Dec 6, 2020
Q. How doth Christ execute the office of a prophet?
A. Christ executeth the office of a prophet, in revealing to
us, by His Word and Spirit, the will of God for our
salvation.
—Westminster Shorter Catechism
Have you ever noticed how many Advent hymns and carols are based on
texts from the Old Testament prophets? This morning, we’ll sing
from Lo, How A Rose E’er Blooming, “Isaiah t’was foretold
it,” after having sung the words of Isaiah’s prophecy in To Us
A Child Of Hope Is Born. In Of The Father’s Love
Begotten, we’ll confess that Jesus was the Messiah “whom the
Scriptures of the prophets promised in their faithful word.” Two of
the hymns we sing are drawn from New Testament prophecies:
Hark! A Thrilling Voice Is Sounding dramatizes the words
of John the Baptist (“Christ is nigh!”), while , For
Wake, Awake Night Is Flying is based on Jesus’
parable of the ten virgins from Matthew 25 (an anticipation of His
second coming). The service closes with O Come, O Come
Emmanuel, identifying our own estate with that of the ancient
Hebrews in captivity, longing for the “dayspring” to “dispel the
long night’s lingering gloom” much as Jeremiah or any of the
prophets would have. As we read, sing, and meditate on the
prophecies which look forward to Christ’s coming, let’s also
celebrate that Christ Himself comes as a prophet, revealing the
will of God for our Salvation—ransoming captive Israel. —Henry C.
Haffner
Key Words: Lord, Earth, World, Fullness, Seas,
Rivers, Founded, Established
Keystone Verse: The earth is the Lord’s and the
fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein. (Psalm
24:1)
Psalm 24:1-2 The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein, 2 for He has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers.