Advent 4 Devotion
December 24, 2023 • Pastor Stephen DeMik • 2 Samuel 7:1–16, Psalm 89:1–5, Romans 16:25–27, Luke 1:26–38
Invocation
in the name of GOD the FATHER, in the name of GOD the SON, in the name of GOD the SPIRIT, praise the LORD together.
[ prayer ]
CALL TO WORSHIP
L: We proclaim the steadfast love of the Lord.
C: Come, Lord Jesus.
L: The reign of his Kingdom has begun. We eagerly await his second coming.
C: Come, Lord Jesus.
L: There is no one like our God in all the heavens.
C: He is the great and mighty one.
L: And yet He humbly comes to us
C: To be enthroned in our hearts.
L: Come, Lord Jesus.
Suggested Hymn “O Come All Ye Faithful” (397),
“Behold Our God” (Sovereign Grace Music)
CALL AND RESPONSE
L: King of the universe,
C: You have created the heavens, the sun, moon and stars. Their expanse proclaims your glory, majesty, and authority. Your throne is established forever.
L: King of the world,
C: From north to south, you rule the raging sea; the mountains praise your name. We see the strength of your arm and the work of your hands — righteousness, justice, love, and faithfulness go before you. Your throne is established forever.
L: King of our hearts,
C: You became like us, a child born into a world of sin. You suffered and were punished for us so that, with You, we could inherit the Kingdom of God. We give you thanks and praise for the enduring compassion and love You show us in Christ Jesus. Your throne is established forever.
CONFESSION/ABSOLUTION
L: Beloved in the Lord, in the midst of the celebration of our coming King let us confess our sin and rely together on his divine mercy and grace.
L: For the times when we have decided that our ways are higher than your ways, O Lord:
C: We confess our reluctance to relinquish control, we acknowledge that we have sought to steer our own course rather than trusting in You, O Lord.
L: For the times we have ignored Your calling to be present and committed to the family of Christ and reflect your light into the world:
C: We ask for Your forgiveness, gracious God. Send Your Holy Spirit to enlighten us and produce His fruit in our lives.
L: In the face of uncertainty and change, when fear tempts us to put our trust in things other than You, O Lord:
C: Help us remember the abiding, covenantal love you have for us in Jesus Christ, and teach us to rest in Your eternal promises.
L: Let us embrace the humility that comes from knowing we are not our own, but belong, body and soul, in life and in death, to our faithful Savior, Jesus Christ.
C: King of our hearts, align our will with yours and grant us faith to live as your forgiven and beloved people in this world. Come, Lord Jesus.
L: Absolution
SCRIPTURE READINGS
2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16
Now when the king lived in his house and the Lord had given him rest from all his surrounding enemies, the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells in a tent.” And Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that is in your heart, for the Lord is with you.”
But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, “Go and tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord: Would you build me a house to dwell in? I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent for my dwelling. In all places where I have moved with all the people of Israel, did I speak a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?”’ Now, therefore, thus you shall say to my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be prince over my people Israel. And I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more. And violent men shall afflict them no more, as formerly, from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house. And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.’”
Psalm 89:1-5
I will sing of the steadfast love of the Lord, forever; with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations. For I said, “Steadfast love will be built up forever; in the heavens you will establish your faithfulness.” You have said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one; I have sworn to David my servant: ‘I will establish your offspring forever, and build your throne for all generations.’” Let the heavens praise your wonders, O Lord, your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones!
Romans 16:25-27
Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith—to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.
Luke 1:26-38
In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”
And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.” And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
PRAYERS
Long-Expected King of Glory, You promised your people a good King and Savior from the line of David, whose rule would be marked by righteousness and justice for the poor and oppressed. A good King is good news for all under their care, and so we join all creation in longing for You this day, Good King.
Prepare us to hear the news that, while we await your second coming, the King has indeed come — not in David’s palace city of Jerusalem but in his hometown of Bethlehem as a humble baby. We know He was born for Jerusalem’s hill, not to be pampered, but put to death on a cross. Lord, give us eyes to see Your kingdom as it comes to us in ways we do not always expect or recognize. Like those at Emmaus, open our eyes to recognize Your presence in the breaking of the bread and sharing of the cup. Open our ears to hear Your voice in Your Word. Make room in our hearts for the Christ child and for your kingdom. May you reign from sea to sea and to the ends of the earth, as you rule your church with steadfast love and mercy. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
our FATHER who art in heaven, hallowed be THY name,
THY kingdom come, THY will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
for THINE is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.
[doxology]
oh come let us adore HIM oh come let us adore HIM
oh come let us adore HIM CHRIST the LORD
[ blessing ]
[ zephaniah 3:17, 20 ]
"The LORD your GOD is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; HE will rejoice over you with gladness; HE will quiet you by his love; HE will exult over you with loud singing. At that time I will bring you in, at the time when I gather you together; for I will make you renowned and praised among all the peoples of the earth, when I restore your fortunes before your eyes,” says the Lord.
