December 18: Strong Tower | Chief Cornerstone | Foundation
♫ Music:
Day 19 - Thursday, December 18
Title: Strong Tower | Chief Cornerstone | Foundation
Scripture #1: Psalm 61:2–4 (NKJV)
From the end of the earth I will cry to You, when my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For You have been a shelter for me, A strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in Your tabernacle forever; I will trust in the shelter of Your wings. Selah
Scripture #2: Isaiah 28:16 (NKJV)
Therefore thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; whoever believes will not act hastily.”
Scripture #3: 1 Corinthians 3:9–11 (NKJV)
For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building. According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Poetry & Poet:
“The King on the Tower”
by William Makepeace Thackeray
The cold gray hills they bind me around,
The darksome valleys lie sleeping below,
But the winds as they pass o'er all this ground,
Bring me never a sound of woe!
Oh! for all I have suffered and striven,
Care has embittered my cup and my feast;
But here is the night and the dark blue heaven,
And my soul shall be at rest.
O golden legends writ in the skies!
I turn towards you with longing soul,
And list to the awful harmonies
Of the Spheres as on they roll.
My hair is gray and my sight nigh gone;
My sword it rusteth upon the wall;
Right have I spoken, and right have I done:
When shall I rest me once for all?
O blessed rest! O royal night!
Wherefore seemeth the time so long
Till I see you stars in their fullest light,
And listen to their loudest song?
The Chief Cornerstone and Foundation
Having lived in a part of the world known for earthquakes and as the daughter of a mason, I have profound respect for the necessity and beauty of a solid foundation that can withstand atmospheric pressures and the stresses of life. Throughout Scripture, construction, literally and metaphorically, is used to teach us many things. Intriguingly, there are numerous verses of Scripture devoted to describing the construction of temples, palaces, walls, and the like. We are told all about the provision of resources for buildings, work of craftsmen and laborers, length of time for construction, the purpose of the edifices, and those who would live and/or work in the new buildings throughout much of the Old Testament. Even young children learn the story of Noah and the building of the Ark (Genesis 6). The Scriptures also make us aware of the destruction of temples, palaces, walls, and other buildings. And the miraculous story of the demolition of the walls of Jericho based on the obedience of Joshua and the Israelites (Joshua 6:1-27) captures our attention as we imagine the sense of awe that the crumbling wall must have evoked in all present.
With Old Testament construction stories as a backdrop to the New Testament, we continue to be confronted with elements of construction in Scripture. Our three Scripture readings for today provide a bridge from the Old Testament to the New Testament that includes construction imagery to help us understand the role of Jesus in our individual lives and the life of the New Testament Church. Jesus quotes Psalm 118:22,23 in Matthew 21:42 saying “the stone that the builders rejected has becomes the cornerstone…” which connects the New Testament to the Old Testament with the use of builder’s language to illustrate that despite those who would reject Him, his role was no less powerful. These images all speak to a positioning and undergirding provided by Jesus in the lives of those that believe in Him. He alone provides a firm foundation upon which we as believers can confidently build our lives and the church.
When life presents challenges, we can find stability in “the rock that is higher than I” and when we feel alone, it is a comfort to know that we are never actually by ourselves because we are “God’s fellow workers.” When we look up, we see the “strong tower” that provides refuge and when we are questioning the foundation on which we stand, we need only to see etched in the cornerstone of our foundation the name Jesus who alone is the Master Builder. The substance that makes up a rock or stone is solid and will stand the test of time, as well as, the weight of our yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
As we walk through Advent season and see Nativity scenes laid out before us, might we challenge our minds to appreciate that the baby wrapped in swaddling clothes held by his mother is in fact Jesus who has the ability and the power to hold us. Jesus does not simply have the strength to lift us up when we fall, but He is the foundation that never lets us fall!
Prayer
Jesus, we bow our heads to pray knowing that our hearts are overwhelmed.
The world around us seems so filled with uncertainty.
Those we trusted have failed us and if we are honest, we recognize that we have failed ourselves.
We cry out for help knowing you provide a place of safety and peace for you are our Strong Tower.
Jesus, we pray for our families, friends, and nation.
Help us to build strong lives, families, communities, and churches.
We cry for help knowing you are our Firm Foundation.
Jesus, we pray for our co-laborers in the Gospel.
Help us to link arms and hearts in unity for the purpose of building the Kingdom.
We cry for help knowing that you are the Master Builder.
Jesus, please build us up so that we can be all that you have created us to be.
It is in your name we pray and find strength.
Amen
Dr. Avis E. Hinkson
Vice President of Student Affairs
Pomona College
Claremont, California
Ordained Minister
LifeWay Church
Rancho Cucamonga, California
About the Artwork:
Lighthouse in Westkapelle
Piet Mondrian
1910
Oil on canvas
135 x 75 cm
Kunstmuseum Den Haag
The Hague in the Netherlands
Public Domain
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license
The painting shows the lighthouse at Westkapelle. Mondrian made five drawings and paintings of this lighthouse. As he did earlier with drawings, Mondrian investigated the possibilities of different media—from very detailed images to those that were very impressionistic. This version from 1908 is the most abstract, giving the appearance of having been completed in a few brief brushstrokes, but in reality, Mondrian painted it over a longer period, possibly also after his return after holidays to Amsterdam.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lighthouse_in_Westkapelle
About the Artist:
Pieter Cornelis Mondrian (1872–1944), known after 1911 as Piet Mondrian, was a Dutch painter and art theoretician who is regarded as one of the greatest artists of the twentieth century. He was one of the pioneers of twentieth-century abstract art, as he changed his artistic direction from figurative painting to an increasingly abstract style, until he reached a point where his artistic vocabulary was reduced to simple geometric elements. Mondrian's art was highly utopian and was concerned with a search for universal values and aesthetics. He proclaimed in 1914, "Art is higher than reality and has no direct relation to reality. To approach the spiritual in art, one will make as little use as possible of reality, because reality is opposed to the spiritual. We find ourselves in the presence of an abstract art. Art should be above reality, otherwise it would have no value for man." Mondrian's work had an enormous influence on twentieth-century art, influencing not only the course of abstract painting and numerous major styles and art movements (e.g., color field painting, abstract expressionism, and minimalism), but also fields outside the domain of painting, such as design, architecture, and fashion.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piet_Mondrian
About the Music: “Your Name” (Christmas Version) from the album Christmas Worship
Lyrics:
Humbly to the earth You came.
