Relief, Auch Cathedral, France: the Ark of the Covenant

In some systematic theologies, the first premise is that, "God is."

The second is that, "God speaks."

That is our Advent message of the day.

 

Psalm 89:1-4
New Revised Standard Version
A Maskil of Ethan the Ezrahite.

I will sing of your steadfast love, O Lord, forever;
with my mouth I will proclaim your faithfulness to all generations.
I declare that your steadfast love is established forever;
your faithfulness is as firm as the heavens.

You said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one,
I have sworn to my servant David:
‘I will establish your descendants forever,
and build your throne for all generations.” Selah

Psalm 89:19-26

Then you spoke in a vision to your faithful one, and said:
“I have set the crown on one who is mighty,
I have exalted one chosen from the people.
I have found my servant David;
with my holy oil I have anointed him;
my hand shall always remain with him;
my arm also shall strengthen him.
The enemy shall not outwit him,
the wicked shall not humble him.
I will crush his foes before him
and strike down those who hate him.
My faithfulness and steadfast love shall be with him;
and in my name his horn shall be exalted.
I will set his hand on the sea
and his right hand on the rivers.
He shall cry to me, ‘You are my Father,
my God, and the Rock of my salvation!’

2 Samuel 6:1-11
New Revised Standard Version

David again gathered all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand. David and all the people with him set out and went from Baale-judah, to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the name of the Lord of hosts who is enthroned on the cherubim. They carried the ark of God on a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, were driving the new cart with the ark of God; and Ahio went in front of the ark. David and all the house of Israel were dancing before the Lord with all their might, with songs and lyres and harps and tambourines and castanets and cymbals.

When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen shook it. The anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah; and God struck him there because he reached out his hand to the ark; and he died there beside the ark of God. David was angry because the Lord had burst forth with an outburst upon Uzzah; so that place is called Perez-uzzah, to this day. David was afraid of the Lord that day; he said, “How can the ark of the Lord come into my care?” So David was unwilling to take the ark of the Lord into his care in the city of David; instead David took it to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. The ark of the Lord remained in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite three months; and the Lord blessed Obed-edom and all his household.

Hebrews 1:1-4
New Revised Standard Version

Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds. He is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word. When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

There is a recurring theme in these passages: God is speaking.

Take a look:

Psalm 89:1-4

You said …

Psalm 89:19-26

Then you spoke …

2 Samuel 6:1-11

…the ark of God, which is called by the name of the Lord of hosts who is enthroned on the cherubim…

Hebrews 1:1-4

Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son …

The psalmist joyfully sings in celebration of the wonderful things God has spoken and promised to His people.

The ark was merely a piece of movable furniture except for two  intertwined factors. It contained the Word of the LORD and represented God's presence among His people. Therefore, the Jews honored and revered it, celebrated its proximity, feared any desecration of it, and protected it vigorously.

The writer of Hebrews pays respects to hundreds of years of God speaking when he opens his epistle to Christians all over the world. God has spoken again and it is His ultimate Word, through His Son.

He is heir of all things.

He is the co-creator of everything.

He is the reflection of God’s glory

He is the exact representation of God's nature.

He is the great sustainer of the cosmos.

He has purified people of sin.

He sits at the right hand of the Majesty on high.

He is superior to angels.

Through Him, God has spoken and this word is final, undeniable, visible, dynamic,  powerful, effectual, and living. It is this Word of God that focuses our worship and adoration and drives our lives.

David's people were in the presence of God and danced. However, some who played flippantly with it, were given cause to tremble. One family, who guarded the word, were blessed.

The psalm of the day offers us some examples of what we say when God says something.

I will sing of your love.
I will proclaim your faithfulness.
I will declare that your love and faithfulness are settled.
We cry, "You are my Father, my God, and the Rock of my salvation!"

One of the messages of Advent is that God speaks.

Our response is to say something back, a word of witness to the world and a word of commitment to the Father.