I am so intrigued by the symmetry that can be found between the Old and New Testaments. The same themes with different characters pop up again and again. Makes me want to sit up and pay attention to those recurring themes!
In the passage today, we are reminded of the personal nature of God and the privilege we have to know Him. And also the magnitude of His awesome power and deeds. We don’t keep that awareness of the living God to ourselves, but rather share it freely—to all nations.
Verses 1 and 7 bookend this theme of God to all nations, verse 1 “make known among the nations what he has done” and verse 7 “his judgments are in all the earth.”
Now compare that to the passage in Luke 2:8-20. Specifically verse 10, where the angel proclaims the “good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” Both the Psalmist and the angel were messengers of the same theme.
About 10 years ago I took the Perspectives course offered at Eastbrook. This course expanded and solidified my awareness of God as a God of all nations and how He desires us to be His messengers—next door and to the remotest corner of the globe.
We see the shepherds taking action as messengers in verse 17, “they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child.” Back in Psalm 105:2, instruction is given to, “tell of all his wonderful acts.” Praise mixed with proclamation!
We also see repetitive content in the action words in each passage: Give thanks, call, make known, sing, tell, glory, look, seek, remember, and rejoice are from the verses in Psalms. While in Luke 2 we hear: praise, glory, see, spread the word, glorifying, joyful.
As I re-read these words I am struck by how I could meditate on a different word from one day to the next as a way to dwell on words of action that recur throughout passages such as the two today.
Dear Lord, help us to be filled with praise as we share to all nations.
For Reflection:
- Which call to action found in this passage will you choose to meditate on and apply?
by Kevin Peterson
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