Wednesday, December 9, 2015
Zechariah 9:9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.
O ZION'S DAUGHTER, RISE
How do you greet guests? If you're excited about your Christmas guests to arrive, you will certainly watch for them and will get up off the couch or chair to greet them! Why? Because it shows how you feel about them and that you were looking forward to their arrival.
Look again at what God's prophet Zechariah reminded "Zion," God's people. God wanted His people to "Behold," to watch carefully and pay attention to His coming. The one and only Almighty God was going to come in a special way. He wasn't going to come in some fancy car or elaborate parade, but in a very lowly and very humble way. God used Zechariah to foretell how our Savior Jesus would enter Jerusalem on that first Palm Sunday, riding on a donkey. We see how our King and Savior Jesus would ride on a donkey, while in Mary's womb, to Bethlehem and be born in a lowly stable and placed in a feeding box as His first crib. Would we really rise to meet this King?
As Christmas approaches, are we spiritually preparing for Jesus, our King and Savior from sin and death? Are we eagerly watching and ready to greet Him? Are we ready to rise up joyfully, to greet with joy, and to worship Him like the shepherds? As you and I ponder these questions let's pray that the Holy Spirit would move our hearts through Christ's love to appreciate the peace our King comes to bring us!
O Zion's Daughter, rise To meet thy lowly King,
Nor let thy faithless heart despise The peace He comes to bring.
(The Lutheran Hymnal, 68:3; Charles Coffin, 1736)
