Do You Believe That Faith and History Converge at the Crossroads?
Good Morning Friends,
Today is the 245 anniversary of Beethoven’s birth and baptism so it is fitting to have a devotional that touches on music. It is said that Beethoven’s works of choral music and orchestral work explores his inner struggle and ultimate triumph over doubt. Some however lift up their doubt and say that faith and history are parallel tracks that never meet. Now fast forward to a different style of music and the very first blues song, which was written by W. C. Handy in 1903. It too struggles with this issue and sides with Beethoven on God’s glory and triumph being connected in us and in history. The Handy’s blues song was about railroad tracks that actually meet. This rather strange song has imbedded in it a meaningful message. The song is about the journey to where the tracks of the Yellow Dog cross the tracks of the Southern Railroad as they meet in the town port town of Moorehead, North Carolina. And it dawned on me that this journey by rail…and our journey in life is like Hannah’s and Mary’s… It is in the space between the tracks, appearing unending and separated, until we connect at the crossroads. Here faith meets history. Here we discover grace. Here our hope is turned into history… His story…the promise of God fulfilled. Do You Believe That Faith and History Converge at the Crossroads?
Scripture: Hannah prayed and said, ‘My heart exults in the Lord; my strength is exalted in my God. My mouth derides my enemies, because I rejoice in my victory. ‘There is no Holy One like the Lord, no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God. Talk no more so very proudly, let not arrogance come from your mouth; for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. The bows of the mighty are broken, but the feeble gird on strength. Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, but those who were hungry are fat with spoil. The barren has borne seven, but she who has many children is forlorn. The Lord kills and brings to life; he brings down to Sheol and raises up. The Lord makes poor and makes rich; he brings low, he also exalts. He raises up the poor from the dust; he lifts the needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor. For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s, and on them he has set the world. ‘He will guard the feet of his faithful ones, but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness; for not by might does one prevail. The Lord! His adversaries shall be shattered; the Most High will thunder in heaven. The Lord will judge the ends of the earth; he will give strength to his king, and exalt the power of his anointed.’
1 Samuel 2:1-10 (NRSV)
And Mary said, ‘My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.’
Luke 1:46-55 (NRSV)
Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.
Proverbs 13:12 (NRSV)
Message: Both Hannah and Mary sing a song that can be, should be, our song in this Advent season. Both were singing the blues as a way of expressing their honest feelings of the struggle and the difficulties of her life until God magnificently transform it into a song of praise. Yes, we too stand accused. We feel the tears of their souls as they are poured out in a bargain with God in prayer. Here we realize that the story of Hannah in many ways mirrors that of Mary and is designed to be an encouragement for anyone needing reassurance of God’s redemption plan and His faithfulness. In the Christmas story as in today’s text a son is given by the grace of God. It is about faith and history blessed by God. The recurring theme sings to us that we are to be responding with grace. The scripture speaks about how God produces fruits in our lives… fulfilling our hearts desires when we surrender to His creative force. We read the story about the fruits of the womb, of Hannah receiving God’s peace… of Mary receiving God’s peace. The beauty is that as we have prepared for the coming of the Christ Child, now we too can sing in thanksgiving, in celebration, in remembrance, and in proclamation of the promise made to our ancestors. Like Hannah, and Mary this is the time for us to indulge in celebratory joy in the promises that comes to us in Jesus. Both Hannah and Mary exclaim their joy in their God. Both Hannah and Mary take heart in the promise that the Lord considers, cares for, and acts. Both Hannah and Mary identify what God is doing as being not just for them, but also through them for the whole people. We can share the song for we do not have to sing the blues forever.
Pray that we commit our situation to God, putting everything into His hands. Pray we learn to trust the grace of God as we commit our self to God. Pray we give our witness and commit our best to God in the hope that faith and history might be a promise fulfilled in our lives. Pray we stay on track realizing that the God of history knows what to do with our faith far better than we do. Pray we do not cling to possessions but release them to God. Pray that when we sing the blues the rhythm propel us to a new place. Pray as we listen we discover the history of others whose traditions are reflected in song.
Blessings,
John Lawson
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