The praises continue today. These tales of history
inspire us with angels, with prophesies from long ago fulfilled, and with
recognition of the Son of God even from the womb. John the Baptist’s birth brings
us more to talk about today.
Because
Zechariah did not immediately believe the angel’s words to him, his ability to
speak was taken away. His baby is born and, as was the custom, the neighbors come
to the 8th day circumcision of the child. They shared in the joy of
this miraculous birth in their neighbors’ old age.
They
assume, which was also the custom, that the baby would be named Zechariah,
after his father. Elizabeth told them, no. His name would be John. They looked
to Zechariah.
He
asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, “His name
is John.” Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free and he began
to speak praising God. Luke 1:63-64
After
months without speech, the first words out of his mouth are praise. In my own
life, sitting still and quiet with God gives me an opportunity to listen for
His voice and to worship Him. I can’t imagine not being able to speak for
months! Sounds like it would be a miracle to my husband! Being quiet in our
culture and getting away from technology, even for a few minutes, has become
increasingly difficult.
Zechariah’s praises, like Mary’s yesterday, are
worth our listening ears. Take a few minutes to praise our God, along with
Zechariah.
“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.” Luke 1:68-79
I found
myself holding my breath as I typed. All of these beautiful words are wrapped
up in two sentences. I feel the Holy Spirit oozing out of Zechariah, words
flowing like a fountain, gushing forth the history of his people and the hope
for them, in part, through his very own child. The King is coming and this
child of his is to prepare the way. And it would come to pass, just as all of
God’s Words come to pass.
And here
we sit on the other side of the cross. We see the next 33 years. We see John
out in the wilderness preparing the way, the first to recognize the Messiah. The
one who would baptize His Lord and die because of Him. We see the cross and the
resurrection. Our Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father, as King of Kings,
and we no longer fear death. Let’s sit still.
No more death. Forgiveness of our sins. A purpose for life. All reason
to praise.
Jesus,
You tell us to “Be still and know that I am God” in
Psalm 46. You know how difficult it is to sit still. This season of the year is
an especially busy one. Remind us to
stop and worship You until it overflows. We gain much from the words of praise
from Mary and Zechariah. You are worthy to be praised.
Amen
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