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Christmas is the birthday of the true King
(Psalm 149・The Third Week of the Advent)
Andy Nagahara
Today is the third Sunday of Advent, when we look forward to Christmas. Normally I would take a break from the Psalm series and take up a text about events just before Christmas, but this year I decided to continue with the Psalm series and read Psalm 149. This is because the joyful anticipation sung in this verse is appropriate for Advent, when we anticipate the birth of Jesus.
1. Christmas which was expected to be the birth of a new king (1-3)
1 Praise the LORD.
Sing to the LORD a new song,
his praise in the assembly of his faithful people.
2 Let Israel rejoice in their Maker;
let the people of Zion be glad in their King.
3 Let them praise his name with dancing
and make music to him with timbrel and harp.
Today marks the third week of Advent. Christmas signified the birth of an expected king. It was the people’s earnest hope that a great king like David would return. At that time, Israel was under the rule of the Roman Empire, and although it had a king, his power was limited. The power of Israel’s kings peaked during the reign of the second king, David, and his son Solomon, after which it weakened as it split into the northern Kingdom of Israel and the southern Kingdom of Judah. Although David was the second king, he was not related by blood to the previous king, Saul, and was simply a shepherd boy discovered by the prophet Samuel. Throughout their history full of hardship, the people dreamed of a king like David appearing and of a strong Israel that would not be dominated by other nations.
The first book of the New Testament, the Gospel of Matthew, begins with a long genealogy from Abraham, the founder of the nation, through David to Jesus, to show that the birth of Jesus was its fulfillment. Immediately after the genealogy, Matthew begins his Christmas story by saying, “And this is how the birth of Jesus Christ took place.” The following episode is recorded in it:
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.” When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. （Matthew 2:1-3)
Many people, especially the poor, suffered under the dual rule of the Roman Empire and the king and hoped that a completely new savior would emerge as king, but the king naturally feared such a situation and even went so far as to commit the outrageous act of having the boys killed in Bethlehem, where Jesus was born.
People seek a king, but the Bible warns from the beginning that anyone who obtains royal power will inevitably dominate and oppress the people Even David was considered an ideal king in the era in which Jesus was born, but if we read his own story, we can see that he was at best “the better kind of king.”
Democracy, which overcame monarchy, is a political form that is closer to God’s will, but we have recently been reminded that it is extremely fragile. Even in countries with the most mature democracies, when people feel dissatisfied and anxious, they are easily drawn to xenophobic, racist nationalism and demand a strong king, whom they place on the throne through democratic means, such as elections. We must not forget that Adolf Hitler came to power through legitimate elections and then became a dictator.
Actually the king sung about in this passage, someone so joyous that it makes one want to sing and dance, is not a human king, but the Creator. And, if the long-awaited king is not a human being, then the only way we can be saved is through God Himself appearing. No matter who rules the world as a human being, the people will only suffer. Yet, the Old Testament prophesies the birth of the Savior in many places.
Jesus, who was born on Christmas Day, was about 30 years old when he began to teach publicly. Through his words and actions, his followers saw in Jesus a quality completely different from any leader they had ever known. He may be the Savior. That anticipation was transformed into conviction when Jesus was crucified, killed, and resurrected on the third day. This is the beginning of Christianity, the faith of believing in Jesus as God and Lord and following him.
2. The True King and the True People (4-9)
4 For the LORD takes delight in his people;
he crowns the humble with victory.
5 Let his faithful people rejoice in this honor
and sing for joy on their beds.
6 May the praise of God be in their mouths
and a double-edged sword in their hands,
7 to inflict vengeance on the nations
and punishment on the peoples,
8 to bind their kings with fetters,
their nobles with shackles of iron,
9 to carry out the sentence written against them—
this is the glory of all his faithful people.
Praise the LORD.
Verse 4 symbolically points out what it means that Jesus is the true King.
For the LORD takes delight in his people;
he crowns the humble with victory.
As Samuel warned, those who gain power always dominate and exploit the people and rejoice in their own prosperity. They try to make themselves shine by keeping people in a suffering state. We know from the Gospels that Jesus was the exact opposite.
Jesus’ people are all people. Jesus does not recognize superiority or inferiority based on differences such as race, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Rather, he is the one who saves and brings glory to those who are discriminated against and persecuted because of these differences.
