Teach Me Your Ways, O Lord

Advent 1 – December 1, 2024

Jeremiah 33:14=16
Psalm 25:1-10
1 Thessalonians 3:9-13
Luke 21:25-36

Our psalm for today is an acrostic psalm. That is, the first verse begins with the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet, the second with the second letter, and so on through all 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet. Something that cannot be shown in translation. There are several psalms that are written this way. Those psalms usually are about the law. Using the alphabet in this way the psalmist wants to emphasize that God made the world in an orderly fashion and that the law is how we are part of God’s order. While we did not read the whole psalm today (I encourage you to do so another time), we read enough of it for you to see how the psalm oscillates back and forth from talking about the Law and asking God for protection and forgiveness because we are not always able to keep the covenant.

The psalmist knows this well. If it were not for God’s mercy he would not be able to live. He recognized that he would be lost without God’s Law to guide him even though he did not always follow it. That is why he begins by declaring that he was lifting his soul to God. This is his metaphor for his giving of his whole self to God asking that he guide him in his ways. We should do the same. But, as with the psalmist, many things get into our way that we are unable to give to God our whole life. That is, by the way: sin. We are pulled by the world in so many different directions that we have a difficult time staying focused on the life God calls us to. Because of this we find that we are surrounded by our enemies, wracked by worry and guilt, and are unable to see the way of God. Of course, that is why God gave us the Law. It is God’s gift to guide our lives so that we can withstand the temptations and blows from the world.

While the battle goes on in our lives all year long, it can be especially difficult in the days ahead. For us Christmas is wrapped up in so many expectations, hopes, and dreams that we can become ensnared in the world that wants to take the focus from God’s gift in order to sell us things. Don’t get me wrong, I am not against giving gifts, only that we need to remember why we give gifts at this time – to remind us of the greatest gift of all: Jesus. Remember while the world tells you it has what you want it is only exploiting the feeling of joy and peace that God gives. And no matter how often we promise ourselves that we will not let that happen we fall into the same old trap. Let the psalmist remind you that you are not alone. This struggle has been going on for hundreds of generations. But also hear the psalmist talk about the steadfast love of God and be assured of God’s ever present love. With the armor of Jesus’ salvation, become God’s emissary as you enter into the world and share the gift of Jesus with all the world.