by Pastor Douglas Brauner

Loudly Singing of God’s Mercy on Life’s Pilgrimage

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

“It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the Lord set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but it is because the Lord loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers, that the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.”
Deuteronomy 7:7-8 English Standard Version

Today is the fifth day of Christmas as we journey toward Epiphany. Most people, even those who don’t know God’s mercy in the baby born for us, know what comes on the fifth day of Christmas. It is that moment in the song where we pause, take a deep breath and loudly sing, “five golden rings.”

The five golden rings represent the first five books of the Bible often called the Torah. They are the golden books of the Hebrew Bible that Jesus had memorized. The pilgrimage of the Israelites in these books is a picture of Jesus’ pilgrimage to the cross and empty tomb.

The Torah is not only about the demands that God makes on humans and  especially his chosen people, but it is also an account of grace. It is about God choosing this small, insignificant people to be his possession, to be the nation though which the Lord would save the world. The Torah is about the deep desire of God to bless us, the crown of his creation.

Unfortunately, it is also a story of humanities rebellion against the God who passionately loves them. It is about straying from God’s path. Fortunately, Jesus stayed on God’s path for us. His perfect obedience is ours. Our song is not only about five golden rings, but a path of gold that leads to this God who passionately loves us, loves you.

Because of Jesus, it is fitting for us to take a deep breath and loudly sing of God’s mercy.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado