Balaam's Prophecy, Psalmist's Longings, and Christ's Authority
December 16, 2024 - Monday of the Third Week of Advent
Numbers 24:2-7, 15-17a; Psalm 25:4-5ab, 6 and 7bc, 8-9; Matt 21:23-27
As Christmas approaches, the liturgy of the Word begins with a remarkable messianic passage from the book of Numbers, foreshadowing the coming of a Savior. In Balaam’s oracle, we encounter the image of a “star” rising from Jacob and a “scepter” from Israel—symbols pointing to a powerful, God-anointed king who would lead and deliver His people. For us in the Advent season, this prophecy stirs a deep sense of expectation as we await the birth of Christ, the fulfillment of this ancient promise.
In today’s Psalm, we find concerns and longings that resonate with our own: what is the right way to live, how can our sins be forgiven, and is there a way to be free from distress (Ps 25:4-5; 7, 11, 16-22)? The answer to these questions is revealed on Christmas Day in Bethlehem. The “star” of the Messiah, mentioned in Balaam's prophecy, guided the Magi to Bethlehem, illuminating a path to God’s salvation (Matt. 2:2). Jesus comes to save us from our sins (Matt. 1:21). Finally, those who put their trust in Jesus need not be anxious. This trust is captured beautifully in Paul’s message, written from prison to his beloved community in Philippi: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God" (Phil. 4:6).
In Balaam’s prophecy, the “scepter” represents the Messiah’s authority. We see that authority powerfully displayed in the Gospel. When Jesus entered the temple and disrupted the commerce happening there, He demonstrated that He was in charge. Like the prophets before Him, Jesus could not accept that the religious authorities had turned "his house" into "a den of robbers" (Matt. 21:13). Yet Jesus' authority extended even further. We’re told, "the blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he healed them" (Matt. 21:14). J.R.R. Tolkien captures the meaning of this scene when he writes in The Lord of the Rings, “The hands of the king are the hands of a healer, and so shall the rightful king be known.”
In coming to the temple, Jesus also fulfilled another prophecy. One of the last prophets of the Old Testament, Malachi, foretold that one day “suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple” (Malachi 3:1). Yet, the religious leaders resisted Jesus' authority. Instead of questioning, “By what authority are you doing these things?” and “Who gave you this authority?” they could have repented, confessed their sins, and found salvation in Jesus Christ. In contrast, the psalmist shows us a different approach. Rather than clinging to control, he humbly places his life in God’s hands, acknowledging his need for forgiveness and deliverance.
The Advent season is about the fulfillment of ancient biblical prophecy in Jesus Christ. It also presents John the Baptist as the herald of repentance and the precursor to the Messiah. Meaningful preparation for Christmas involves embracing these ancient prophecies, changing the course of our lives, and humbly journeying with the Magi and shepherds to Bethlehem. There, in the Christ child, we find life’s true meaning, forgiveness of sins, and relief from all distress.