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Advent texts

It's that time of year again. I am planning preaching texts for the Advent season. 

This year, my idea for the first three Sundays in Advent is to have preaching on each of the three main parts of the Old Testament, namely the Law, the Prophets and the Writings. 

Here are some texts from the five books of Moses (Torah) that are relevant to Advent/Christmas

  • Genesis 49 - Jacob blessing his sons, and singling out his fourth son, Judah, as the one from whom the "sceptre will not depart"
  • Numbers 24 - Balaam prophetically "sees" the Star that will defeat Moab. 
  • Deuteronomy 18 - Moses predicts "another prophet like me
Arguably, most of the favourite Advent/Christmas texts/passages are taken from the Latter Prophets, such as Isaiah and Micah. One example not always included in the list of advent texts would be Isaiah 11. 

In terms of the "Writings", in the Hebrew division of the Old Testament this includes 11 books/scrolls (corresponds to 13 books in Christian Bibles): Psalms, Proverbs & Job; Song of Songs, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes & Esther; Daniel, Ezra-Nehemiah & 1,2 Chronicles. 

Here are some psalms relevant to Advent/Christmas 
  • 24 - the LORD triumphantly arriving at his temple through the gates 
  • 80 - 
  • 89 - 
  • 98 - 
  • 85
  • 40 - "Here I am; you have prepared a body for me"
  • 132 - especially 11,12,17,18. David's oath to find a place for the ark of the covenant, and God's promise to him "one the sons of your body I will set on your throne". David's hardships, and the anointed/Messiah: "on him his crown will shine".  
  • 96 - 
  • 126 - jubilant return from captivity
  • 110 - 
There are also a number of texts from the psalms quoted or alluded to in the nativity narratives in Luke and Matthew: Psalms 18:2; 34:2,3; 71:19; 72:10,18; 89:17; 98:1,2,3; 103:17; 105:8,9; 106:45; 107:9; 111:9; 132:11,17 (Luke 1:55,69);138:6.  

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