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David, Leon and James in the military Sherry is flying back from Australia

Kerrie’ dad is flying from Australia as well

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see" (Hebrews 11:1).

I don’t know who the author and publisher of this song are, but it is an encouraging song to me. One could look at this song in several different ways. But I think it is introducing modern people to an ancient message, introducing us to the purpose and mission of Jesus. Let’s take a look at this song with a great beat.

These are the days of Elijah, declaring the word of the Lord

"These are the days of Elijah, declaring the word of the Lord." The Jews were an expectant bunch. They were looking for the Messiah to come soon. Some leaders had led people out into the wilderness to forcibly overthrow the Romans but failed (see Acts 5:35-37). One of the signs of the coming would be that of one like Elijah. You might remember that Elijah was one of the most famous prophets of the Hebrew scriptures, working a number of miracles throughout his life. MalachI announces that Elijah would come: "See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes" (4:5). The religious leaders asked John the baptizer if he was Elijah to which he said no ( John 1:21), but Jesus would later declare that he was (Matthew 11:14).

"And these are the days of your servant, Moses, righteousness being restored." How many times do we see in the Gospels references to Moses. The religious leaders had abused and misused scripture for their own benefit. They thought of themselves as righteous but had lost sight of God. Jesus constantly challenged them to forget their traditions and go back to Moses and see what he said. That challenge is for us today as well, to return to scripture not to verify a tradition or position but to see what God has said.

"And though these are days of great trials, of famine and darkness and sword." The prophets often announced judgment in terms of upheaval (see Isaiah 10 and 34). In Matthew 24 Jesus announced the destruction of the Temple in similar terms. But He also told us that we would be persecuted (Matthew 5:10-12; John 16). And persecution came quickly. The early church in Acts was persecuted. Paul mentioned the struggles that the Thessalonians were going through. Revelation is a picture of a suffering church. In many places today Christians are persecuted.

"So we are the voice in the desert, crying, prepare ye the way of the Lord." Again, this is often referring to Elijah. It comes out of Isaiah 40:3, as Isaiah speaks to a nation returning from Babylonian captivity. When we look at the desert or wilderness, we often think of a barren and empty place, dry, hot, and lacking anything moisture. In scripture, the wilderness is often seen as a place of God’s activity. The nation of Israel was provide for in the desert for forty years. Both Moses and Elijah were called out of the desert to deliver messages. And Jesus came out of the desert after His confrontation with the devil "to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor" (Luke 4:19).

"These are the days of Ezekiel, the dry bones becoming as flesh." This comes from chapter 37 where Ezekiel sees a valley of dry bones come to life. Ezekiel wrote from captivity in Babylon asking why the nation was there. After being told it was because of their sins and disobedience, God brings comfort and hope by showing a resurrection of bones. The nation would return to Jerusalem (see Nehemiah). It also foreshadows the ultimate resurrection of Jesus. For us it is our resurrection in baptism and the final resurrection at the last day (1 Corinthians 15).

"And these are the days of your servant, David, rebuilding a temple of praise," David had the desire to build a house for the Lord but was forbidden. Solomon would accomplish that task. There is another aspect to David that Paul explains in Acts 15. "After this I will return and rebuild David’s fallen tent. It’s ruins I will rebuild, and I will restore it" (verse 16). He is quoting Amos 9:11-12, a promise to the nation to restore the throne to David’s descendents. Of course we know that Jesus is his descendent who now sits on his throne. Would the temple be in view here? Jesus is also the High Priest and we are the temple of the Holy Spirit.

"And these are the days of the harvest, the fields are white in the world. And we are the laborers in your, vineyard, declaring the word of the Lord." These are the words of Jesus to His disciples after talking with the Samaritan woman (John 4). His disciples questioned why He was talking to a woman and a Samaritan. His response was to tell them to open their eyes, for the harvest was ready and reapers were needed. That still holds true today. People are seeking the Lord, especially the postmodern generation. But they want to see words that are lived, not just spoken. It is living and speaking, but it is also listening to others, finding out where they are, and guiding them in the word of the Lord.

"Behold He comes, riding on the clouds, shining like the sun, at the trumpet call." This sounds like the words found in 1 Thessalonians 4 as Paul speaks to the end when the Lord returns. The message of the Apostles was a message of expectation; the Lord is coming again, soon. That was two thousand years ago. We might think that it has taken a long time. What we miss is that the message is that of expectation. We do not know when the Lord will return but we must be ready (see Matthew 25). Of course, the songwriter could be using hyperbole to exaggerate the meaning. While Jesus was born in obscurity, He certainly came. Sometimes God comes violently, sometimes quietly. But when He finally comes at the last day, we will all know (see Acts 1:10-11; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11).

"So lift your voice, it’s the year of Jubilee, and out of Zion’s hill salvation comes." "Salvation is from the Jews" Jesus told that Samaritan woman. Zion refers to Jerusalem and/or Israel. It was through the Jews that God brought His redemptive plan to fulfillment. The year of Jubilee was the fiftieth year, a year of forgiveness of debts, of rejoicing and celebration for the nation. In a sense, we are celebrating, lifting our voice for the salvation we find in Jesus Christ.

After listening carefully to this song, it presences a great message of the coming of the Lord leading to His death and resurrection. It is certainly a mission song, going out into the world in proclamation. It is also a song of coming, a Christmas song, announcing the coming of the Lord. It is a contemporary song that rivals "Send The Light" and "Ring Out The Message."

George B. Mearns