Evergreen Presbyterian Church

 The following Meditations are designed to aid individuals, couples, families, and small groups in celebrating Advent. Anyone who chooses to use these Advent meditations and the Twelve Days of Christmas activities to follow can grow in private worship at home. At Evergreen we encourage individuals and families to privately devote themselves to prayer and meditation. We encourage parents to instruct their children toward application of God’s holy Word. While some people regularly schedule private devotions and/or family altars, others struggle to find the time or lack the discipline. A step in the right direction is to include such times of private worship seasonally, during the holidays. At Evergreen we typically provide materials for Advent, The Twelve Days of Christmas and Passion Week. 

The Bible is the history of God redeeming his people, culminating in the coming of his Son.  People and incidents showcased in the Old Testament point to the coming of the Son of God. The preaching and teaching ministry of our church emphasizes this redemptive history and now, it is your turn to consider several of the stories and characters in the Old Testament texts seeking to determine how it is that they announce the coming of Christ. We could start at the very beginning and work our way through each story and find many connections. Some characters and stories announce the coming of Christ by illustrating the fallen nature of the human race and thus our great need for Christ, the second Adam. Other characters, though flawed, positively display the works of the coming Christ. The following meditations are but a small selection but they should suffice to enrich your Advent season.

 

ADVENT MEDITATIONS 2007

Prepared by Nathan E. Lewis

 To compliment the following Bible studies, I have collected a selection of Rembrandt’s pen and ink drawings of the Bible characters.  Also, I have linked to some articles of Dr. Bryan Estelle who expertly traces Christ through the Old Testament. (Bryan and Lisa Estelle relocated to Oregon in 1992 to help the Lewis family plant Evergreen in Beaverton. Bryan now teaches Old Testament at Westminster Seminary in California.) If you are interested in additional reading, consider borrowing from the Evergreen library a copy of the Goldsworthy Trilogy, or purchase your own. Go to monergism.com for a rich selection of reading of Biblical Theology.

 

December 2: THE FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT

 

December 3: Joseph, the Prisoner  - Read Genesis 39

As you read about Joseph’s fall from such a high position in Potiphar’s house to the prison dungeon, which part of Christ’s story comes to mind? (hint = Philippians 2:6-7)

Which part of this story points, though imperfectly, to the perfect obedience of Christ?

Which part of this story points to the authority Christ exercised in his earthly mission?

 

December 4: Joseph, the Provider –Read Genesis 45

As you read about Joseph’ s high position, second in command to Pharaoh, promising to provide for his brothers, which role of Christ comes to mind?  (hint = Ephesians 4:7-8)

Read Hebrews 2

In what two ways is Christ our brother?

 

December 5: The Baby Moses –Read Exodus 2:1-10

As you read about the baby Moses how does his story remind you of the birth of Jesus?

What do we learn about God’s providence from this story of Moses and the Egyptian princess?

 

December 6: Moses, the Mediator –Read Numbers 14: 1-19

From the entire story of Moses, how did he fulfill his role as mediator between God and Israel?

Read I Timothy 2:1-6

What do we learn about Jesus, our Mediator?

Read Hebrews 9: 11-15

Is there anyone else in the story of Moses who is a “Christ Figure”?

From this person’s role and from these verses in Hebrews, what do we learn about Christ, our Mediator?

 

December 7: A Hint of Promise of New Life –Read Ruth 1

What is the hint of promise of new life in this chapter?

How does the life of Ruth and Naomi in Moab describe our lives apart from God’s promise of new life?

 

December 8: Boaz, the Provider –Read Ruth 2

Students of the Bible are not led to believe in “Chance” or “Fate.” The Bible consistently presents a God, who providentially cares for his creation. This infinite God is infinite in his knowledge, decrees, including redemption. Every once in a while, a biblical author will use the language of surprise, even the language of “chance” and “fate.”  In chapter 2:2 the author writes, “she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz.”  This could be accurately translated, “By chance, Ruth came to the field of Boaz.”

  

From your knowledge of the Bible, how do you think Ruth ended up choosing Boaz’s field from all of the fields of Bethlehem?

How is Boaz “Christ-like” in his treatment of Ruth?

 

December 9: THE SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT

 

December 10: Boaz, the Bridegroom –Read Ruth 3

What do you think of Ruth’s behavior? Is it risky? Appropriate?

Check out a Bible commentary to find a good explanation for her actions.

In what way does Boaz promise to redeem Ruth?

Read John 3:22-29

What do we learn about Jesus from John the Baptist’s analogy?

Do you think that the Song of Solomon is a poem about two human lovers, or a poem about Jesus, the bridegroom and his bride?

In John the Baptist’s analogy, Jesus is the bridegroom. Who is the bride?

Read Revelation 19: 1-10

Who is the bride of the Lamb?

 

December 11: Boaz, the Redeemer –Read Ruth 4

How does Boaz redeem Ruth?

What is the significance of the family tree information supplied to us in this chapter? Does the significance go beyond David?

