Dec. 17: The Greater Son of David Who Comes in the Name of the Lord

The Madonna and Child, Giuseppe Maria Crespi. Oil on canvas, 46 x 55 cm. Bologna, Italy. Public domain.

Behold the Bridegroom Arriving, Nikolaos Gyzis, c. 1888. Oil on canvas, 200 x 200 cm. National Gallery, Athens, Greece. Public domain.

“Advent Motet: Lord Hosanna” from the album Be with Us. Performed by The Gustavus Choir with conductor Gregory Aune. Lyrics: Paul Gerhardt; Music: Gustav Schreck; Arranger: Olaf C. Christiansen.

Poetry:

“The Blind Suppliant”
by Richard Crashaw

Silence, silence, O vile crowd;
Yea, I will now cry aloud:
He comes near, Who is to me
Light and life and liberty.
Silence seek ye? yes, I’ll be
Silent when He speaks to me,
He my Hope; ah, meek and still,
I shall ’bide His holy will.
O crowd, ye it may surprise,
But His voice holdeth my eyes:
O have pity on my night,
By the day that gives glad light;
O have pity on my night,
By the day would lose its light,
If it gat not of Thee sight;
O have pity on my night,
By day of faith upspringing bright;
That day within my soul that burns,
And for eyes’ day unto Thee turns.
Lord, O Lord, give me this day,
Nor do Thou take that away.

THE SON OF DAVID ARRIVES IN PURE GOODNESS AND LOVE

Dear friends recently welcomed their first child into the world, a baby girl. The initial photos to circulate captured this tiny, delicate infant, completely at rest in the arms of parents whose faces were bright with wonder and an I-didn’t-know-I-could-love-someone-this-much expression on their faces. Their joy was palpable and contagious, one of those moments in life that captivates us by its pure goodness and love.

I wonder if the arrival of Jesus felt like this to his mother. Today’s combination of Scripture, art, music, and poetry generates a wondrous portrayal of the son of David. On the one hand, he arrives much like our friends’ baby, as an innocent and vulnerable bundle of pure goodness and love. We catch a glimpse of this in “Madonna and Child,” where Jesus’ mother encircles her arms around his tiny form like a mother hen, shielding his eyes to protect his slumber. Her adolescence accentuates the vulnerability of this pairing—a child herself entrusted to raise this long-promised Son of David. What a precious, weighty task!

On the other hand, this newborn son of David is also “The Bridegroom Arriving” who comes in fulfillment of the prophet’s words to King David:Your kingdom and throne shall be established forever.With exquisite swirls of golden, majestic colors, the angels flank the Bridegroom’s return, reminding us that God’s kingdom prevails through Jesus’ salvific work. A final peek back at the baby son of David confirms this—do you see it? His right hand clasps a wooden cross.

As we approach another holiday season, perhaps life has taken you along a road where landmark moments of pure goodness and love are in your rearview mirror, leaving you blinking in the dusty roads of trudging weariness and an uncertain future. In the struggle to keep faith alive amid a troubled world, let’s not forget how this same vulnerable baby son of David pioneers the path ahead of us—the Bridegroom who meets us along the way.

Today’s poem joins the chorus resounding through the Scriptural witness. When the “Blind Suppliant” hears that Jesus is passing by on the road, he calls out,Son of David, have mercy on me!With his disability rendering him an outcast, everyone tries to silence him, for what could he have to say of value? But Jesus doesn’t share their sentiments. He dignifies the man by asking what he wants. In faith, the man declares,I want to see!The man recounts how hisnightturned todaywhen “His voice holdeth my eyes.” I wonder if, when heseesJesus for the first time, he marvels,I’ve never known such goodness and love!

This season, as we behold the pure goodness and love of the Son of David, let’s celebrate our Faithful God who spoke this everlasting kingdom into existence. May his captivating love move us to call out for mercy. When Jesus stops for us and asks—What do you want me to do for you?—may we bring our true hearts to him in faith.

Prayer:
Son of David, have mercy on us.
Remind us of the reality of your everlasting kingdom.
Strengthen us to call out in faith.
Hosanna to the Son of David!
Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna in the highest!

Dr. Jeannine Hanger
Associate Professor
Talbot School of Theology
Biola University

For more information about the artwork, music, and poetry selected for this day, please visit our website via the link in our bio.