Zechariah: Quick to Praise God
God’s People on Mission
Zechariah: Quick to praise God
There are so many ‘sub-stories’ in God’s wonderful plan of Salvation, and the story of Elizabeth, Zechariah and their son John is one of my favourites. Zechariah was a priest in the service of God, and he and his wife had prayed for years to have a son, but now they had given up hope.
It was then that God sent Gabriel to announce, not only would they have a son, but that he would have a very special place in announcing and preparing the way for the coming of Jesus.
Zechariah didn’t believe what the angel was saying, and his position was such that God would use that unbelief to teach us a lesson. Zechariah was struck dumb – unable to speak. He could write in order to share what had happened, and specifically the encounter he’d had with Gabriel, but he was greatly limited in his ability to communicate because he didn’t believe that God would work a miracle for him and Elizabeth.
I love what John Lennox has to say on this. He reminds us that miracles are events that break the laws of nature, and they do that to show us that God is at work, breaking into the natural order of things to show us that He is there, and at work in our world.
He continues – and this is the point he makes about Zechariah, if we don’t believe in miracles, don’t believe that God breaks the natural order of things, then we simply have nothing to say. Being struck dumb was an appropriate lesson for us about Zechariah’s mistake, and potentially ours also.
And so it is, that when their son is born, and against convention and the expectation of the wider family and friends, Zechariah acts in obedience to the instruction of Gabriel and declares their child’s name is John. That simple act of faith and obedience was enough for God to loose his lips. And what he then has to say is one of my favourite passages in the Bible. Zechariah immediately bursts forth in a wonderful song of praise to Almighty God:
“Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited and redeemed his people. He has sent us a mighty Saviour from the royal line of his servant David, just as he promised through his holy prophets long ago. (Luke 1:68-70)
Too long for our purposes today – but the whole song lifts my spirit from start to finish. It is a great testament to God’s faithfulness and the fulfilment of all His promises, and whenever I hear it or read it, I’m reminded of the great certainty we have of all those things we have yet to see take place – but are just as certain because God has declared it to be so.
Take time to read the passage when you are able. As I do, I can imagine the look on the face of this old Jewish priest – the joy and wonder that resonates from his smile as, even as he holds his newborn child in the presence of those who had anticipated his birth, looks up to heaven and bursts forth in this song of praise. From verses 68 – 75, he declares the faithfulness of God – and praises Him.
Then, I imagine as the passage comes to verse 76, he pauses for a moment, looks down at his son and lowers his voice, taking a serious but no less joyful tone as he declares:
“And you, my little son, will be called the prophet of the Most High, because you will prepare the way for the Lord. You will tell his people how to find salvation through forgiveness of their sins. Because of God’s tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace.” (Luke 1:76-79)
And as I read that, two things happen for me. Firstly, I enter into the joy of a besotted man who had thought he’d never be a Father, and the love he has for his son. But the second is more personal, because I’m reminded of the part we all are invited to play. Sure John had a specific purpose of preparing the way for Messiah Jesus – but our part is in there also – did you see it?
“You will tell his people how to find salvation through forgiveness of their sins.”
Can I encourage you today, to embrace the joy that comes from that privilege. Not to see it as a burden, or something that is hard or dangerous, as sometimes it is – but remember the joy and wonder of being messengers of the Lord, teaching people how they can know salvation and receive Eternal Life and the Knowledge of God.
Join with Zechariah and me also, as we praise God for His promises and His faithfulness – and Praise Him that we get to share the Good News, the way of Salvation with those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, guiding them to the path of peace.
