Wednesday 28 December 2022

Psalm 124

Background

The brutality of this story, as Herod orders the killing of baby boys, corrects the temptation to portray Christmas purely as a cosy stable scene, or to think God wasn't born into the real world, complete with harsh political realities. 

God comes to be one of us as a vulnerable baby. Like any human, his life is fragile, and he is entirely dependent on his adult carers. The Magi perhaps naively had asked Herod (King of the Jews) for direction to this newly born King of the Jews. When they find him, they are warned in a dream to return a different way. But the damage is done. Herod flies into a jealous rage and boys under the age of two are savagely slaughtered.

 In this precarious situation we see God’s guiding hand safeguarding the life of Jesus as an infant. Later in his life the realities of politics will bring around the crucifixion, which is an ‘allowing’ by God.

Matthew shows God’s guidance coming to the faithful Joseph, who is warned in a dream and acts on the instruction. Joseph and Mary take Jesus and flee to the safety of Egypt as refugees, which Matthew sees this as a fulfilment of prophecy (v. 15). In the Book of Hosea, the words refer to God leading God’s people out of slavery in Egypt. Matthew meditating on the scriptural words sees them also applying with foresight in different and future contexts. He states the flight to Egypt happened to fulfil God’s salvation plan.

The way verse 18 is written resonates with the prophecy of Jeremiah, an Old Testament prophet, when he referred to the grief of the people of Israel going into exile in Babylon. Matthew does not say the slaughter of the innocent baby boys happened in order to fulfil this prophecy, but that the words that Jeremiah spoke were fulfilled in this happening. It subtly implies that God did not directly will this slaughter.

To Ponder:

• Matthew uses texts from the prophets to illuminate things taking place in his own context. How does meditating on Scripture illuminate your difficult situations?
• This story portrays ‘God with us’ being fragile and dependent. Where is the fragile life of God asking to be nurtured and safeguarded in your life? How does God guide you?
• What does the story teach us about being faithful in the face of sometimes violent human ambition?

Prayer

Loving God, help us like the Magi and Joseph to notice your guidance as we go about our lives and then to act on it. Amen.