Music recording by Ben Doggett. From O Come All Ye Faithful by John Francis Wade, 1743. View the Lyrics. Narration by Aimee Riegert.

Devotional by Randy Newman.

Image: The Mediterranean coast at Rosh Hanikra in Western Galilee is known for its grottoes and rock formations formed by the sea.

The prophets were a disturbing and perplexing bunch. They forthtold critiques of the present (that was the disturbing part) and foretold the future (that was the perplexing part). They dared to warn Israel and Judah of coming disasters if they didn’t turn away from idolatry and sin. They pleaded for God’s people to return to the one true God through repentance and faith. It is not far off to summarize their messages as “Shape up or Ship out.”

If you read the prophets carefully, you see a pattern where the immediate foreshadowed the future. Sometimes what happened during the prophet’s life pointed ahead into the distant future. Thus, David (serving in a role like a prophet) cried out for God to deliver him from enemies in Psalm 22. But the language of that Psalm becomes so lofty, it points to a greater David who will suffer in greater ways with greater outcomes (see especially verses 27 & 28).

In other words, messianic prophecy is more complex, rich, and beautiful than we might see at first. It’s a thread woven through many parts of Scripture forming a beautiful tapestry. Some Christians see the passages referring only to Jesus in overly simplistic ways. Some Jewish people see these passages as referring only to a future time when a Messiah comes to establish world peace. But the Old Testament is more multi-layered and nuanced than either of those reductionist interpretations.

So dig in, dig deep, and meditate on God’s magnificent, multifaceted, marvelous Word. Pray that this year’s celebration of Advent drives you to worship and wonder at the arrival of our conquering King, the descendant of David, as a tiny baby, born in a manger.