Zachariah's Song

I bumped into a long time friend from my former church this morning. This wonderful sister in Christ has been childless up to this point. She gladly announced that she and her husband had decided to adopt a child and the process had begun. I shared her joy. But knowing that her life will change quite dramatically I encouraged her by telling her how wonderful our children had been to me and my wife. It was definitely one way God can bless us, whether it's our own child or an adopted child.

It just happened that I was reading the story of Zachariah and Elizabeth in Luke this morning. In Luke 1 we are told that both Zachariah and Elizabeth were beyond child bearing age. But God had a special plan for them. God sent his angel Gabriel to announce to Zachariah that his wife will be with child. He had doubt and was struck by dumbness until the promise came true. When his son John the Baptist was born, Zachariah burst out in a song (verses 68-79):
“Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,
    because he has come to his people and redeemed them.
He has raised up a horn of salvation for us
    in the house of his servant David
(as he said through his holy prophets of long ago),
salvation from our enemies
    and from the hand of all who hate us—
to show mercy to our ancestors
    and to remember his holy covenant,
    the oath he swore to our father Abraham:
to rescue us from the hand of our enemies,
    and to enable us to serve him without fear
    in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High;
    for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,
to give his people the knowledge of salvation
    through the forgiveness of their sins,
because of the tender mercy of our God,
    by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven
to shine on those living in darkness
    and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the path of peace.”

This has become one of my favorite songs in scripture. Like the songs of Simeon (Luke 2:29-32) and Mary (Luke 1:46-55) I just love the spontaneity of emotion, one that bursts out as deep feelings finally find a way to escape. It reflects a life full of longing and obedience which finally discovers what it's all about. Zachariah was a priest. Like all priests he was a descendant of Aaron. From his younger age he knew that his whole life was to be different. He would spend his days in the temple, saying prayers for people and offering sacrifices for their sins. The people of Israel lived under repression of the Roman Empire, longing to see the Messiah to deliver them from their enemies. The one sure sign that God was with him and blessed him was to have a child. Without a child he wondered if he was still in God's favor. Now the blessing had finally come!!

Workingpreacher.org has a nice commentary on this song:
Zechariah's contribution to the musical score offers a symphony of praise to the God who is, who has been, and who always will be working among God's people. The prophecy previews several claims of this Gospel:

    God remains faithful to God's promises
    God's way is salvation
    God's path is peace.

As was true for Sarah and Abraham before them, Zechariah and Elizabeth are old, well past the age of childbearing (Luke 1:7); nevertheless, God has given them a son, John, whose life is caught up in the designs of God. John "will be great in the sight of the Lord...and he will turn many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God" (1:15-16). On the eighth day after John's birth, his parents bring him to the Temple for naming and circumcision, and Zechariah answers the question that is on everyone's hearts: "What then will this child become?" (Luke 1:65-66).

Luke uses the word "peace" more often than the other three Gospels combined. Indeed, God's peace is a message that frames the beginning and end of this Gospel and permeates its message throughout. Here, near the beginning, Zechariah sings that God will "guide our feet into the way of peace." His prophecy is fulfilled near the conclusion of the narrative when the risen Christ stands among his followers and announces, "Peace be with you" (24:36). In between, God's peace is the gift granted to those who kneel in faith before Jesus (7:50; 8:48) and to those who receive the message that God's basileia is near (10:5-6). It is the way of heaven breaking forth on earth when the Messiah makes his appearance (19:38).

In the end, Zechariah's song is not simply a way to announce the birth of John the Baptist, but rather to proclaim God's faithfulness, God's salvation, and God's peace. During this season of Advent, as we await the birth of the Savior of the world, we can pray together with Zechariah, "Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel."

What is my life so far? Have I experienced God's salvation? Has He fulfilled all His promises in my life? Do I have peace? There are days when my heart bursts out in songs but there are also days when I feel downcast and despair. Help me Lord to hear your voice every day. Remind me of your salvation and promises each and every time when my heart is down cast.

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
 
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you."

(Philippians 4:4-9)