Marvel now, O Heaven and Earth
That the Lord chose such a birth.
Last week, we heard from Psalm 24:1-2 about Christ as the mighty creator of the universe. Next week, we’ll celebrate Him as the coming “King of Glory” (Psalm 24:7-10). But this Sunday, many of the Advent hymns we’ll be singing focus on the incarnation of Christ as a little child, born in a “lowly cattle shed” (Once In Royal David’s City). Our savior took on flesh to become not only a priest, able to ensure that we come to the hill of the Lord with clean hands and a pure heart (Psalm 24:3-6), but as the sacrificial victim as well. He is the “tender lamb … promised from eternal years,” who descends from “highest bliss” to a world in need of redemption (See Amid The Winter’s Snow). His cradle was a feeding trough, and yet “Christ the babe is Lord of all” (Infant Holy, Infant Lowly). He conquers death and hell by tendering His life for ours (All My Heart This Night Rejoices). The child laid to rest in mean estate (What Child Is This) will be the one who is pierced by nails and a spear, who will bear the cross “for me, for you.” —Henry C. Haffner
Key Words: Hill, Clean Hands, Pure Heart, Lift, Swear, Blessing, Righteousness, Seek
Keystone Verse: He will receive blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God of his salvation. (Psalm 24:5)
Psalm 24:3-6
Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in His holy place? 4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully. 5 He will receive blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God of his salvation. 6 Such is the generation of those who seek Him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob.