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Read: Psalm 97
My son and I have been reading C. S. Lewis’s The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe
this Advent. I’ve been struck by how powerful the story remains, how timely it is during
Advent, and even how it speaks to us during a perpetual pandemic. For example, the
children stumble through a wardrobe into a world where it’s “always winter but never
Christmas.” We can all relate.
For much of the story, the children live in fear of the Witch turning them to stone. But
they’re even more captivated by the legend of Aslan, “the great Lion,” who has the
power to save them from the Witch’s evil spell. One child, Susan, wonders aloud, “Is
he—quite safe?” “Safe?” the friendly Mr. Beaver responds, “Who said anything about
safe? 'Course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the King, I tell you.”
The Lord we meet in Psalm 97 isn’t safe: “Clouds and thick darkness are all around
him…fire goes before him…his lightnings light up the world…the earth sees and
trembles” (v.2-5). Even the mountains melt like wax before him. Nevertheless, the Lord
we meet here is good: “He guards the lives of his faithful; he rescues them from the
hand of the wicked” (v. 10).
On this second consecutive Christmas-in-crisis, may we rejoice that God has come to
save us with authority, dazzling the shepherds with “his lightnings,” comforting poor
mothers with “joy for the upright in heart,” and rescuing us from those who boast in
turning our minds and hearts to stone.
May we awake on the Day of the Lord, stumbling into a new world where winter and
Christmas meet—a world perhaps not so safe, but full of God’s power, light, and love.
~Mack Dennis
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