So who are the people of the true King Jesus? Verse 5 sings of the lifestyle of the “faithful people” in contrast to the king described in verse 4.
Let his faithful people rejoice in this honor
and sing for joy on their beds.
Three times in this psalm there appears the term translated “faithful ones,” which is a defining feature of the poem. Many modern translations of this term are translated as “Saints.” There seems to have been people called “Hassidim,” which means those who receive God’s grace (hesed) and give it to their neighbors. There is a strictest sect of Judaism called this in modern times, but there is no direct connection. In terms of the original meaning, I feel that the New Interconfessional Translation’s translation, “one who lives in the Lord’s mercy,” is the most appropriate. And I want to be that kind of person too.
No one can live without the Lord’s mercy. His mercy gives us great joy and empowers us to fight and win the victory in life. I think you all now understand that when we talk about victory, the victory for Jesus and for those who are “faithful” to the true King Jesus is not the kind of victory that earthly kings and nations seek, one that involves forcing other people or other nations to submit to them by force.
Therefore, we cannot read what follows in verse 6 and beyond literally. However, what has actually happened is that people who read this literally and believe that attacking other countries, other religions, and people with different attributes than themselves are God’s will have called themselves “Christians” and elevated people with the dictatorial tendencies I mentioned earlier to leadership positions. Japanese media, which is not well versed in Christianity, tends to generalize it as “Evangelicalism,” but the correct name for it is “Christian Nationalism,” which has begun to gain influence among American Evangelicals. Although Christian nationalism contains the word “Christianity,” it is completely different from the essence of the gospel of Jesus, that is, the essence of Christianity. Therefore, I believe that supporting Christian nationalism and faithfully following Jesus are incompatible.
So, what kind of battle will those who are faithful to the Lord and live in His mercy fight alongside King Jesus? We can learn that from the Gospels. Here let me introduce you the part called “The Sermon on the Mount” recorded in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. Let us read from the Gospel of Matthew Chapter 5 today.
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of
righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.
12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
Please note that the first phrase “poor in spirit” has a different meaning from the usual Japanese phrase. This does not mean lowly or dirty, but rather means “people who are aware of their own poverty in spirit and know that they have no choice but to rely on God.”
Not having a proud attitude.
Hate injustice and pursue justice.
Treat people with mercy.
Maintain purity of heart.
Creating peace.
These things are possible only for those who rely on the Lord’s mercy. But, if we live in the Lord’s mercy, we can truly live such a life.
It is the life path walked by people like St. Francis, Reverend M.L. King Jr., Mother Teresa, and so many others whose names remain unrecorded but who sympathized with and collaborated with their work.
The enemy is not actual nations, religions or individuals, but selfishness that seeks to control the minds of each and every person. Moreover, sin does not only remain in the hearts of individuals, but affects society as a whole, causing suffering to the poor and the small.
Jesus came to change this sin-ruled world and to free people from the pain of sin. The joy of Christmas is not a light joy. It is a time of great joy, as we are rescued from the depths of despair.
Just as Jesus said, “Rejoice and be exceedingly glad,” let us celebrate the birth of Jesus, as the psalmist sang, “Rejoice in your Maker, be joyful in the King; praise his name with dance; sing praises to the Lord with tambourine and harp.” Let us welcome Jesus as King in our hearts. Let us hope that our loved ones will welcome Jesus into their hearts as King. Together with Jesus, let’s change the world little by little, starting with our own neighborhood.
(Prayer) God, thank you for coming as Jesus into this world you created.
We are thankful that we are alive in your mercy.
You are the only King we should serve.
Help us and guide us to follow you so that we can continue to walk as peacemakers until the last day we spend on earth.
Just as you came into the world as Jesus and invited us to become citizens of the Kingdom of God, reveal yourself to those we love so that they may respond to your invitation and begin their journey with you.
And please use us for that purpose.
We pray in the name of Jesus Christ.
Summary
The joy expressed in this psalm, which is so intense it makes one want to sing and dance, is the same joy felt by those who have welcomed Jesus into their hearts. God came as Jesus to give this joy to everyone on earth. He emerges as a true king, completely different from any earthly ruler. Through Jesus we are given the opportunity to live as His people. Let us become Jesus’ people and begin a new life.
For Discussion
1. How is Jesus different from earthly kings?
2. How are we, as Jesus’ people, expected to live?