Light the second outer candle, with the first candle already lit.
Read Psalm 85
Lord, you were favorable to your land; you restored the fortunes of Jacob. You forgave the iniquity of your people; you covered all their sin. You withdrew all your wrath; you turned from your hot anger. Restore us again, O God of our salvation, and put away your indignation toward us! Will you be angry with us forever? Will you prolong your anger to all generations? Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you? Show us your steadfast love, O Lord, and grant us your salvation. Let me hear what God the Lord will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints; but let them not turn back to folly. Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him, that glory may dwell in our land. Steadfast love and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss each other. Faithfulness springs up from the ground, and righteousness looks down from the sky. Yes, the Lord will give what is good, and our land will yield its increase. Righteousness will go before him and make his footsteps a way.
Reflect Centuries before Jesus came,
God’s people—the Israelites—longed for peace and salvation.
In a world full of darkness, sorrow, and pain
the Israelites cried out to the Lord in search of hope.
And yet, the hope for which they longed was not without warrant,
for God had been faithful to his people before.
Their cries for help in the midst of their present troubles
were based in the expectation that God would indeed answer them.
And just as surely as God answered his people in centuries past,
so too God answered his people again
by incarnating himself into their world—our world—
in order to bring peace, hope, salvation, and reconciliation.
Despite the darkness in our world,
where have you seen
God’s faithfulness and goodness on display?
What has God done in the past
that gives you hope for what he will do in the future?
Pray Lord, thank you for being faithful to your people.
Thank you for hearing our cries today
just as you heard the cries of your people in ages past.
Thank you for entering our world, for living among us,
and for experiencing what we experience,
so that we could look to you for hope and life when all else feels lost.
We ask that you would again hear our cries
and the cries of your people all across the world.
We ask that you would return quickly
and we look forward to the life to come
where there is no sickness, mourning, death, or pain,
and where we get to participate
in maintaining the beauty you will restore.
Thank you for being faithful to hear us and respond.
