Devotions Archive Archive: 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 Search Archive Print This Article Drums roll and trumpets sound Sunday, December 22, 2002 Romans 16:25-27 25) Now to him who is able to establish you by my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, 26) but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all nations might believe and obey him-- 27) to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen. The Jews treasured their prophetic writings. The words of Moses and David and Isaiah and Jeremiah echoed in the ears of babies, were memorized by earnest young boys and girls, pondered in the hearts of men and women, and treasured by the scribes and Pharisees. Moses cried out in Psalm 90 for God to "establish the work of our hands." Paul proclaims that has been accomplished. No one knew the hour or the day when the Messiah would come, but Paul rejoices in the revelation of that Messiah, the mystery is no longer hidden. While he's visiting Athens, Paul suggests to the Greek intellectuals that their "unknown god" is actually Yahweh, the god who must not be named. Paul knows that Jesus is the man-God who brings glory forever from Yahweh, his father the most high, the only wise god. I don't mean to be a wise guy, but I usually hear that word in my head associated with men, not God. They come bearing gifts for God. Paul's words prod my thinking, and his poetry makes my spirit fly. The church has called this kind of writing "doxology," from the Greek "doxa" and "logos", and meaning "glory-word." Minnesotan John Piper writes, "The main reason people feel awkward about singing or shouting glory to God is simply that he is not as real to them as Kent Hrbek or Tommy Kramer or Nevil Mariner or Garrison Keillor. So the meaning of doxology is clear to anyone who has ever admired anything. You've all done it. But the experience of having your heart soar in admiration to GOD depends on whether you have ears to hear and eyes to see that above and behind every admirable thing on earth stands the magnificence and beauty of God. Paul's admiration for God was boundless." Jesus, come quickly and give us eyes and ears. So that we too can admire you, so we can bring you gifts, so we can sing and praise you, worship you, and find our spirits with you in the air. "; Add      Edit    Delete