Advent 4 God's Word is truth

[msethsmile]

Hymns do one or more of three things: 1. Give glory to God 2. Confess faith 3. Remind us of God's teachings.

Psalms, the hymnbook of the OT, addresses all three here:

Psalm 19:1-14 selected verses
A Psalm of David

The Works and the Word of God.

1The heavens are telling of the glory of God;
And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands. 2Day to day pours forth speech,
And night to night reveals knowledge. 3There is no speech, nor are there words;
Their voice is not heard. 4Their line has gone out through all the earth,
And their utterances to the end of the world.
In them He has placed a tent for the sun, 7The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul;
The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. 11Moreover, by them Your servant is warned;
In keeping them there is great reward. 12Who can discern his errors? Acquit me of hidden faults. 13Also keep back Your servant from willful sins;
Let them not rule over me;
Then I will be blameless,
And I shall be acquitted of great transgression. 14Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer.

v 1-3.Nature gives us a glimpse of the power and wisdom of God with order, complexity and intricate design. Nature doesn't testify to His love and mercy--Scripture does that.
v7. 'law', God's statutes are important to the Christian. The Law warns us and points out our failings--points us to the Gospel for repairs.
v12. Rhetorical question. --no sinner can fully discern his errors. Ouch. "Hidden faults"--maybe hidden from me but not from God. He knows them all.They are a curse. Christ became a curse (Gal 3) for us.
v13. 'willful sins' can be detrimental to faith. God's forgiveness thru His Word can counter that--and build faith.
"blameless and aquitted" by Christ's blood.
v14. A prayer. The Holy Spirit will sanctify (make holy) and keep us in the truth as we proclaim it, "Your Word is truth." Jn 17:17

[msethsmile]

OT lesson for Advent 4
Isaiah 40:1-8, what a dandy. "She has received from the LORD's hand: double for all her sins." That's Gospel. Grace super-abounds over our sins. She=Bride of Christ=The Church

[msethsmile]

Gospel lesson Advent 4
Luke 1:46-56, The Magnificat, "Mary's Song"--another dandy