NL 216: Zechariah’s Song
Image: Nativity of John Baptist, 15 c, Hermitage wikimedia
Luke 1:5-13 [14-25] 57-80
Initial Thoughts
Robb’s blog post: Declare that the Dawn is Coming
John the Baptist is a common figure in the Advent story, but Zechariah is often ignored (No one ever says, “Hi Dad” at the camera).
Bible Study
Luke 1:5-25 - Zechariah’s story
Zech is the first man named in the Gospel of Luke - a high priest, whose wife Elizabeth was a daughter of a priest. i.e. A priest who married a PK.
Both righteous before God, blameless, and barren. No child.
Chosen to enter the sanctuary - Holy of Holies?
a holy place, containing a menorah, a table for sacred bread, and a small container for burning incense.” (Common English Study Bible, p. 105 NT)
Angel Announces John the Baptist’s birth:
He will be a great joy and delight to you
many people will rejoice at his birth
for he will be great in the Lord’s eyes
He must not drunk wine and liquor
He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before his birth
He will bring many Israelites back to the Lord their God… He will make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
Zech’s response: “How can I be sure of this? My wife and I are very old” and the Angel punishes Zechariah with being unable to speak
Echoes Abraham and Sarah in Genesis 17 and 18
Cuts two ways - Abraham and Sarah aren’t punished for doubting (and they are speaking directly to God!), but Zechariah, as a priest, should know this story. It isn’t just that he doesn’t believe the angel, he doesn’t believe the story.
Ironically Zechariah’s name means “Yahweh remembers”
Elizabeth - doesn’t know how this has occurred, but trusts it is God’s work
Luke 1:57-67 - the birth of John the Baptist
Zechariah finally get the assurance he asked for, he “sees” it and trusts in God as evidenced by naming his son,”John”
John means “Yahweh is gracious”
They want to name John “Yahweh remembers”, but John and Jesus are evidence, not that God remembers, but God has heard the call and responds with incarnate grace - hence John/”Yahweh is gracious”
Luke 1:68-79 - The Song, better known as the Benedictus (from the latin first word for “Blessed”)
About God and about Jesus, not about John
This is not about John, but point to and anticipates Jesus - like John the Baptist will do
“for he has delivered” interesting verb tense. This implies that the people are already saved - even though John is just a baby and Jesus isn’t born yet.
The salvation is present because of God’s promise in the past. Connected to Abraham. This is not a new thing that God is doing, but a part of God’s great work of salvation.
God’s promise of salvation transcends current political state.
Judah is still occupied by Rome, but Zech declares “He has brought salvation from our enemies and from the power of all those who hate us.”
They may not be delivered from Rome, but they are delivered from Rome’s power. - This is the story of Resurrection. The power of Rome, which is centered on the threat of the cross, is not enough to keep Jesus from Resurrection.
About John
Only a couple verses - Some scholars suspect vv. 68-75 are a hymn sung by the followers of John and vv. 76-79 were added later by followers of Christ
What he does say about John is more about what he will do for God and Jesus.
Be a prophet
Prepare the way
Tell people about the power of forgiveness.
Luke 1:80 - connects John to Samson the Nazarite and Samuel the boy who would be prophet
Samson - see Judges 13:5, 24 - “the boy is going to be a nazirite for God from birth...The woman gave birth to a son and named him Samson. The boy grew up, and the LORD blessed him.”
Nazarite - comes from the word “nazir” meaning separated or consecrated. According to Numbers 6, Nazarites had to abstain from alcohol, not cut their hair, and not defiling themselves by touching the dead. Cf. Luke 1:15
Samuel - see 1 Samuel 2:26 - “Meanwhile, the boy Samuel kept growing up and was more and more liked by both the LORD and the people.”
Samuel would become the first prophet and would anoint King David
Thoughts and Questions
There is a lot in this story about trusting in God. We have no assurance (Zech’s question Luke 1:18) other than faith (cf. Hebrews 11). Elizabeth trusts in God without asking for assurances, Mary trusts God by asking how it is possible, but never if it is possible. How much our faith is caught up in the doubt of what God can do as opposed to asking how God will work through us to make the impossible possible? And if we get too caught up in our own needs for assurance and control, if we forget our story of faith that God keeps God’s promises, then perhaps we need to be silent and spend more time listening, to God and to the story of the people of God.
While taking from Luke 1:37 - this passage begs the question - “what is impossible for God?” Can an elderly couple conceive? Can a virgin conceive? If so, then can the powerful oppressors be brought low (v. 52)? Can the lowly be lifted up (v. 52)? Can the hungry be filled (v 53)? Can people be redeemed (v.68)? Can we be rescued from our enemies (74)? Will our sins be forgiven (v. 77)? Will we see a light in the darkness of the shadow of death (v. 79)? Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Nothing will be impossible for God (v. 37) - God remembers (Zechariah) and God is gracious (John).
“What then will this child be?” What parent hasn’t wondered that aloud? What do you wonder about your child - or any child you care about? John was given a vision of this child’s future, but can any other child have any less of a calling? John is called to “tell his people how to be saved through the forgiveness of sins.” Can any of us not achieve this as well? Being a prophet is not about having magical powers, or being touched by angels. It is about speaking God’s truth to people who need it.
But I’m here to tell you that God rejoices no less for you than did Zechariah for his son. Zechariah so loved his son that he could glimpse him through God’s eternal eyes. God so loves you that he has laid out a path for you to follow. God has given you something that makes you uniquely you. There is something in you that transcends employment, labels, gender, race, or status. God has created you with a purpose, and is calling you to that purpose today. You were created to do no less than John once did – to prepare the way of the Lord, and “to show the people the way to salvation through the forgiveness of sins.” (Robb McCoy)
“He has granted that we would be rescued from the power of our enemies so that we could serve him without fear.”
What is the power of our enemies?
When terrorism changes our values. When we allow fear to rule our hearts and decisions. When we fear a man because he is black. Then we are allowing our enemies to have power over us. Instead, we have salvation. Salvation from what? From fear, and from the power of our enemies.
Lots could be done with Psalm 23 and the last line. “To give light to those in the shadow of death, to guide us on the path of peace.”
When do you sit in the shadow? How does Advent call us out?
Opening music: Misirlou, One Man 90 Instruments by Joe Penna/MysteryGuitarMan at MIM
Closing Song by Bryan Odeen