Lament. All my best days are behind me now. Still I find a way to live somehow. So goes the Amos Lee tune. What a terrible way to live. Emptied of hope. Stuck in the past. That was the sentiment in the dreary nether world of Zechariah the minor prophet.
Zechariah answered their doubt. Who has dared to despise the day of small things? (4:10). They needed a new song. Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel has come to you O Israel. Too close, they couldn't see.
I'm always fascinated by the part of the nativity story where the prophets are sent for by Herod after the Wise Men came inquiring about the Messiah. They know the scripture: Out of you Bethlehem Ephrata, will come forth to me the One whose goings forth are of old from everlasting (Micah 5:2). But they don't go themselves. All our best days are behind us now.
It's easy to slip into that. Even now. Our country's in a mess. Bring back the good old days. But we have Jesus. Every day is a good old day. Yes we're waiting for another Advent. They come in pairs. But we're not stranded in a pit of despair.
Who has dared despise the day of small things? It's a perfect day to infuse this moment with Christmas meaning.
Little children, born to chaos, sojourn by the stars appear,
Though your fears wrap all around you, love has come and peace is here.
Though your fears wrap all around you, love has come and peace is here.
Men to men, in violent rapture,
Wars lay sons in fields unknown,
Hope to quell the disappointment,
Justice born and mercy shown,
Wars lay sons in fields unknown,
Hope to quell the disappointment,
Justice born and mercy shown,
Gloria, Gloria, peace is here,
Gloria, Gloria, peace is here.
Gloria, Gloria, peace is here.
--Jars of Clay
Comments