VIC Advent Devotions

O Shepherd of Israel, hear us; You who led Joseph like a flock, O One enthroned between the cherubim, shine! As You lead Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh, stir up Your power and come to save us. (Psalm 80:1-3)

O God our Savior, help us; because of your glorious name, rescue us; yes, forgive our sins for Your name's sake. (Psalm 79:9)

Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to the royal son! (Psalm 72:1)

Shout for joy to God all the earth; sing the glory of his name; give to him glorious praise! Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies come cringing to you. All the earth worships you and sings praises to you; they sing praises to your name.” (Psalm 66:1-4)

Awake! Why are you sleeping, O Lord? Rouse yourself! Do not reject us forever! Why do you hide your face? Why do you forget our affliction and oppression?” (Psalm 44:23-24)

In sacrifice and offering you have not delighted, but you have given me an open ear. Burnt offering and sin offering you have not required. Then I said, “Behold, I have come; in the scroll of the book it is written of me: I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.” (Psalm 40:6-8)

Turn to me and be kind to me– I am lonely and miserable.  The troubles of my heart have become great. Take me out of my distress.  See how poor and miserable I am, and take away all my sins (Psalm 25:16-18)

Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD, strong and mighty, the LORD, mighty in battle! (Psalm 24:7-8)

O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger. (Psalm 8:1-2)

"Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?" Psalm 2:1. This world and its powerful people seek to cast off the bonds of the Lord's ways. But this is foolishness, because our King, Jesus Christ, is more powerful than all of them. He is the Good King that cares for His people.

Blessed is the man! Psalm 1 sets the tone for the entire Psalter. "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night."  Jesus is that blessed man, and through faith we are joined to Him in blessedness.

The Psalms are about Jesus.  Jesus tells His disciples, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled” (Luke 24:44). Jesus fulfilled all the Old Testament including the Psalms.  Therefore, Jesus coming into the world that first Christmas must also be reflective of the messag...