23rd December 2023
Coming of the King – Advent love
This is the fourth in a series of studies on Advent.
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.
Lamentations 3:22 (NIVUK)
Advent is coming to an end and Christmas is about to begin, so I thought I’d write about a passage from Lamentations. Now why Lamentations, a book of lament, when Advent and Christmas are meant to be about hope, peace, joy, and love?
Lamentations is a series of five poems expressing laments of pain and complaint following the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple by the Babylonians in 586 BC. The city and temple were desecrated and much of the nation was taken off into exile in Babylon. Some people were left in the city in despair, and Lamentations is written from the perspective of those left behind. The lament at the beginning of chapter 3 is written by a man who has seen the destruction of the city and feels utterly hopeless, he feels completely overwhelmed by sorrow and darkness.
The truth is we all have times of darkness in our life, we all have times when we feel like the lamenter, when it seems we are walking in darkness. But there is hope, for the lamenter and us. Even in his darkness and despair, the lamenter is able to affirm God’s love and compassion (v.22), his faithfulness (v.23), and salvation (v.26). Somehow in his pain, love breaks in, hope breaks in, and he is not consumed.
The lamenter turns his eyes away from the pain, and turns them towards God, recalling to his mind the love, compassion, and faithfulness of the Lord – despair is not the final word. Even if your pain, your loss, or your sin is great, despair is not the final word. Isaiah also has a similar message to those in pain: ‘The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.’ (Isaiah 9:2).
Now we can begin to see the connection between Lamentations, Advent, and Christmas. Despair is not the final word for those who live in darkness, in pain, in loss and in sin because Jesus came to earth. Love has broken into our despair, and a light has dawned: ‘For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.’ (Isaiah 9:6).
Jesus is ‘Immanuel …God with us’ (Matthew 1:23). He is God with us in our darkness; God with us in our pain; God with us in our sin; God with us to save. He is the love of God incarnate. And because love has broken into our world, our mourning can be turned to dancing (Psalm 30:11).
Prayer
Loving Father, in our despair help us to look to your Son, the light in our darkness, the love in our pain, and salvation in our hopelessness. Thank you that in him your compassions never fail, and we are not consumed. In Jesus’s name, Amen.
Study by Barry Robinson
About the writer:
Barry Robinson is a minister in Grace Communion International and Regional Pastor for Southern England, the Midlands, and Wales
Local congregation:
Grace Communion West Hampstead
Sidings Community Centre
150 Brassey Road
West Hampstead
London
NW6 2BA
Meeting time:
Sunday 12.30 pm
Local congregational contact:
Gordon Brown
gordon.brown@gracecom.church
Word of Life contact:
wordoflife@gracecom.church