Commentary on Old Testament titles and promises fulfilled in Jesus:
WISDOM
First Lesson: Proverbs 2:1-11
The Old Testament book of Proverbs lifts up the virtues of wisdom. Jesus is the wisdom and word of God in flesh.
1 My child, if you accept my words and treasure up my commandments within you, 2 making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; 3 if you indeed cry out for insight, and raise your voice for understanding; 4 if you seek it like silver, and search for it as for hidden treasures-- 5 then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.
6 For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; 7 he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk blamelessly, 8 guarding the paths of justice and preserving the way of his faithful ones. 9 Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path; 10 for wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; 11 prudence will watch over you; and understanding will guard you.
LORD
Second Lesson: Exodus 6:2–7a
To Moses at the “burning bush” God appeared, spoke, and gave his name as “Yahweh”, Hebrew for “I am”, God as pure being, uncontrolled, being whatever God chooses to be. God’s choice is to free, deliver and redeem, as demonstrated by freeing them from slavery, delivering them through the sea, and in redeeming them as his own written in stone by the finger of God and given in covenant to Moses on Mt. Sinai. In Jesus’ birth we receive God fully, God’s covenant for all. We call Jesus LORD, who comes to free, deliver, and redeem us!
2 God also spoke to Moses and said to him: "I am Yahweh, Adonai, the LORD. 3I appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as God Almighty, but by my name ‘Yahweh, Adonai, the LORD' I did not make myself known to them. 4I also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land in which they resided as aliens. 5I have also heard the groaning of the Israelites whom the Egyptians are holding as slaves, and I have remembered my covenant.
6 Say therefore to the Israelites, 'I am the Yahweh, Adonai, the LORD, and I will free you from the burdens of the Egyptians and deliver you from slavery to them. I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment. 7 I will take you as my people, and I will be your God.
HOPE
Third Lesson: Isaiah 11:1–3a, 5-6, 10
King David was the eighth and youngest son of Jesse. He was the least likely and only a boy when the prophet Samuel anointed him to be the next king. Four hundred years later, in the time of Isaiah, the dynasty of King David came to an end, cut down. But the prophet Isaiah announces there will be a descendant of David and of Jesse that will fulfill God’s promise like none other:
1 A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. 2The spirit of the LORD shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD. 3His delight shall be in the fear of the LORD.
5Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist, and faithfulness the belt around his loins. 6The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. 10On that day the root of Jesse shall stand as a signal to the peoples; the nations shall inquire of him, and his dwelling shall be glorious.
KEY OF DAVID
Fourth Lesson: Isaiah 22:20-22
Many are called to God’s purposes. During the reign of King Hezekiah, God had a special purpose for one of Hezekiah’s servants. For Eliakim who was in charge of the palace and had its key, delivered the message to the mighty Assyrian empire that Jerusalem would not surrender. This seemed impossible, but it did happen, God shut the door to Jerusalem to Assyria. Jesus is our key who opens heaven to us, and who closes evil from us.
20 On that day I will call my servant Eliakim son of Hilkiah, 21 and will clothe him with your robe and bind your sash on him. I will commit your authority to his hand, and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. 22 I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David; he shall open, and no one shall shut; he shall shut, and no one shall open.
DAYSPRING (sunrise, dawn)
Fifth Lesson: Luke 1:68–79
Though this reading is from the gospel of Luke in the New Testament, these words are spoken before Jesus is born. They are a prophecy, a declaration of the mighty Savior, Messiah, whom God will raise up, and also of Zechariah’s own son, John who will prepare the way. John will be like the first light in the morning preparing us for the coming of God’s light.
67 Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke this prophecy: 68"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has looked favorably on his people and redeemed them. 69He has raised up a mighty savior for us in the house of his servant David, 70as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, 71that we would be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us. 72Thus he has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors, and has remembered his holy covenant, 73the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham, to grant us 74that we, being rescued from the hands of our enemies, might serve him without fear, 75in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
76And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, 77to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the forgiveness of their sins. 78By the tender mercy of our God, the dayspring from on high will break upon us, 79to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace."
KING
Sixth Lesson: Psalm 47
We return to the Old Testament, to the song book of that time. Psalm 47 is a royal psalm sung at the enthronement of the king. We will say this responsively to Jesus who is God’s eternal king for us.
R Clap your hands, all you peoples; shout to God with loud songs of joy.
C For the LORD, the Most High, is awesome, a great king over all the earth.
R He subdued peoples under us, and nations under our feet.
C He chose our heritage for us, the pride of Jacob whom he loves. Selah
R God has gone up with a shout, the LORD with the sound of a trumpet.
C Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises.
R For God is the king of all the earth; sing praises with a psalm.
C God is king over the nations; God sits on his holy throne.
EMMANUEL
Seventh Lesson: Isaiah 7:10-14, 16
All of the book of Isaiah addresses difficult times when the Kingdom of Judah was repeatedly under attack and overmatched. This hope is received as God’s Holy Word meant for every time. King Ahaz refused to believe the prophet Isaiah, even to the point of refusing any sign confirming its truth. God gives the sign anyway. Birth will still happen; a young woman will dare to name her child “God is with us”; and before that child gets beyond the “terrible twos” the enemy will be destroyed. The Greek translation of Isaiah, which was commonly used in Jesus’ time, translated the Hebrew word for young woman, as “virgin”. God brings hope in our time, in all times, in Jesus who is truly our Emmanuel.
10 Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz, saying, 11 Ask a sign of the LORD your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven.
12 But Ahaz said, I will not ask, and I will not put the LORD to the test.
13 Then Isaiah said: "Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary mortals, that you weary my God also? 14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, a young woman, a virgin is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel (which means, God with us). 16 For before the child knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land before whose two kings you are in dread will be deserted.
