O Key of David

O Key of David,
Scepter over the house of Israel,
you open and no one else can close,
you close and no one can open:
Come to set free the prisoners
who live in darkness and the shadow of death.

Come, Lord Jesus.

The Key of David. The Shepherd who, by his mercy, admits us into the house wherein the Lord God lives. The Almighty King who gives unmerited grace to those who are prisoners to their sin, captives to their iniquities, convicted in their crimes. He comes for those who are so convinced of their unworthiness that the potential of release seems unfathomable. And yet, as Gabriel said to Mary, "For God, nothing is impossible." What has been destroyed by sin can be redeemed, because Christ destroyed the power of sin and sin's chief symptom, which is death. May be come soon!

O Root of Jesse

O Root of Jesse,
rising as a sign for all the peoples,
before you earthly rulers will keep silent,
and nations give you honor:
Come quickly to deliver us.

Come, Lord Jesus.

The genealogies of the New Testament are important because they are the thread of the story of salvation. Obed's son would have David as a son. David would become king of the people that were called to be the instrument of salvation for the whole world (as first revealed to Abraham). There is but one Word, just as there is one name by which we are saved - Jesus Christ - the heir to David's throne, and the one in whom the promised role of Israel was perfectly fulfilled.

O Adonai

O Adonai,
Ruler of the house of Israel,
you appeared in the burning bush to Moses
and gave him the law on Sinai:
Come with outstretched arm to save us.

Come, Lord Jesus.

The Lord is the Ruler of the house. As adopted sons and daughters of our heavenly Ruler, we are brought under the wings of Christ's fulfillment of the law through our baptisms into His death and resurrection. Only by His perfect fulfillment of the law are we set free from sin and sanctified by his Holy Spirit, so that we may not be found wanting when we are justly judged on the last day.

A Morning Offering

THE VALLEY OF VISION

Lord, high and holy, meek and lowly,
Thou has brought me to the valley of vision,
Where I live in the depths but see Thee in the heights;
Hemmed in by mountains of sin I behold Thy glory.

Let me learn by paradox
That the way down is the way up,
That to be low is to be high,
That the broken heart is the healed heart,
That the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit,
That the repenting soul is the victorious soul,
That to having nothing is to possess all,
That to bear the cross is to wear the crown
That to give is to receive,
That the valley is the place of vision.

Lord, in the daytime stars can be seen from deepest wells,
And the deeper the wells the brighter thy stars shine;
Let me find thy light in my darkness,
Thy life in my death,
Thy joy in my sorrow,
Thy grace in my sin,
Thy riches in my poverty,
Thy glory in my valley.

(from The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions)

O Wisdom

O Wisdom,
coming forth from the mouth of the Most High,
pervading and permeating all creation,
you order all things with strength and gentleness:
Come now and teach us the way to salvation.

Come, Lord Jesus.

Wisdom comes from the mouth of the Most High God. The Almighty speaks, and matter comes into being from nothing. The Lord whispers, and by whispering saves.