New Year Same God
We all know the tune, even if we struggle with the words, or don’t know its name.
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and old lang syne?
CHORUS:
For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we’ll take a cup of kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.
And surely you’ll buy your pint cup!
and surely I’ll buy mine!
And we’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.
CHORUS
We two have run about the slopes,
and picked the daisies fine;
But we’ve wandered many a weary foot,
since auld lang syne.
CHORUS
We two have paddled in the stream,
from morning sun till dine;
But seas between us broad have roared
since auld lang syne.
CHORUS
And there’s a hand my trusty friend!
And give me a hand o’ thine!
And we’ll take a right good-will draught,
for auld lang syne.
CHORUS
Looking into the song I discovered a few things.
Auld Lang Syne is a Scots poem written by Robert Burns in 1788 and set to the tune of a traditional folk song. It is well known in many countries and is used to say good bye to the old year at the stroke of midnight. The song’s Scots title may be translated into English as “old long since”, or more simply, “long long ago”, “days gone by” or “old times”. Therefore, “For auld lang syne”, as it appears in the first line of the chorus, might be loosely translated as “for (the sake of) old times”. The writer Matthew Fitt uses the phrase “In the days of auld lang syne” as the equivalent of “Once upon a time…” in his retelling of fairy tales in the Scots language.
For some, 2023 is a year we would like to forget, for others it’s a year filled with grand memories. For others still, it was just an average year, zooming into the past to be forgotten. As we get older, we have more to remember. Things stand out, and things fade into the mists of time. Sometimes old acquaintances are forgotten. But there are also those who have been called home before us who will very much be missed. Yet we look forward to the new year not with sadness, but with hope. We know our savior, and we know our God. We are NOT forgotten people.
Look at this verse from Isaiah 49
This is what the Lord says:
15“Can a mother forget the baby at her breast
and have no compassion on the child she has borne?
Though she may forget,
I will not forget you!
16See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands
Our God loves us, and never wants us to worry about being away from Him. He sent His son, Jesus, from manger to cross, from cross to grave, from grave to life everlasting…. He did that out of His love for you and me. There is a better chance of your mom forgetting she had you; than God forgetting He made, and redeemed you!
So, if you have struggled with 2023,
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purposes. Romans 8:28
If you are nervous about 2024,
For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11
Why?
In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 1 John 4:9-11
Propitiation: to appease, make payment for or conciliate somebody or something.
You see, 2024 has already been paid for. The good, the bad, the sin, the doubt, the worry. All paid upon the cross of Calvary.
I am confident going forward of God love
The manger is empty.
The cross is empty.
The tomb is empty.
God’s promises are never empty.
So my heart is full.
So long 2023. Welcome 2024.
- Pastor Dan