Born into this world to save.
God with us Emmanuel,
Now we adore Your name.
Your Name is a strong and mighty tower.
Your Name is a shelter like no other.
Your Name, let the nations sing it louder.
'Cause nothing has the power to save,
But Your Name.
Jesus, in Your Name we pray.
Come and fill our hearts today.
Lord, give us strength to live for
You and glorify Your Name.
Your Name is a strong and mighty tower.
Your Name is a shelter like no other.
Your Name, let the nations sing it louder.
'Cause nothing has the power to save,
But Your Name.
Wonderful Counselor
Prince of Peace
Your Name is a strong and mighty tower,
Your Name is a shelter like no other,
Your Name, let the nations sing it louder
'Cause nothing has the power to save
But Your Name.
But Your Name is a strong and mighty tower
Your Name is a shelter like no other,
Your Name, let the nations sing it louder
'Cause nothing has the power to save,
But Your Name.
God with us Emmanuel.
God with us Emmanuel.
God with us Emmanuel
We adore Your name.
About the Composer/Performer:
Paul Joseph Baloche (b.1962) is an American Christian music artist, worship leader, and singer-songwriter. Baloche was the worship pastor at Community Christian Fellowship in Lindale, Texas, for twenty-six years. He and his wife, Rita, left Texas in 2015, moving to New York City to be nearer to family. Baloche composes on piano and acoustic guitar, favoring guitar when leading worship. His wife, Rita Baloche, is also a Christian songwriter. Baloche is one of the writers for Compassionart, a charity founded by Martin Smith of Delirious?. In 1992, he released his first album, He is Faithful. Top-ranked songs include "Open the Eyes of My Heart," "Hosanna," "Your Name," "Today Is the Day,” and "Above All." Baloche has received numerous Dove Awards over the years. In 2009, Baloche won a Dove Award for Inspiration Recorded Song of the Year as co-author of "A New Hallelujah" with Michael W. Smith and his wife Debbie Smith.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Baloche
https://leadworship.com/
About the Performers: Paul Baloche featuring Philippa Hanna
Philippa Hanna (b. 1984) is an English singer-songwriter. She has worked in a variety of musical styles, but is mainly associated with the contemporary Christian music genre. Hanna was brought up in a musical family. Her father Pat was a touring performer, and family members include brother Stuart Zender, formerly of the band Jamiroquai. Her songwriting is strongly influenced by her Christian faith. Hanna's debut album, Watching Me, was released in 2007, prompting comparisons with artist Lou Fellingham and Phatfish. Philippa is now an internationally published author with over 1500 live shows, two books, and five studio albums to her credit. Having toured with the likes of Lionel Richie, Leona Lewis, Wet Wet Wet, Little Mix, and many more, Philippa also has an established presence in the Christian music world, racking up collaborations with Kevin Max of DC Talk fame, Graham Kendrick, and Christian hit writer Chris Eaton.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippa_Hanna
https://philippahanna.com/
About the Poetry & Poet:
William Makepeace Thackeray (1811–1863) was an English novelist, satirist, and journalist. He is known for his satirical works, particularly his novel Vanity Fair, a panoramic portrait of British society, and the novel The Luck of Barry Lyndon, which was adapted for a film by director Stanley Kubrick. Thackeray's early works were marked by savage attacks on high society, military prowess, marriage, and hypocrisy, often written under various pseudonyms. Thackeray's later novels, such as Pendennis and The Newcomes, reflected a mellowing of his tone, focusing on the coming of age of characters and critical portrayals of society.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Makepeace_Thackeray
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3953.William_Makepeace_Thackeray
About the Devotion Author:
Dr. Avis E. Hinkson
Vice President of Student Affairs
Pomona College
Claremont, California
Ordained Minister
LifeWay Church
Rancho Cucamonga, California
Avis Hinkson brings more than three decades of higher education experience in areas ranging from residential life to student recruitment to undergraduate advising. In addition to earning a doctor of education degree from the University of Pennsylvania, Hinkson holds a master’s degree in student personnel administration from Columbia University’s Teachers College and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Barnard. After a career spent guiding and nurturing students at Bowdoin College, the University of California, Berkeley’s College of Letters and Sciences, and Barnard College, Dean Hinkson joined Pomona in 2018. She oversees the Dean of Students office, which governs student affairs, campus life, residence halls, the dining program, the Career Development Office, Smith Campus Center, programs like KSPC, Asian American Resource Center, Draper Center for Community Partnerships, and related support services, the Women’s Union, Outdoor Education Center, and policy and non-academic compliance matters.