First Lesson: Proverbs 2:1-11
The Old Testament book of Proverbs lifts up the virtues of wisdom. Jesus is the wisdom and word of God in flesh.
1 My child, if you accept my words and treasure up my commandments within you, 2 making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; 3 if you indeed cry out for insight, and raise your voice for understanding; 4 if you seek it like silver, and search for it as for hidden treasures-- 5 then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.
6 For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; 7 he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk blamelessly, 8 guarding the paths of justice and preserving the way of his faithful ones. 9 Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path; 10 for wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; 11 prudence will watch over you; and understanding will guard you.
LORD
Second Lesson: Exodus 6:2–7a
To Moses at the “burning bush” God appeared, spoke, and gave his name as “Yahweh”, Hebrew for “I am”, God as pure being, uncontrolled, being whatever God chooses to be. God’s choice is to free, deliver and redeem, as demonstrated by freeing them from slavery, delivering them through the sea, and in redeeming them as his own written in stone by the finger of God and given in covenant to Moses on Mt. Sinai. In Jesus’ birth we receive God fully, God’s covenant for all. We call Jesus LORD, who comes to free, deliver, and redeem us!
2 God also spoke to Moses and said to him: "I am Yahweh, Adonai, the LORD. 3I appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as God Almighty, but by my name ‘Yahweh, Adonai, the LORD' I did not make myself known to them. 4I also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land in which they resided as aliens. 5I have also heard the groaning of the Israelites whom the Egyptians are holding as slaves, and I have remembered my covenant.
6 Say therefore to the Israelites, 'I am the Yahweh, Adonai, the LORD, and I will free you from the burdens of the Egyptians and deliver you from slavery to them. I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment. 7 I will take you as my people, and I will be your God.
HOPE
Third Lesson: Isaiah 11:1–3a, 5-6, 10
King David was the eighth and youngest son of Jesse. He was the least likely and only a boy when the prophet Samuel anointed him to be the next king. Four hundred years later, in the time of Isaiah, the dynasty of King David came to an end, cut down. But the prophet Isaiah announces there will be a descendant of David and of Jesse that will fulfill God’s promise like none other:
1 A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. 2The spirit of the LORD shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD. 3His delight shall be in the fear of the LORD.
5Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist, and faithfulness the belt around his loins. 6The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. 10On that day the root of Jesse shall stand as a signal to the peoples; the nations shall inquire of him, and his dwelling shall be glorious.
KEY OF DAVID
Fourth Lesson: Isaiah 22:20-22
Many are called to God’s purposes. During the reign of King Hezekiah, God had a special purpose for one of Hezekiah’s servants. For Eliakim who was in charge of the palace and had its key, delivered the message to the mighty Assyrian empire that Jerusalem would not surrender. This seemed impossible, but it did happen, God shut the door to Jerusalem to Assyria. Jesus is our key who opens heaven to us, and who closes evil from us.
20 On that day I will call my servant Eliakim son of Hilkiah, 21 and will clothe him with your robe and bind your sash on him. I will commit your authority to his hand, and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. 22 I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David; he shall open, and no one shall shut; he shall shut, and no one shall open.
DAYSPRING (sunrise, dawn)
Fifth Lesson: Luke 1:68–79
Though this reading is from the gospel of Luke in the New Testament, these words are spoken before Jesus is born. They are a prophecy, a declaration of the mighty Savior, Messiah, whom God will raise up, and also of Zechariah’s own son, John who will prepare the way. John will be like the first light in the morning preparing us for the coming of God’s light.
67 Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke this prophecy: 68"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has looked favorably on his people and redeemed them. 69He has raised up a mighty savior for us in the house of his servant David, 70as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, 71that we would be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us. 72Thus he has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors, and has remembered his holy covenant, 73the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham, to grant us 74that we, being rescued from the hands of our enemies, might serve him without fear, 75in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
76And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, 77to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the forgiveness of their sins. 78By the tender mercy of our God, the dayspring from on high will break upon us, 79to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace."
KING
Sixth Lesson: Psalm 47
We return to the Old Testament, to the song book of that time. Psalm 47 is a royal psalm sung at the enthronement of the king. We will say this responsively to Jesus who is God’s eternal king for us.
R Clap your hands, all you peoples; shout to God with loud songs of joy.
C For the LORD, the Most High, is awesome, a great king over all the earth.
R He subdued peoples under us, and nations under our feet.
C He chose our heritage for us, the pride of Jacob whom he loves. Selah
R God has gone up with a shout, the LORD with the sound of a trumpet.
C Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises.
R For God is the king of all the earth; sing praises with a psalm.
C God is king over the nations; God sits on his holy throne.
EMMANUEL
Seventh Lesson: Isaiah 7:10-14, 16
All of the book of Isaiah addresses difficult times when the Kingdom of Judah was repeatedly under attack and overmatched. This hope is received as God’s Holy Word meant for every time. King Ahaz refused to believe the prophet Isaiah, even to the point of refusing any sign confirming its truth. God gives the sign anyway. Birth will still happen; a young woman will dare to name her child “God is with us”; and before that child gets beyond the “terrible twos” the enemy will be destroyed. The Greek translation of Isaiah, which was commonly used in Jesus’ time, translated the Hebrew word for young woman, as “virgin”. God brings hope in our time, in all times, in Jesus who is truly our Emmanuel.
10 Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz, saying, 11 Ask a sign of the LORD your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven.
12 But Ahaz said, I will not ask, and I will not put the LORD to the test.
13 Then Isaiah said: "Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary mortals, that you weary my God also? 14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, a young woman, a virgin is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel (which means, God with us). 16 For before the child knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land before whose two kings you are in dread will be deserted.