Normally, on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, I try to take some time to sit down and think about Christmas. I will usually reflect on a particular part of the Christmas story, like the year I reflected on the significance and role of the shepherds. Sometimes I'm inspired by the Christmas sermon that my pastor preaches.
This year, I've been listening to Sovereign Grace's new Christmas album on repeat. One song in particular has been replaying in my head over and over. So, this is the song that has fueled my Christmas reflections for 2020. It's called "Hope of the Ages." The reason is resonated so much with me was (as we will see) that it draws from all the Old Testament prophecies and connects them to Jesus. There is so much rich theological truth in this song. I hope to be able to share some of it here in this post.
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| Photo by Arisa Chattasa on Unsplash |
The prophets had glimpsed and the angels had watched with awe/ the unfolding plans of our faithful redeeming God/ What they longded for we have seen/ what was promised we believe. "Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look." (1 Peter 1:10-12)
Hope of the ages, "Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations." (Psalm 90:1)
Isaiah's great light, "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone." (Isaiah 9:2)
Abraham's offspring, "And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." (Genesis 12:2-3)
Blessing of Jacob, "Let peoples serve you, and nations bow down to you. Be lord over your brothers, and may your mother's sons bow dow to you." (Genesis 27:29)
Judah's might, "The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until tribute comes to him; and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples." (Genesis 49:10)
Hope of the ages, David's true son, "When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son." (2 Samuel 7:12-14)
Desire of nations, "And I will shake the nations, so that the treasures (Desire) of all nations shall come in, and I will fill this house with glory, says the LORD of hosts." (Haggai 2:7)
Promised salvation, "But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; uppon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5)
God with us. "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virigin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." (Isaiah 7:14)
The vision once clouded has now to our hearts appeared/ Once shrouded in mystery, redemption has been made clear/ Our Messiah now has come/ Word made flesh the saving one. "When you read this, you can percieve my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel." (Ephesians 3:4-6) "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth." (John 1:14)
Hope of the Ages, Isaiah's great light/ Abraham's offspring/ Blessing of Jacob, Judah's might/ Hope of the Ages, David's true Son/ Desire of Nations/ Promised salvation, God with us.
All hail the one now revealed to the world "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!" (Mark 11:9-10)
In Bethlehem born to a young virgin girl "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days." (Micah 5:2)
Lamb without blemish, yet cruelly betrayed "He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before it's shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth." (Isaiah 53:7)
Who cried it is finished and rose from the grave "When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, "It is finished," and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit." (John 19:30) "And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen." (Luke 24:5-6)
The father's great gift and the proof of his love "Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13)
Hope of the ages, our God, here with us! "'She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.' All this took place to fulfill what the lord had spoken by the prophet: 'Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel' (which means, 'God with us')." (Matthew 1:21-23)
Hope of the Ages, Isaiah's great light/ Abraham's offspring/ Blessing of Jacob, Judah's might/ Hope of the Ages, David's true Son/ Desire of nations/ promised salvation, God with us.
This song has so much rich truth in it, and this has been an amazing journey of reflection working my way through the song and finding those theological truths. I hope that this has been a blessing for you as well. Have a wonderful Christmas celebrating the birth of Jesus, God with Us, the Hope of the world.
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