And so King David, maybe feeling a little sheepish, tells Nathan the prophet that he should build a nice place for God to dwell, something better than a tent; especially, since David himself was living in a nice cedar house.
Nathan says, yes, you go tell God. And then God says: “Now wait a minute!” And God sets David straight: “You want to build a house for me?”
And he reminds David that God took him from the pasture where he was caring for sheep and made him king, and established him, protected him, and continued to sustain him. Ha! You will build a house for me? I don’t think so!
But the promises went on, and little did David imagine that from his line would come the king, the savior, the Holy One of God.
Now we are prepared, in a fully Advent way, for the birth of that one!
The Gospel continues with the Zechariah response to the miraculous opening of his mouth, which opens for praise and prophesying. Zechariah proclaims that his son would proclaim the way of the Lord for Jesus, which he does.
In a final and glorious prophetic moment, Zechariah declares —
“For you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give his people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins.”
And we wonder why this John was so special, and that what was to come would change all forever!
