Christmas Tree: Part Two

Christmasjoy

Last week we learned the first verse of the carol O Christmas Tree is celebrating the birth of the Christ child we as Christians are named after.

The tree we use to celebrate this birth by decorating it and singing about reminds us of the loyalty our Heavenly Father has demonstrated by sending Christ.

The color of this tree reinforces our hope in our Heavenly Father who has brought to fulfillment promises made concerning the arrival of the Christ child.

What can we learn from verse two of O Christmas Tree?

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O Christmas Tree: Part One

OChristmasTree

I have pointed out before the intention of God’s landscaping the earth to bring us and himself pleasure. Writing now in the month of December our American culture is busy setting up trees and decorating them in our homes, work, and public places. We also decorate doors, windows, mantles, etc. with fresh greenery (or imitation!)  Have you ever wondered why we do this? What is all the fuss about dragging trees and greenery out to decorate in honor of Christmas and singing O Tannenbaum (O Christmas Tree for English speaking people)?

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SPEECH

speech
  • Is there a speech you have heard that you still remember even though it was years ago?
  • Why did that speech impact you so significantly?
  • Do you remember who delivered the speech or do you just remember the impact of their words?
  • Or maybe the words that impacted you were not part of a formal speech but  written in a book or letter?
  • Whose speech, whether spoken or written, do you place high value on today?
  • Why?
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HOPE OR DESPAIR

directions

Which path do you tend to take when life gets tough: hope or despair?

Do you easily vacillate between hope or despair?

Joel 1:1-2:11 describes a situation of utter despair.

The Judean community has not only suffered an intense locust plague that has led to famine, drought, and fires but are also told this is just a precursor to the Lord coming to attack them in judgement as well.

In response to the announcement of the Lord’s coming attack, Joel 2:11 ends with the question: Who can endure it?

In other words, is there any hope to be found?

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A Branch of Hope

Read Genesis 7:4-8:10

Noah had built the ark, gathered his wife, sons and daughters-in-law as well as pairs of all animals including additional ones for sacrificial offerings while in the ark. Once sealed in the ark by God’s own hand it began to rain. How long did it rain? (Genesis 7:4)

Then after the rain stops, how many days passed? (Genesis 7:24)

Once the ark ceases to move, how many days did Noah wait before he opens a window of the ark to send out first a raven and then a dove? (Genesis 8:6-8)

The dove returns because it had no place to set her foot. Scripture tells us this means the earth was still covered in water.

How many days does Noah wait before sending out the dove again? (Genesis 8:10)

What does the dove return with? (Genesis 8:11)

And the dove came back to him in the evening, and behold, in her mouth was a freshly plucked olive leaf. So, Noah knew that the waters had subsided from the earth. (Gen 8:11 ESV)

The first evidence of foliage post flood is a leaf from an olive tree. The ESV translation retains the word “behold” from the original Hebrew manuscript. “Behold” is a word meant as an exclamatory expression to draw focus and emphasis to what comes after it. In this case, hope is what is being emphasized. The rain has stopped. The ark has ceased floating around. The mountain tops have appeared. And now, an olive leaf is brought back to the ark by the dove.  Can you imagine the emotions that Noah and his family experienced that day?

Noah’s family had been in the ark tending to all the various animals for at least 244 days at this point. Bear in mind they had no TV, no cell phones, and no internet. They couldn’t go outside to warm themselves in the sun or walk barefoot in the grass for a “break” from the space and scenery of the ark. But now they finally have a sign that a food bearing tree is starting to leaf out!

What is the longest you’ve had to wait for a sign of hope from God? Or perhaps you’re still waiting for one? Write or share your experience with a friend today.

It strikes me that spending time considering the hope that God provides us, at just the right moment we need it, is something we may occasionally fail to recognize or acknowledge in our lives. We must be looking for these signs of hope with anticipation and expectation while continuing to work at what God has called us to do for Him. Even if it means days and days of routine. That’s the tricky part for most of us.  We must watch for and share with others the “behold” moments of hope we experience from our God.

May you have an expectant heart and fervent hope just as Noah did while continuing to be faithful in the routines your life currently entails.