Last week in the newsletter, Pastor Steven asked us to consider the “scandal of particularity,” the way our Lord does particular works, in particular places, at particular times, in and through particular people. In Erich’s sermon on John 1 this past Sunday we were reminded that our Father has even sent his Son to be made man—a particular man, born into a particular family, in a particular town of a particular nation. A man who grew up speaking his family’s language, helping his mother with the tasks she assigned him, learning the carpentry skills his father had mastered, and singing the Psalms he himself had given to his people with whom he was now singing. What a glorious mystery! Our infinite God become man, the Word made flesh, who is even now at the Father’s side—he has made the Father known to us (John 1:14, 18).
In Psalm 147 we are called to worship our infinite God who delights in relationship with particular members of his vast creation, even with us! “He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names” (verse 4). He who created the expanse of the heavens not only can tell you how many stars there are at any given point in history, he could also someday teach us their names—because that is how he cares for his creation! Psalm 147:7-11 continues this theme of our Lord’s infinite greatness, and brings the “scandal of particularity” closer to home, ending by pointing at each one of us:
Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving;
make melody to our God on the lyre:
He covers the heavens with clouds;
he prepares rain for the earth;
he makes grass grow on the hills.
He gives to the beasts their food,
and to the young ravens that cry.
His delight is not in the strength of the horse,
nor his pleasure in the legs of a man,
but the Lord takes pleasure in those fear him,
in those who hope in his steadfast love.
Last week in this space Pastor Steven challenged us, “to wish for a different time is to miss what particular thing he is doing now.” In Psalm 147 the challenge is related: Because God holds the heavens in his hands, and provides for the creatures of earth, we are called to thanksgiving and hope. We shouldn’t be distracted by all we don’t know about why the Lord has chosen particular people, places, times, and ways. To dwell on “why Israel?” or even “why me?” is to miss the particular thing you know he is doing now—living in relationship with you, loving you, providing for you. The challenge then is to hope in his steadfast love, simply because he is the Lord of creation!
As Erich encouraged us on Sunday, we should remember our baptism, the sign of our entry into and belonging in the family of God, and be strengthened! As the psalmist says in 46:10, “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” The infinite Lord of the universe has come at a particular time, in a particular place, to a particular people—even as a particular man!—“so that we might receive adoption as sons” (Gal. 3:5b). He became man for you, for me. Let us hope in his steadfast love!
-Rebekah
A Meditation on Luke 2
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem…
I ran across the phrase scandal of particularity in a systematic theology textbook in 2012, and still wrestle with the concept from time to time. The idea is that God chose a particular woman to bear Jesus Christ, which is a scandal (from a human perspective), because saying “yes” to Mary necessarily means saying “no” to many other equally worthy young Jewish women. The concept goes further than just Mary, though. By saying “yes” to the Eternal Son of God becoming incarnate as a Jew, God said “no” to the Greeks, Romans, and Celts. By saying “yes” to the era of Rome, he said “no” to the era of the United Kingdom or America. This particularity is scandalous to us because it doesn’t seem fair that God should choose Abraham and not Laban (or George Washington), Isaac and not Ishmael (or Abraham Lincoln), Jacob and not Esau (or Ronald Reagan). Why does Mary get chosen to bear the Christ and not Judith, the great Jewish heroine of an earlier century?
Luke seems to love the concept of scandal of particularity—after all, he is perpetually pointing out the exact time and person involved at every moment in the story. The unique historicity of the story seems to thrill the doctor-turned-biographer/apologist. A decree from Caesar Augustus (not Tiberius!) when Quirinius (not Northam!) was governor. Joseph and Mary left Nazareth (not Capernaum!) to go to Bethlehem (not Bethphage!).
Sometimes we wonder whether things would be better (for us) if God has chosen a different time and place to do what he has done. Wouldn’t things be easier if we were alive to see Jesus in his ministry on earth? Surely it would be easier to believe if we saw a miracle or two! Perhaps more mundanely, wouldn’t life be better if we could go back 50 years to a simpler moment in American history? But the reality is that God has chosen the seasons and places of our life (and all of human history!) to do particular things, many of which cannot be repeated. To wish for a different time is to miss what particular thing he might be doing now. This is obvious when we think about the birth of Christ, but it is still true when we think of our own life. God has chosen us for this particular season, for the particular family in which he has placed us, and for the particular tasks that lie before us. To long for the past or the future, to long for different circumstances or settings, to long for different giftings or abilities is to miss what he wants to do now, with us, in this particular moment.
As you celebrate the birth of Christ this year, don’t be afraid to ask God, “What do you have for me in this season? What am I called to do? Whom have you equipped me to love?” He is not done choosing particular people, at particular moments in history, to do particular things. In other words, expect that he will answer your prayer!
Steven+
Song Spotlight
Did you know “Joy to the World” is not about Christmas? That might seem strange to say; after all, it’s the most popular Christmas hymn of the 20th century! But take a closer look—there are no mangers, angels, animals, shepherds, or babies.
Most of the hymn is based on Psalms 96 and 98. These psalms show God’s people joining with all of creation to rejoice in God’s glory and strength. They can see his salvation with their own eyes, so they celebrate!
Isaac Watts took that language of celebration and aimed it at Jesus’ second coming. He invites us, as we sing, to see him as though he is coming right now. The Lord has come, so rejoice! Prepare him room! Join with the “fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains” to “repeat the sounding joy.”
There’s a reason for this outburst. In Genesis 3, After Adam and Eve sinned, God laid a curse on the earth. It would grow thorns and thistles; work would be frustrating and life would be sorrowful, because sin has consequences. We feel that curse now. We were already anxious, worried, tired, heartbroken, homesick, and grief-stricken. Now an invisible virus can derail our celebration plans at a moment’s notice. This is a perfect time to remember: the ground is hard, but Jesus breaks the curse. “He comes to make his blessings flow far as the curse is found.”
“Joy to the World” is not about the birth of Jesus. It’s about his return, and that makes it such a powerful Christmas hymn! This Christmas, remember that God always keeps his promises. Celebrate, because Christ has come. Rejoice, because he is coming back!
-Justin Hendrix