In this new series and season we are approaching the most colourful and rich season, Christmas, preceded by advent. This year has been one of the toughest for me. It started with my own mother’s death in January and 40 days until her funeral. It was a time in my view, of profound soul searching. In this tough year God has made me journey in His word, and I do not consider myself anything more than someone that seeks out the hidden details that bring context and a better understanding of life in the times we refer to.
The Christmas story begins in a greater way from the return of the exiles from Persia and the city of Babylon. We must examine the root of Christmas, which is the essence of the belief that a Messiah was coming, and we must understand how this conviction was birthed, in what circumstances was this highlighted in their hearts.
It always intrigued me that Israel as a nation did not have a King until Jesus’ coming. It was one of those intrigues of the moment to be forgotten by other issues needing attention. However in my studies in recent times, and with Logos Bible Software going through a update and a revamp, I decided to use the software’s new functionalities, to investigate this question. What I found was astounding, something that seemed to hide behind modern traditions over that time period: 587-517 BC.
Israel did not have a king because it was no longer its own nation but was a province of the Kingdoms that would come; Persia, Greece and Rome. So in the Captivity and beyond the nation of Israel would not come to be until 1948AD. Some 2500 years pass until this is realised. Therefore, Israel was no longer autonomous, and had to be subject to foreign government.
In this there was a sense that many saw this reality as a real climb down from both a spiritual and Kingdom point of view, where Solomon constructed a Temple and the Lord blessed with fire and Glory. The nation enjoyed prosperity and peace, which declined as the kings arose and died, until Nebuchadnezzar came and demolished and destroyed.
In this was the soil by which a conviction would come that a new King would come and establish the Kingdom once again, would be a son of David, and a warrior.
The lesson is here, that whatever happens in the circumstances in our family, Church or nation has purpose, and leads us if we are open to understand a higher intention of God to bring a new paradigm in the way things work.
There are very dark times, very gloomy outlooks, upheavals that occur, but these always pave the way for us to seek God and get the discernment of what is really happening.
Many times the rocks that are thrown down are those which are used to rebuild again, as we see in Nehemiah. That which lacks in the case of a glorious king and kingdom must lead us to aspire to something that God will bring in from above.
As we go into this series, we will see how God weaves through the years to the modern years how His Purpose is intertwined into our seeking of Him. We must not take dark times, contrary circumstances on face value. Our deep seeking of God must cause us in time become open to heavenly activities which tell us of a new and great era to come. The Scripture of Isaiah 40 must first open the Messianic prophecies of Isaiah, drawing back the curtain of the mysteries God was about to unveil.
So the lesson in this first message is that whatever is lacking, whatever has been lost, must lead us to seek God for His answers and unveil His secrets to us.
The lack of a king, cause the birthing of a vision of a Coming King, called the Messiah, who would out of a Servant Heart bring us the Kingdom that does not overthrow with physical violence but with spiritual violence out of love, bringing salvation to the human race.
The lack of a Temple would cause the people to embrace a spiritual tabernacle that Jeremiah spoke about in chapter 29. From this spiritual tabernacle would be revealed the mysteries that would unfold in centuries to come.
Those Levites that were without a physical sanctuary had a choice to continue in their vocation, and those who did not, were rejected by God, says Ezekiel 44. The years between the Captivity and the Coming of Christ are years of great transitions and great changes. There is no doubt we are experiencing similar transitions.
So as we approach Advent, let us transpose its truth that Psalm 24 beautifully captures, expecting the Coming of the King of Glory, opening and lifting of everlasting gates and doors, to let Him in.
He needs to come, to bring change. The Christmas message is mapping out how God brought Jesus to the world, and how He invited and involved key people in it. Those who understood God’s ways were those who got to see and touch the objective of God’s transitions.
May we touch this Christmas the culmination of God’s purpose in our world and generation!
Maranatha!
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