Quote

Notice everything
Correct a little
Cherish the brethren.

In thought—Faith
In word—Truth
In Deed—Courage
In life—Service

ST. BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

The Eucharist is the medicine of immortality, the antidote we take in order not to die but to live forever in Jesus Christ.
ST. IGNATIUS OF ANTIOCH
THE LETTER TO THE EPHESIANS 20.2

The Christmas Light

Saint Luke Lutheran Church
410 S Rush St, Itasca, IL, 60143-2130

December 24th 7:15 PM

Summary: The Christmas Light is Christ, who comes into the darkness of our world and rescues us. So, we trust in Christ and celebrate with Joy the Christ who keeps His promises as Christ continues to lead His people through the darkness with His Word and Sacraments.

The Beauty of Christmas lights are best enjoyed in the darkness.  Can’t see them well in the strong sunlight light, but when it is the darkest, then the Christmas lights have a stirring effect.

This evening as we celebrate the eve of the birth of our savior Jesus the Christ, we gather around Christ and His Word, which as our Old Testament lesson notes that Christ is the light, that is the Christmas light, that comes upon us as we are in the darkness.

We are in Constant cloud of the darkness of our sin, the darkness that first started with Adam and Eve that darkness that extends to all humanity, covering our lives.

We see a part of this darkness during the winter time when the days are shorter. Some people seem to be facing an extra sense of gloom.  Suicides are up, people struggling with depression, increases of loneliness among people.  All the time when people are having holiday parties, family get-togethers.

While the extras decorations, events and parties may be a distraction for these darker moments, these distractions only last a moment.  The decorations, no matter how wonderful, it is not the solution to the problem.  But we need the perpetual light.  This doesn’t mean that we just leave up the Christmas decoration all year around, but as our Old Testament reading from Isaiah notes is Christ, Christ who comes into our darkness.

Isaiah 9:2 (ESV) The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.

Isaiah points us, not to decorations and parties, but to a great light, the Christmas light.  The light that will shine on the people in darkness.

St. Luke the evangelist gives us more about this Christmas Light in song of Zarachiah, which is about John the Baptist.

Luke 1:76–79 (ESV)

⁷⁶   And you, child, (referring to John the Baptist) will be called the prophet of the Most High;for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,

⁷⁷   to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, (why, because when we see the depth of the darkessness of our sins, then we will fully appreciate the light)

⁷⁸   because of the tender mercy of our God,whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high

⁷⁹   to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

Therefore we celebrate the birth of Jesus the Christ. Christ’s birth shows us that the Father fulfilled His promise in sending us a savior, to deliver us from sin, death, and the devil.

Psalm 107:14–15 (ESV) He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death,

and burst their bonds apart. 15 Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man!

So, we thank the Lord, for His mercy, steadfast love.  For without Christ, without His love and forgiveness, we are the people who sin in darkness and in the shadow of death. With Christ we have as Isaiah continues: Isaiah 9:3 (ESV)

³    You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you.

This is a joy that the world cannot give.  This is a joy that all the decorations of this world cannot compare to.  This is a Joy, knowing that there is no darkness that is a barrier for Christ, for the Christmas light shines upon us no matter how thick the darkness around us is, Christ is there, as Isaiah continues

Isaiah 9:6 (ESV)  For to us a child is born, to us a son is given;

Christ brings us this light into our world and into our lives.  While we may fear absolute darkness.  God is never threatened by deep darkness; it causes him no terror. No matter how dark a place is, God will lead his people through so that they fear no evil as Psalm 23 reminds us.

Psalm 23:4 (ESV)

⁴    Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me;

Christ continues to lead His people through the darkness with His Word and Sacraments.

Psalm 119:105 (ESV) Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

In a little bit, our candles will be lit from the light from the Christ candle, it is that Christmas light.  I like the last line as we leave, We extinguish our Candles – but not the light of Christ. For even after the Christmas decoration come down, we return here and gather, to continue to receive that Christmas light.  For where the Gospel is proclaimed and Christ’s Sacraments administered there Christ is with us guiding us through the darkness of our lives.

On this eve of the Nativity of our Lord, Christmas, we gather around Christ and His Word.  For it is this Christmas light promised long ago that comes to you, in the midst of your darkness, to give you hope, to give you joy to give you peace, that the world cannot give. And in the darkest moments our lives, we have joy:

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given. In His Name, Amen.

Rejoice vs. Exult Isaiah 61:10

Why it matters to translate Soul as Soul, and to leave it a mystery.

Is there a difference between Rejoice and Exult in Isaiah 61:10?  Yes, especially as we look at its subject.

The subject for rejoice is I.  Referring to the person.  No problems here, I think most people will understand this well.

The subject for exult is Soul as the ESV translate.  How does one translate the word soul, from Hebrew

נֶ֫פֶשׁ

Here is where it gets interesting.

The original, concrete meaning of the word was probably “to breathe.”

It must not be concluded from this study of nepeš that the OT presents man as physical only. There are other ot ideas to be considered in this connection: (1) the ot teaching concerning the “spirit” of man; (2) the OT teaching concerning the heart (lēb) of man; (3) the subject of the image of God (see ṣelem) in man; and (4) the picture as given of man’s relation to God.

Waltke, B. K. (1999). 1395 נָפַשׁ. R. L. Harris, G. L. Archer Jr., & B. K. Waltke (Eds.), Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament (electronic ed., p. 588-91). Chicago: Moody Press.

 

1. = that which breathes, the breathing substance or being = ψυχή, anima, the soul, the inner being of man:

2. The נפשׁ becomes a living being: by God’s breathing נשׁמת חיים into the nostrils of its בשׂר; of man Gn 2:7

3. The נפשׁ (without חיה noun or verb) is specif.: a. a living being whose life resides in the blood

Brown, F., Driver, S. R., & Briggs, C. A. (1977). Enhanced Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon (p. 659). Oxford: Clarendon Press.

 

Isaiah 61:10a (ESV)
I will greatly rejoice in the LORD;
my soul shall exult in my God,…

I REJOICE

שׂ֧וֹשׂ אָשִׂ֣ישׂ בַּֽיהוָ֗ה

Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia: with Werkgroep Informatica, Vrije Universiteit Morphology; Bible. O.T. Hebrew. Werkgroep Informatica, Vrije Universiteit. (2006). (Is 61:10). Logos Bible Software.

 

My Soul EXULT

תָּגֵ֤ל נַפְשִׁי֙ בֵּֽאלֹהַ֔י

Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia: with Werkgroep Informatica, Vrije Universiteit Morphology; Bible. O.T. Hebrew. Werkgroep Informatica, Vrije Universiteit. (2006). (Is 61:10). Logos Bible Software.

גִּיל

Root meaning is “to circle around” from which such ideas as “to circle in joy” are readily derived. The root meaning is more applicable to vigorous, enthusiastic expressions of joy; but, in the ot, it and its derivatives serve as poetic and prophetic terms for various kinds of joy.

gîl most often refers to rejoicing at God’s works or attributes

Lewis, J. P. (1999). 346 גִּיל. R. L. Harris, G. L. Archer Jr., & B. K. Waltke (Eds.), Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament (electronic ed., p. 159). Chicago: Moody Press.