessed Jacob, the children of Israel have been regarded as God’s chosen people, to whom God gave His great and precious promises. And now, after a long history of waiting and longing, those promises were coming to pass, for God is faithful to His Word. God keeps His promises.

And yet, it now appears that the promises which God made to Israel involve more than just those chosen people, for if you sing The First Noel, beyond the 1st stanza, you’ll note that this hymn speaks not only of the shepherds, who were no doubt Israelites, but also about the wise men, who were not, but from the East, foreigners we might say. But now, they too are included in the fulfillment of God’s promises: “the king of Israel” is their king as well! … and ours! And with Him, in His kingdom, there is joy & rejoicing. We thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for promises made and kept for us that we may evermore rejoice.

And how even greater is the fulfillment of God’s promises to us: that Christ was born, yes; he lived, yes; and died, y-e-s…; and rose again, YES! for us and for all people that we may have life abundantly in His name. Oh, glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning is now, and will be forever. To which all God’s people say: “Amen!”

The first Noel the angel did say was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay: in fields where they lay, keeping their sheep, on a cold winter’s night

that was so deep: Noel! Noel! Noel! Noel!

Born is the King of Israel.

A note about the song.

The First Noel" is a traditional classical English Christmas carol. The word Noel comes from the French word Noël meaning Christmas and from the Latin word natalis which translates as birthday". In its current form, it’s of Cornish origin, first published in Carols Ancient & Modern (1823). What follows is the carol “Noel” according to Cornish tradition:

1. O well, O well, the Angels did say to shepherds there in the fields did lay;
Late in the night a-folding their sheep, a winter's night, both cold and bleak.
Refrain :      O well, O well, O well, O well, born is the King of Israel.

2. And then there did appear a Star, whose glory then did shine so far:
Unto the earth it gave a great light, and there it continued a day and a night.

3. And by the light of that same Star, three Wise Men came from country far;
To seek a King was their intent - they follow'd the Star wherever it went.

4. The Star went before them unto the North West, and seemed o'er the city of Bethlehem to rest,   and there did remain by night and by day, right over the place where Jesus Christ lay.

5. Then enter'd in these Wise Men three, with reverence fall on their knee, and offer'd up in His presence the gifts of gold and frankincense.

6. 'Tween an ox manger and an ass, our blest Messiah's place it was; To save us all from bond & thrall, He was a Redeemer for us all!

A Lowly Cattle Shed

Moreover, the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make for you a house… And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before Me; your throne shall be established forever.   2 Samuel 7:11,16

The contrast is striking: the contrast between “royal David’s city,” his “paneled house,” and the temple for God he intends to build… to that of “a lowly cattle shed” and a manger. One would wonder why. The pedigree of Jesus is impressive, to be sure: not only a descendant and heir of mighty David much more than that! You can read for yourself the words of His genealogy: Luke 3 beginning with verse 23, and note especially the last 4 words of the chapter.

But the surroundings in which we find Him at His birth presents a stark contrast. One might think that His coming into the world would be of such insignificance that no one would notice, and His entry, not at all remembered. If that were true then, in our 21st century time, December 25th wouldn’t be called “Christmas” & churches wouldn’t gather to celebrate His birth. No, December 25th would just be another cold, snowy, wintry day for us to stay inside, keep warm because the world is a cold, dark place especially in December.

Yes, “a lowly cattle shed” doesn’t look much like the great house which a royal descendant and heir of King David would be found in. No, but for us sinners it was necessary; it was God’s way of redeeming us and fulfilling the Law for us in order to make us His own dear ones; and an heir unto eternal salvation.

Yes, it was fitting that Christ be born in lowly estate, and fitting that He suffer and die. It’s true that a cross doesn’t look much like a royal throne either, but it was there that Jesus humbled Himself and showed God’s loyal love for us that would not let a sinner die*** (see Ezekiel 33:11 and Romans 5:8). Because of the humility of this Son of David, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and by the grace of God alone, we may look forward to a house and a glory that even David couldn’t have imagined, for in Christ, we’ve been made members of the Royal Family!

*** “As I live,” declares the Lord God, “I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way & live.” Ezek. 33:11. “God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Rom. 5:8.

Once in royal David’s city stood a lowly cattle shed.

Where a mother laid her baby in a manger for His bed.

Mary was the mother mild. Jesus Christ her little child.

He came down to earth from heaven who is God and Lord of all

And His shelter was a stable, and His cradle was a stall;

With the poor and mean and lowly, lived on earth our Savior holy.

