Advent Day 19: Strong Tower | Chief Cornerstone | Foundation

Lighthouse in Westkapelle, Piet Mondrian, 1910. Oil on canvas, 135 x 75 cm. Kunstmuseum Den Haag, The Hague in the Netherlands. Public Domain. Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license.

“Your Name” (Christmas Version) from the album Christmas Worship. Performed by Paul Baloche featuring Philippa Hanna, composed by Paul Joseph Baloche.

Poetry:

“The King on the Tower”
by William Makepeace Thackeray

The cold gray hills they bind me around,
The darksome valleys lie sleeping below,
But the winds as they pass o'er all this ground,
Bring me never a sound of woe!

Oh! for all I have suffered and striven,
Care has embittered my cup and my feast;
But here is the night and the dark blue heaven,
And my soul shall be at rest.

O golden legends writ in the skies!
I turn towards you with longing soul,
And list to the awful harmonies
Of the Spheres as on they roll.

My hair is gray and my sight nigh gone;
My sword it rusteth upon the wall;
Right have I spoken, and right have I done:
When shall I rest me once for all?

O blessed rest! O royal night!
Wherefore seemeth the time so long
Till I see you stars in their fullest light,
And listen to their loudest song?

The Chief Cornerstone and Foundation

Having lived in a part of the world known for earthquakes and as the daughter of a mason, I have profound respect for the necessity and beauty of a solid foundation that can withstand atmospheric pressures and the stresses of life. Throughout Scripture, construction, literally and metaphorically, is used to teach us many things. Intriguingly, there are numerous verses of Scripture devoted to describing the construction of temples, palaces, walls, and the like. We are told all about the provision of resources for buildings, work of craftsmen and laborers, length of time for construction, the purpose of the edifices, and those who would live and/or work in the new buildings throughout much of the Old Testament. Even young children learn the story of Noah and the building of the Ark (Genesis 6). The Scriptures also make us aware of the destruction of temples, palaces, walls, and other buildings. And the miraculous story of the demolition of the walls of Jericho based on the obedience of Joshua and the Israelites (Joshua 6:1-27) captures our attention as we imagine the sense of awe that the crumbling wall must have evoked in all present.

With Old Testament construction stories as a backdrop to the New Testament, we continue to be confronted with elements of construction in Scripture. Our three Scripture readings for today provide a bridge from the Old Testament to the New Testament that includes construction imagery to help us understand the role of Jesus in our individual lives and the life of the New Testament Church. Jesus quotes Psalm 118:22,23 in Matthew 21:42 saying “the stone that the builders rejected has becomes the cornerstone…” which connects the New Testament to the Old Testament with the use of builder’s language to illustrate that despite those who would reject Him, his role was no less powerful. These images all speak to a positioning and undergirding provided by Jesus in the lives of those that believe in Him. He alone provides a firm foundation upon which we as believers can confidently build our lives and the church.

When life presents challenges, we can find stability in “the rock that is higher than I” and when we feel alone, it is a comfort to know that we are never actually by ourselves because we are “God’s fellow workers.” When we look up, we see the “strong tower” that provides refuge and when we are questioning the foundation on which we stand, we need only to see etched in the cornerstone of our foundation the name Jesus who alone is the Master Builder. The substance that makes up a rock or stone is solid and will stand the test of time, as well as, the weight of our yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

As we walk through Advent season and see Nativity scenes laid out before us, might we challenge our minds to appreciate that the baby wrapped in swaddling clothes held by his mother is in fact Jesus who has the ability and the power to hold us. Jesus does not simply have the strength to lift us up when we fall, but He is the foundation that never lets us fall!

Prayer
Jesus, we bow our heads to pray knowing that our hearts are overwhelmed.
The world around us seems so filled with uncertainty.
Those we trusted have failed us and if we are honest, we recognize that we have failed ourselves.
We cry out for help knowing you provide a place of safety and peace for you are our Strong Tower.
Jesus, we pray for our families, friends, and nation.
Help us to build strong lives, families, communities, and churches.
We cry for help knowing you are our Firm Foundation.
Jesus, we pray for our co-laborers in the Gospel.
Help us to link arms and hearts in unity for the purpose of building the Kingdom.
We cry for help knowing that you are the Master Builder.
Jesus, please build us up so that we can be all that you have created us to be.
It is in your name we pray and find strength.
Amen

Dr. Avis E. Hinkson
Vice President of Student Affairs
Pomona College
Claremont, California
Ordained Minister
LifeWay Church
Rancho Cucamonga, California

For more information about the artwork, music, and poetry selected for this day, please visit our website via the link in our bio.