Though it Linger-Advent 18, 2021

All creation groans for redemption but creation was not intended to be redeemed on the Cross. It’s no wonder that if people remain silent about the Messiah and His work, Jesus says the stones would cry out. Better that people praise, but in their silence, the rocks celebrate the coming of the Deliverer to free creation from the curse of sin that was never theirs. One step closer!

“When Jesus came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”

Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”

“I tell you,” He replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, He wept over it and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace– but now it is hidden from your eyes.” ( Luke 19:37-42)

The Interlude was in full effect. The long-awaited Messiah had come to bring peace with God through His shed blood. Jesus’ words harken back to Habakkuk 2 and how the creation experiences the brokenness of our sin and longs to cry out for liberation and give God all glory for His triumph of righteousness.

The Lord says, “For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.”

“See, the enemy is puffed up; his desires are not upright– but the righteous person will live by his faithfulness…

You have plotted the ruin of many peoples, shaming your own house and forfeiting your life. The stones of the wall will cry out, and the beams of the woodwork will echo it. Woe to him who builds a city with bloodshed and establishes a town by injustice! Has not the LORD Almighty determined that the people’s labor is only fuel for the fire, that the nations exhaust themselves for nothing?

For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea…The LORD is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him. (Habakkuk 2:2-4, 10-14, 20)

Questions for further thought:

Why does creation long for the Return of Christ?

Scripture says that angels long to look into these things (1 Peter 1:12). Angels, too, are created beings, but of a different order: a spiritual one. They never fell under the curse upon the ground. So why do you think angels are curious about human salvation?

Humanity is experiencing an “already, not yet” of redemption. Consider the role of the Holy Spirit. In what way are people advantaged, but creation is not? At the Return of Christ, we are promised a new heaven and a new earth. Let heaven and nature sing!

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Advent 2021 began Sunday, November 28th and continues to Friday, December 24th as we explore the multi-faceted Interlude between the promise of a Deliverer and the birth of our Messiah and King. By signing up on the sidebar of my Home Page you can receive these daily “Interlude” devotionals. Or they will be reposted on SeminaryGal’s Facebook page as well.

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Last year’s Advent Devotional Series Divine Intervention began on November 29, 2020 and explored God’s activity on behalf of a hurting world and nations in tumult– Intervention for you and for me when our status as sinners required nothing short of a miracle.
God’s Christmas list explored what might be on God’s Christmas list, learning what He wants from us. It began December 1, 2019.
Storyteller began December 2, 2018 and entered into the Christmas story through its telling.
The 2017 series Still Christmas, began December 3, 2017 and was the Advent complement to the Lenten series, Be Still and Know that I AM God.
The 2016 season devotionals were called “Timeless: The Message of Christmas for All Ages” and explored how the message of Christmas is timeless truth, for all ages of people, and for all ages at all times. Timeless hope, encouragement, grace, peace, and love as we looked into the Word, saw the face of our Lord Jesus, and experienced restoration in His presence. His goodness and His Gospel are truly Timeless. The 2016 devotionals began November 27, 2016.
The 2015 season devotionals were titled Incarnation and involved digging deep–and yes, I mean deep– in this important mystery of Christian theology. They began November 29, 2015.
Carol Me, Christmas! remains one of my most popular offerings and tells the Christmas story through our most beloved Christmas hymns and carols. You can access all of the numbered devotionals from 2014 via the archives. They began November 30, 2014.
The 2013 series was Emmanuel: When LOVE Showed Up in Person and examined the Prologue to the Gospel of John. It began December 1, 2013.
The 2012 series focused on Expecting the Unexpected…the unexpected, unlikely, and uniquely divine qualities of God’s perfect plan outlined in Luke’s account of the Christmas story. It began December 1, 2012.