What promise/covenant did God make to David concerning a son? Was Solomon that son? Where in the Bible do you find this covenant promise recorded?

What does “redeemer”

 mean? How is Christ our Redeemer?

 

December 12: David, the Young Champion –Read I Samuel 17

Does this story happen before or after the prophet Samuel anoints David king?

How does David point to Jesus in this story of his killing of Goliath?

 

December 13: The Love of David –Read 2 Samuel 9

How does David express love for Mephibosheth?

How does David’s love point to the love of Christ for us?

How is Mephibosheth a picture of us?

What is the significance, if any, of Mephibosheth eating at the king’s table?

 

December 14: David, the Exiled King -  Read 2 Samuel 15:13-16:14

What part of Jesus’ life does this episode in David’s life parallel?

Do you think that these parallels in Scripture are coincidental or do you think that they are given so that we might look to Jesus?

If someone is teaching 2 Samuel 15-16, would it be OK for him to refrain from discussing these parallels?

If someone were preaching 2 Samuel 15-16, would it be OK for him to refrain from discussing these parallels?

How does 2 Samuel 15-16 present the gospel to us?  (You may also take some time to discuss any of the stories in the meditations thus far: how does each one present the gospel to us?)

Do you think that these parallels to Jesus are the main point in these stories, the main purpose for their inclusion in the Bible?

 

December 15: Solomon, The Wise King –Read I Kings 3

How does this text connect Solomon to Jesus?

Read Matthew 12: 38-42

To whom does Jesus refer to as he says, “something greater than Solomon is here”?

Read Matthew 13:53-58

Read Luke 2:52

Read I Corinthians 1:22-24

 

December 16: THE THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT

 

December 17: Solomon, the Temple Builder –Read I Kings 6

How does Solomon, the temple builder, point to Jesus?

How does the temple itself point to Jesus?

Read Revelation 21

Why is there no temple in the heavenly Jerusalem at the dawning of the new heavens and the new earth?

The temple is the holy space where God dwells in the midst of his people; it is the dwelling place of God. The Holy Spirit descended in the fire and smoke of divine glory, to fill the tabernacle, then the temple of the Old Covenant community. Therefore, the apostles speak of the individual Christian’ s body as the temple of the Holy Spirit (I Corinthian 6:14) and of the Church as a whole as the temple of God (I Corinthians 3; I Peter 2). Every Christian is filled with the Holy Spirit and the Church is filled with the Holy Spirit.  Paul uses this truth to spur us toward holy living. Since the Church and every Christian house the very Holy Spirit of God, then we should be holy space. There is no space more holy in all of human history than the body and life of Jesus Christ. He is the perfect temple of God, filled with the Holy Spirit. In the new heavens and new earth, we will have no need of an edifice to remind us of holy space. Jesus will be present with us face to face. We will be living in the very presence of God!

 

December 18: Elijah, The Miracle Worker –Read I Kings 17

How does Elijah’s retreat at the brook Cherith in the time of drought point to the earthly mission of Jesus?

As you read of Elijah’s miracle providing food for the widow, which miracles of Jesus come to mind?

As you read of Elijah’s miracle of resurrection, which miracles of Jesus come to mind?

(Elijah has some interesting connections and an appearance in the New Testament texts. What are they?)

 

December 19: Elijah, the Prophet of God –Read I Kings 18:20ff.

Do you believe in spiritual warfare? What is the prophet’s role in spiritual warfare?

How do Elijah’s words, actions, and courage point to Jesus?

Read Ephesians 6: 10-20

How is each part of the armor we are to don connected to the Word of God?

The prophet is the one appointed by God to speak the very words of God. He has the word of God upon his lips. The Old Covenant law commands the execution of any prophet who does not speak the very words of God, yet posing as though he does speak for God.

Where in the New Testament is Jesus presented as “The Prophet”? What particular name assigned to Jesus by the apostle John connects Jesus to the office of prophet and to the very word of God?

Why do Christians refer to their Bibles as “swords”?

How should the Church use the Bible is spiritual warfare?

 

December 20: The Ascension of Elijah –2 Kings 2: 1-12

How does this text connect Elijah to Jesus?

Ironically, “Advent” refers to the coming of Jesus to earth. “Ascension”

 refers to Jesus departing earth returning to heaven.

What promise has Jesus made to us concerning his departure to heaven?

(Where do you find it in the Bible?)

Is the ascension part of the gospel? How so?

 

December 21: Daniel, The Prisoner –Read Daniel 6

How does this story in Daniel’s life point to Christ?

How many citations in the Gospels can you list of the divine protection of Jesus Christ, the incarnate Son of God?

 

December 22: Daniel, Man of Prayer –Read Daniel 9:1-27

What is striking about Daniel’s prayer?

How is this prayer a beautiful blend of law and gospel?

How does a praying Daniel point to Jesus?

 

December 23: THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT

 

December 24: CHRISTMAS EVE

 

December 25: THE FIRST DAY OF CHRISTMAS

 

January 5: TWELTH NIGHT

 

January 6: KINGS DAY and EPIPHANY