Advent is a peculiar season. For several weeks, the Church reflects on what it means that Christ has come and will come again. We weave together two very pivotal epochs of salvation history into a single thought. We talk about how what Christ has done and will do, influences the present moment. We trace story lines of old and anticipate story lines that have yet to play out. We remember, we long, we wait, we celebrate and we hope. And more peculiar still: we do all of this simultaneously! This may seem strange, confusing or even foreign to everyday life and you may think it extremely counter-intuitive or even contradictory. But as I think Psalm 85 will show us, this is actually a very healthy, mature and worshipful posture for us as God’s children; not only during the season of Advent, but for every season of the believer’s life in Christ.
Let’s simply read through Psalm 85 together, paying attention to how the psalmist remembers, longs, waits, celebrates and hopes in God:
Remembering
1 Lord, you were favorable to your land;
you restored the fortunes of Jacob.
2 You forgave the iniquity of your people;
you covered all their sin. Selah
3 You withdrew all your wrath;
you turned from your hot anger.
Longing
4 Restore us again, O God of our salvation,
and put away your indignation toward us!
5 Will you be angry with us forever?
Will you prolong your anger to all generations?
6 Will you not revive us again,
that your people may rejoice in you?
Waiting
7 Show us your steadfast love, O Lord,
and grant us your salvation.
8 Let me hear what God the Lord will speak,
for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints;
but let them not turn back to folly.
Celebrating
9 Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him,
that glory may dwell in our land.
10 Steadfast love and faithfulness meet;
righteousness and peace kiss each other.
11 Faithfulness springs up from the ground,
and righteousness looks down from the sky.
Hoping
12 Yes, the Lord will give what is good,
and our land will yield its increase.
13 Righteousness will go before him
and make his footsteps a way.
As those who love and follow Christ, this is where we find ourselves on this side of eternity: remembering, longing, waiting, celebrating and hoping. My prayer for Christ City Church this Advent season (and in every season to come!) is that we continue to be a people, who like the psalmist:
· Remember the faithfulness of God in days past.
· Long to know and experience the faithfulness of God in the present moment.
· Wait upon the faithfulness of God, even when He seems distant.
· Celebrate who God is and what He has done and is doing in Christ Jesus.
· Hope in the faithfulness of God in days to come.
And more peculiar still: we do all of this simultaneously!
-- Chaz Holsomback