Advent Lutheran Church

"A Trustable Promise to Believe In (Advent 3 Midweek)"

As you know, there are traditions for breaking good and bad news in every culture.  In the culture I grew up in, before you tell someone about good news, you begin with “Yemisrach,” which means “good news.”  As soon as the word comes out of your mouth as a news breaker, before you continue what that good news is about, people will begin to rejoice and shout, to exalt and praise the Lord.  Usually the praise is accompanied with “elelta” cries sounding like “lililili.” You say, to “ululate.”  It is to cry of joy, very common to cultures in both Africa and the Middle East.

After any level of praise and exaltation, no one will be disappointed whether the good news is less or more to be considered as good news.  Since all gifts comes from above, all good news should be cause for God to be praised and people to rejoice.

Verse 14 (in the Zephaniah reading) sets the tone for Zion (Israel) to rejoice before they even know what to rejoice about.  It is the high tone of rejoicing and shouting for joy. 

            Why?  Because God is going to do something that is impossible for us to do.

            Why?  Because God is going to come and live with us.

            Why?  Because God’s promise is going to be fulfilled.

Recently I have been reading some quotations about promises.  Two of them amazed me the most:  The first one is about politicians, and it was said by Nikita Khrushchev.  “Politicians are the same all over. They promise to build a bridge even where there is no river.”  

The second one is a short movie entitled, “I Promise Africa,” written, directed, produced and edited by Jerry Hennery, winner of the Jury Award sponsored by the National Film Network.   It was released in 2008, and lasts only 2.5 minutes.  Here is the text you read while you are watching the movie:  “On that tragic day (September 11, 2001) I was in a rural village in Kenya, shooting a documentary film about orphans.  This was the first time they had ever seen a camera. I promised them that I would return to show them the finished film. Only one thing prevented me from keeping my word. Many of these children have already died. They were all HIV positive. I promise Africa to never forget.”  Yes, human beings can be prevented by many things from keeping their promises - but not God.

As to the politicians, one of my cultural shocks during the recent presidential campaign was hearing the politicians promising to do this and that using the word “I.”  For example, “if you vote for me, I will do this and that.”  I grew up in a culture where selling yourself is kind of impolite.  The rule is “let your character speak about you” or “let your work tell who you are, not your mouth.”  However, I am getting used to the American culture of unless you speak about yourself no one knows about you.  I am working on that.

So I have this problem hearing people use the word “I” to promise this and that, but I love hearing God saying “I”.   That is who God is. When God is saying “I,” God means it. It is so personal and divine.

Do you how many times the “I AM” is used to describe God in Zephaniah 3:14-20?  Nine times! 'I will remove', 'I will deal', 'I will save', 'I will gather',' I will change', 'I will bring you home', 'I will gather you together', 'I will make you renowned', I will restore your fortunes before your eyes says the Lord'.   It emphasizes God’s continuous proclamation, and God’s saving action.

In this Advent season, let us wait on the Lord who has promised to come and live among us.  As  we are waiting, let us sing aloud - rejoicing and exultant in hope and faith - trusting in God who keeps the promise.

 Amen.