Advent: 3 December 2022
Good morning,
Today’s window is the fourth in our Advent Calendar A to Z. And D is for… David.
David was King of Israel around a thousand years before the birth of Jesus. He was a shepherd-lad who was chosen by God through the prophet Samuel to rule his people. Charismatic and flawed, he remained after his death a key figure in the people’s hopes. And in time the longing came for a promised Messiah, one from the line of David who would rule his people with justice and righteousness. The Gospel narratives of the Christmas story are convinced that Jesus is the Messiah in the line of David. The very first sentence in the New Testament, Matthew 1:1 says: An account of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham. And in Luke’s Gospel, the angel Gabriel promises to Mary that her son 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 ancestor David. (Luke 1:32) Moreover Joseph was descended from the house and family of David, and so, because of the census, he and the pregnant Mary make their way to the city of David – Bethlehem (Luke 2:4).
David makes his way into my quotation collection largely because of his abuse of power in taking Bathsheba to satisfy his lust having seen her bathing, while consigning her husband to a likely death in warfare. See his two-word summary in this Bible in 50 Words:
God made
Adam bit
Noah arked
Abraham split
Joseph ruled
Jacob fooled
Bush talked
Moses balked
Pharaoh plagued
People walked
Sea divided
Tablets guided
Promise landed
Saul freaked
David peeked
Prophets warned
Jesus born
God walked
Love talked
Anger crucified
Hope died
Love rose
Spirit flamed
Word spread
God remained.
Or this mistaken but instructive sentence culled from a list of schoolchildren’s exam answers:
David was a Hebrew Kings skilled at playing the liar.
Indeed David was a musician on the lyre, and responsible for many of the psalms. So here is a beautiful meditation on the sort of praise God may be asking us to give today: the song One of the Broken by Prefab Sprout https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BA0KQxBz2uc
Hi, this is God, here.
Talking to me used to be a simple affair.
Moses only had to see a burning bush,
And he’d pull up a chair.
Well it’s been a long time since we talked in that way,
If you’re wondering what to say
Sing me no deep hymn of devotion.
Sing me no slow, sweet melody.
Sing it to one, one of the broken,
And brother, you’re singing, singing to me.
I remember King David,
With his harp and his beautiful, beautiful songs.
I answered his prayers,
And showed him a place where his music belongs.
It’s not too far from here, come get up off your knees.
If you’re looking for ways to please,
Sing me no psalm, you’re not King David.
Sing me no high, hushed, Glory Be.
Sing it to one, one of the broken,
And brother, you’re singing, singing to me.
Sing me no deep hymn of devotion.
Sing me no slow, sweet, melody.
Sing it to one, one of the broken,
And brother, you’re singing, singing to me.
And here is an image of David, a somewhat chiselled lyre-bearing monarch, from the gallery in St Salvator’s Chapel, designed by Herbert Hendrie.
A reminder that the first in-person University Carol Service for three years will take place this evening at 7.30 pm in Holy Trinity Church, South Street. Doors open at 6.45 pm. All are welcome – students and staff members, but also alumni and anyone who would like to attend. There will be music and readings celebrating the birth of the Messiah in the city of David.
Yours,
Donald.