Advent 3: Tuesday
Read:
Zephaniah 3:14-20The LORD has taken away your judgments, He has cast out your enemy. The
King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst; You shall see disaster no more.
(Zephaniah 3:15)
“Sing, O daughter of Zion!” begins our text, so let us begin with this. Zion
was remarkable because of God's presence there, and the daughter of Zion is the
people of God—those who rejoice in the Lord's presence and grace. Another
name would be the Bride of Christ, the Church. This bid for joy is for you.
Many people today are in pursuit of holy living, though that definition will
vary. Since holy means “set apart,” it seems that many believe that a holy life is
one that is different from the norm, perhaps one imbued with a happy spirit or an
added zest and commitment to life. Some will say that a life set apart is one with
noticeable works above and beyond your normal duties.
But is that what makes a life “holy”?
It's true that holy means “set apart,” but not in the sense of out-of-theordinary.
Something that is holy is set apart for God. Think of the temple: what
made the Holy Place holy? The fact that it was the Lord's house. What made the
Holy of Holies even holier? That was the place set apart for the Holy One to
dwell.
Now, please bear with me: second graders tend to get this next sequence
right, while we grown-ups do a fine job of getting it wrong. To be set apart or
holy is to be not unholy, and what makes you unholy? Sin, of course. If you're
sinful, you're not holy; and if you're not holy, you're not set apart from the world
and you can't be in God's presence. So if you want to be holy, what must you
do? Get rid of your sin—get rid of whatever makes you unholy. How is this
done? Through the forgiveness of sins, which God gives you for Jesus' sake.
It's God's grace and presence that makes you holy, not your works or zeal or
passion. Look at the verse above: what makes the daughter of Zion holy? The
Lord has taken away the grounds for her to be judged. He has thus defeated the
enemy, for the devil has nothing left with which to accuse. Furthermore, the
Lord is in her midst—He's present with His people for their good.
What makes you holy? The Lord makes you holy with forgiveness. He gives
it to you because He is present with you in His Word and Sacrament. If that
leaves you zealous and energetic, so be it. If not, you are still holy because Jesus
says you are. The one who suffers immobilizing depression but still clings to
grace is holy; the one who works energetically for charities, but remains
impenitent, is not. As we'll see in the Gospel lesson this week, one is tempted to
believe he's holy only if he feels holy. But it depends not on your feelings or
work, but upon the Lord. Rejoice, daughter of Zion: your King is with you, the
judgments against you are gone, and in Him you are pure.
When Jesus enters meek and lowly To fill the home with sweetest peace;
When hearts have felt His blessing holy And found from sin complete release,
Then light and calm within shall reign And hearts divided love again.
(TLH 65:2)