It’s finally here, the very last day of 2020. . . . So what now?
By Dean Collins
I suspect the New Year’s Eve celebrations will be lively in many places even with all the appropriate concerns of Covid-19 that hopefully prevent large gatherings. Most people are so over 2020 and ready for something new—or maybe something old.
With this desire to look forward, let me suggest Psalm 126 as we end this year and anticipate another. The psalmist in six short verses looks back on wonderful things God had done in the past but looks ahead to dreams of what God can do in the future.
Restoration accomplished, but lacking
First the psalmist describes a time when God had previously restored the fortunes of God’s people. Many scholars suggest this is likely a post-exile writing. After years of Babylonian exile God’s chosen were allowed to return to Judah and see Jerusalem restored. It was like a dream come true. Decades of anticipation finally were realized as the temple walls along with the city walls were rebuilt. There would be ritual and celebrations again back home. The good of the good old days would be seen and experienced again.
But the psalm also speaks of a need for another restoration. Apparently things can be cyclical with seasons of scarcity and challenges like 2020, and at other times seasons of plenty. I’m sure each of us can name or recall a time where joy and satisfaction seemed more visible.
Isaiah had a similar message of hope, but his instructions were not to focus on the past or former things but to fully embrace that God is planning a new thing. As the psalmist described his dream, he used language very similar to Isaiah’s. Both writers knew the harshness of desert heat and drought. And both described the transformation that rain brings in the dry lands. Flowers bloom. Crops and livestock flourish. Dry and thirsty throats find delight. The desert days may be agonizing, but they do not last forever.
Restoration anticipated, but not tomorrow
But the new day actually won’t be here tomorrow. I hate to ruin it for you. When you wake up on January 1, the date will have changed but pretty much everything else will remain just as it was. But we can hope with the psalmist and the prophet. And we can hope with confidence. Jesus did change everything with his coming the first time and he left us plenty to do and to share as we await his final coming when the newness of God is fully consummated.
We will continue to see both times of suffering and many times of joyful celebration. The tears and the sacrifices we have sown will always produce new crops and new celebrations. It’s important to remember all that God did for us in 2020, even in a strange and unpleasant year. Our faith and hope rests on the firm foundation of a resurrected Christ. Even now God is doing a new thing, and we wait in expectation both for the transformation we will see in 2021 and even more so in eternity.
Even now, God is doing a new thing.
Let’s look ahead to how God will use each of us and all of us together to bring not only hope but new life in Christ to many this new year!
Take a moment to listen to “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing” and offer your prayer and song to God as the source of new life. He was faithful last year and he will always be our source of blessing, forgiveness, strength, and hope!
Your Time with God’s Word
Psalm 126:1-6; Isaiah 43:18-21; John 12:20-26 ESV
Photo by Tomas Ryant from Pexels
