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Sound & Season is a daily audio devotional designed to connect the routine moments of life to the rhythms of the Church seasons.
This is Sound in Season. It's Monday, the second day of Advent. Our scripture for the day is Psalm one nineteen verses one through eight. Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord. Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart, who also do no wrong but walk in his ways.
Speaker 1:You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently. Oh, that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes. Then I shall not be put to shame, having my eyes fixed on all your commandments. I will praise you with an upright heart, and I learn your righteous rules. I will keep your statutes.
Speaker 1:Do not utterly forsake me. This is the word of the lord. Thanks be to god. Our reflection for the day begins with a quote from the fourth century French theologian, Hilary of Portier, who, when reflecting on Psalm one nineteen, wrote, the way is Christ himself. To be undefiled and blameless in the way is to long for Jesus in faith and life.
Speaker 1:There may be no other time on your calendar as hurried or as busy as December. It is a season of dashing about, fulfilling commitments, some joyfully, others begrudgingly. The psalmist's image of walking seems foreign in a season of such hurry. However, the psalmist is not seeking to convey an image of a simple winter stroll, but rather a whole life lived. Walking here means being alive to and in the ways of God, journeying and persisting in holiness and love.
Speaker 1:To walk in the way of God, we are called to walk in Christ himself. The psalmist says, oh, that my ways may be steadfast, steadfast in your ways. And as Hillary helpfully points out, the way of God is Jesus himself, which means our aim is not simply to walk according to God's rules, though his commands are good and true. The call is to live our lives with Jesus daily, walking by his spirit. Throughout our time in Psalm one nineteen, it might seem confusing that there is such a bold and emphatic focus on God's statutes, his commands, and his law.
Speaker 1:But when we see each of them as arrows pointing us to the way of Christ, and we can join in the psalmist's wonder and delight, fixing our eyes on the person of Jesus and the beauty of his righteousness. May this be our guiding prayer this Advent, that together we slow down our hurried selves, orient our hearts and minds to the way of Christ, and cling to him all the more tightly in faith and life. Oh, that our ways may be steadfast as we walk in the way of Jesus. Lord, hear our prayer, and let our cry come to you. Let us pray.
Speaker 1:Our Lord and our God, you search us and know our hearts. You know our thoughts, and you know the grievous ways that are so often in us. We confess that you are all powerful and all knowing, and no secret can be hidden from you. And yet you do not turn us away. You do not treat us according to our transgressions.
Speaker 1:Instead, you cover us in the life and righteousness of your son, our savior. Before we were even born, you formed us in the womb. You know our words before we speak them. Before this world began, you chose to set your love on a people for your own possession. Help us to consider the truth that it was always your plan to send your son into the world to make a way for our forgiveness and justification.
Speaker 1:In light of these blessings, we pray that you will show us any sinfulness within us so we can walk in faithfulness in the light of our adoption into your love through Jesus Christ. Oh, God, make speed to save us. Oh, Lord, make haste to help us. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.