Waiting for God’s Peace

After meticulous tracing Jesus’ lineage, Matthew describes it in this way: “Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Messiah,” (Matthew 1:17, NIV). Neatly breaking his genealogy into three groups of fourteen (probably because it’s seven times two), Matthew gives us a way to think about everything that went before the coming of the Messiah.

Yesterday we looked at that middle group—from King David to the Babylonian exile. It began on the high note of God’s chosen king defeating the enemies of Israel surrounding the nation, but it ended in division, defeat, and God’s people being taken away from the land of promise. What we learn is that God is the only one who can bring about his peace. God’s peace won’t come through military might or political negotiation. The only true lasting peace will come from God and it will be brought through his chosen King, Jesus.

So we look around us at wars and rumors of wars. We see disarray and division and hurt. It causes us to deepen our faith in the only one who will bring a peace that will last forever.

We have lots of things that are coming up: a cookie exchange next week, Wednesday coffee and devotions, Friday coffee and fellowship.

Also remember that next week is the deadline for contributing to Project Evergreen and to the Giving Tree support of the Danvers Carlock Food Bank.

We also will continue to enjoy the special music each Sunday of Advent. I hope that you’ll come out to our worship service and bring along a friend as well.

God bless, Brian

Scripture readings for next Sunday

Matthew 1:12-15—These names are becoming less familiar to us. Which do you recognize in this list?

Zechariah 4—What is the significance to Zerubbabel of this prophecy?

Luke 1:39-45—What is significant about Elizabeth’s expression of joy?

Revelation 1:12-20—What seems familiar about these images? What is the significance of this?