A note about the song.

In 1848 Cecil Frances Alexander, wife of an Irish Anglican bishop, published Hymns for Little Children to help them better understand the catechism. This poem goes on to explain the phrase from the Creed: “conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary.”

Gloria in Excelsis Deo!

After this I looked, & behold, a great multitude which no man could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice.  Revelation 7:9-10

The words are in a foreign language! Nobody speaks Latin anymore, at least not regularly as a native tongue. And yet, no matter what their native language, it seems that almost everybody sings the words: “Gloria in excelsis Deo!” as if they were our very own.

Indeed they are! And perhaps by them we can begin to get a picture of the heavenly harmony which awaits us because of the Good News the angels first proclaimed –whatever language they themselves used then, and whatever tongue we shall use when we join them, by God’s grace, in the eternal chorus.

Even now, we may use these familiar foreign words to remind ourselves that we’re not alone in our celebration, nor in our faith in Jesus Christ, which makes the celebration possible. “He died for all,” the Bible says, and that includes even people we cannot understand right now (for those who could not understand us), but whose needs are known, and are taken care of, by our one Lord who deserves the praise of all of us.

Angels we have heard on high, sweetly singing over the plains,

And the mountains in reply echoing their joyous strains:

Gloria in excelsis Deo! Gloria in excelsis Deo!

A note about the song. Although the Latin words: “Gloria in excelsis Deo” appear to

have been part of Christian hymnody since the 2nd century, the origin of this French carol

and its English translation are unknown.

HARPS OF GOLD

Praise the Lord! Praise God in His sanctuary, praise Him in His almighty firmament!

Praise Him for His almighty deeds; praise Him according to His exceeding greatness!

Praise Him with a trumpet sound; praise Him with lute and harp!       Psalm 150:1-3

Where did we ever get the idea that God’s angels play on “harps of gold”? In a number of places the Book of Revelation describes the songs of eternity as being accompanied by harps: Rev. 5:8; 14:2-3; 15:2, although their color isn’t specified. And, of course, the Psalms are full of references to the praises of God being accompanied by instruments –a variety of instruments that include cymbals & clapping our hands. But more important than the accompaniment is the content of the songs, -the full-throated praise of our gracious God!

Perhaps, as the carol: “It Came Upon a Mid-night Clear,” indicates, it’s especially when we do not feel like singing to the Lord –times when we feel tired and forsaken and beaten up and down –that we need to hear again the songs of God’s eternal victory and know that in Jesus Christ, the Lamb who died for us and is alive forevermore, we have something TO SING ABOUT!!!

Mary did. Read Luke 1:46-55. Zechariah did. Read Luke 1:68-79. The angels did. Read Luke 2:14. And knowing what we know about God’s love demonstrated in His Son, our Savior, now it’s our time to get out whatever instruments you have or are available to you… these busy days… (pots & pans & wooden spoons if necessary) and use them to declare God’s praise.

It came upon the midnight clear, that glorious song of old,

From angels bending near the earth to touch their harps of gold:

“Peace on the earth, good will to all from heavens all-glorious King.”

The world in solemn stillness lay to hear the angels sing.

A note about the writers: Edmund Hamilton Spears, an American clergyman wrote the poem about angels and their “harps of gold” that was published in The Christian Register in 1849. Richard Willis of Massachusetts composed the music a year later.

Emmanuel

“All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: ‘Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and His name shall be called Emmanuel.’” Matthew 1:22-23

“Oh, come, oh, come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel,

That mourns in lonely exile here until the Son of God appear.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.”

 The name means “God with us,” but you already know that. But do you know how important it is that God is with us? There are times even at this time of year, approaching the great day of Christmas, especially at Christmas, when we might feel terribly alone and lonely. Days of celebration have a way of emphasizing our being alone all the more. And it may be that you’re single or widowed or just plain depressed, yes, sadly depressed, feeling the weight of the season that seems to make so many demands on us in order to “be jolly and bright.”

 How do you suppose Mary and Joseph felt as their first Christmas approached… the day that celebrated the birth of Mary’s firstborn, a son. Do you think they also felt a kind of “lonely exile,” as though they were “captive” to circumstances and events beyond their control? The text of Luke 2:1-7 bears this out.

 It would be good to know that they were not alone in what they were experiencing, but that God keeps His word. Mary and Joseph were assured that even in their loneliness, God’s great promises were being fulfilled. God was with them.