Weekly Words with Brandon Moore: Advent, God is Faithful
During the Advent season, many churches will light four candles–one for each Sunday in Advent. The second candle, lit on the second Sunday, represents peace.
I don’t know about you, but I need peace during this season of my life. Of course, I do in every season, but this season it’s true for a particular reason. Over the last few weeks, my wife and I have endured one of the most challenging stretches of our lives together.
You know what we’ve needed? Peace.
How have we received such peace? By remembering that God is faithful.
This is certainly the focus of the Advent season, is it not? To remember that the God who took on flesh and dwelt among us is faithful to do what He says He will do.
During Chapel on Tuesday we all joined with God’s people throughout all generations by reciting Psalm 136 together. It’s a bit long, but I want to share the whole passage with you here.
1Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever.2Give thanks to the God of gods,
for his steadfast love endures forever.3Give thanks to the Lord of lords,
for his steadfast love endures forever;4to him who alone does great wonders,
for his steadfast love endures forever;5to him who by understanding made the heavens,
for his steadfast love endures forever;6to him who spread out the earth above the waters,
for his steadfast love endures forever;7to him who made the great lights,
for his steadfast love endures forever;8the sun to rule over the day,
for his steadfast love endures forever;9the moon and stars to rule over the night,
for his steadfast love endures forever;10to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt,
for his steadfast love endures forever;11and brought Israel out from among them,
for his steadfast love endures forever;12with a strong hand and an outstretched arm,
for his steadfast love endures forever;13to him who divided the Red Sea in two,
for his steadfast love endures forever;14and made Israel pass through the midst of it,
for his steadfast love endures forever;15but overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea,
for his steadfast love endures forever;16to him who led his people through the wilderness,
for his steadfast love endures forever;17to him who struck down great kings,
for his steadfast love endures forever;18and killed mighty kings,
for his steadfast love endures forever;19Sihon, king of the Amorites,
for his steadfast love endures forever;20and Og, king of Bashan,
for his steadfast love endures forever;21and gave their land as a heritage,
for his steadfast love endures forever;22a heritage to Israel his servant,
for his steadfast love endures forever.23It is he who remembered us in our low estate,
for his steadfast love endures forever;24and rescued us from our foes,
for his steadfast love endures forever;25he who gives food to all flesh,
for his steadfast love endures forever.26Give thanks to the God of heaven,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
Notice that God’s steadfast love doesn’t mean ease. We see the exodus story, we see stories of war, and we see the need for deliverance. It’s difficult. It’s hard work being on God’s side, sometimes. But what remains true? God’s steadfast love endures forever. He is faithful. He’s never not been faithful.
If each of us could catch a glimpse of what’s happening in Heaven right now we would see God upon His throne with angels and elders all around him singing these words found in Revelation 4:
“Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty,
who was and is and is to come!”
“Worthy are you, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they existed and were created.”
He is the one who was, and is, and is to come.
He is the one worthy of all glory and honor and power.
He is the one who created all things by His will.
And, according to Colossians 1, He is the one who holds all things together.
He is faithful.
And that faithfulness gives us the peace that transcends all understanding during this Advent season.
I encourage you to take a moment to consider how He has been faithful in your past, and take a moment to apply Psalm 136 to some time in the present or future. What's that thing that you're stuck on and feel like you'll never make it through? His steadfast love endures forever. He is faithful.