Message
Zechariah’s Song
Luke 1:57-80
We are working our way through a series which looks at the Advent Songs.
Today we are going to have a look at Zechariah’s Song. So that we can be reminded of the context of the song let’s start by reading Luke 1:57-66
(read just verse 57)
Hopefully you are all familiar with the earlier part of the story where Zechariah, a priest in his late 40’s, is praying in the temple for his wife Elisabeth, who is also an older woman, to have a baby. During the prayer the angel Gabriel appeared and said the prayer would be answered – but Zechariah didn’t believe so Zechariah was unable to hear or speak from that point on.
Now let’s read (read Luke 1:57-66).
In the first century the birth of a baby was huge event. In those days
Many babies never came to full term.
Many mothers died in child-birth.
Many towns were also quite small, so a new child in a village was always celebrated news as it didn’t happen so frequently.
In the case of Elisabeth the birth is even more celebrated. Physically she had been unable to have children and she was well past child-bearing age. But here she was with a baby in her arms. It is an incredible gift from God and neighbours and friends have gathered to celebrate.
It is the eighth day since the birth.
The time when a male child was circumcised.
And also the time when the name of the child was announced.
In those days names were passed on from one generation to the next. So, naturally, everyone assumes the name of the baby boy is Zechariah.
But that is not the case. This is what happened in the temple earlier.
The angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John.
Luke 1:13
Elisabeth knows the name of the child,
She tells the crowd – He is to be called John.
And … well since it was the man’s decision … and what would Elisabeth know anyway … the crowds ask Zechariah.
Zechariah writes clearly …. His name is John. Because this is the name God has chosen.
When God gives a name you know something important is happening.
In Genesis 17 God is talking to Abram.
Abram means – “exalted father”.
God has just told Abram about the covenant – one result will be that Abram will be the father of the nation.
Then God changes Abram’s name to Abraham which means “father of many”.
When Mary was told Joseph had in mind to divorce her quietly. An angel visited Joseph and told Joseph everything was above board.
Then the angel gave Joseph God’s name for the child.
Jesus – which means “the Lord saves”.
Saul becomes Paul.
Simon becomes Peter.
God gives many names – this child is also named.
John – which means God has been gracious.
God has been gracious!
Certainly God is gracious to Zechariah and Elisabeth.
In the first place they now have a child. In the older age of their lives God has given them the gift of an heir and removed the shame that … in those days … came when someone was unable to have children.
God has been gracious.
God has also been gracious to Zechariah who can now hear and speak.
Just as the angel said – when it was known that the child would be called John Zechariah’s sight and hearing were restored.
God’s promises, even in the times when we doubt, are still firm.
God has been gracious.
What is the response to all these gracious acts of God? Well there is a growing expectation that God is going to do something even more powerful.
The crowd are amazed … everyone is talking about it.
The crowd are thinking about the future … what is God going to do?
The crowd are being prepared … what is this child going to be?
Expectation is in the air because everyone realises that God is at work.
As all this expectation is hanging in the air God places a song on the heart of Zechariah.
Let’s keep reading Scripture to hear the words of the song. Luke 1:67-80.
This is a song about expectations. The expectation that, because God has worked faithfully in the past, God will continue to work faithfully into the future.
The focus in the past is specifically on the kingship of David.
David’s kingship began with a covenant promise. The promise that the house of David and his kingdom shall “endure for ever and the throne of David shall be established for ever” (2 Samuel 7:16).
During the years of David’s rule the boarders of Israel were the biggest for the nation in all of history – and all of the enemies of Israel were subdued and defeated.
Spiritually, during the rule of the King, the nation of Israel was faithful to God because King David was faithful to God.
The reign of David was the golden-era that the nation of Israel continually looked back to when they would be thinking about what they would like to be experiencing.
The time of David’s rule was the time everyone want to have again.
They wanted this because, in the time when Elisabeth gave birth to John, the experiences of the crowd were no where near like what it was like during the rule of King David.
In the days when John was born the power-nation was the Roman Empire. It was the biggest most powerful nation in all of history.
Roman education had permeated every aspect of life.
Roman architecture dominated across the Empire.
Roman military were an ever-present reminder of who was the conqueror and who was the conquered.
Roman rule was implemented right across the Empire.
They were powerful. They were organised. They basically controlled all the resources. And no local king ever got in their way.
So when this amazing event occurs.
When a baby is born to a really old woman.
When a man who couldn’t hear or speak for nine months – suddenly starts speaking.
When Zechariah is filled with the Spirit and starts prophesying.
When all that happens – there is an expectation. God has done something in the past. God will keep acting in the present. That is the expectation.
When it comes to our spiritual walk with God having such an expectation is a great blessing and a comfort. Because such an expectation stops us from just focussing on the moment … on the here and now. So often the here and now gets all our attention.
What is happening at the moment.
The feelings we are wrestling with.
The situation we are facing.
The challenges we are confronting.
The here and now.
The here and now is important – but it can’t be our only perspective. Indeed Zechariah’s Song is getting the crowd to look back … to think about the present … and also to look forward.
The “looking back” part is the focus on the reign of King David … the covenant with Abraham also gets a brief mention.
The “present” focus is the current experience and expectations of the crowd based on all that is happening.
The “looking forward” part is when Zechariah sings about the impact of the future ministry of John.
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.
Luke 1:76-77
We might not pick up straight away the significance of this ministry. But the crowd definitely would. Malachi, which is the last book of the Old Testament, written about 400 years before, says this
“I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the Lord Almighty.
Malachi 3:1
The crowd look back at the Scriptures.
Then in the present there is a prophetic message given under the power of the Holy Spirit. Now the crowd are hearing that John will be the promised one who will prepare the way.
So now the people know that when John gets older and starts his “preparing the way” ministry … they know that the promised Messiah will not be far behind.
There is going to be a new era.
There is going to be a change.
Looking back … thinking about the present … looking forward.
That is what causes the expectation … God is at work.
Now, because of our time in salvation history, we know how this work unfolds.
Jesus will be born.
John and Jesus will grow and, about 30 years from our verses, they will both have a ministry.
John will prepare.
Jesus will bring knowledge of salvation.
All sorts of expectations will happen. Especially the expectation that the One who is in the line of King David will now conquer the power of the Roman Empire. But it won’t happen that way. The people will get confused. Jesus doesn’t do what everyone expects. At one point even John the Baptist will have doubts.
John’s disciples … came to Jesus, they said, “John the Baptist sent us to you to ask, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?’”
Luke 7:20
Expecting God to work is not the same as God working as we expect.
As the One who followed in the line of David, Jesus came as expected. But being the suffering servant … and being punished as a criminal … and dying.
No one expected the promised King … the promised Messiah … to do that.
Yet the work of Jesus … Immanuel … God in the flesh … this is a fulfilled of the expectations that God is a work.
As we listen to this song today we are being challenged to think about our expectations of God. Thinking about these expectation in the context of …
… God’s work in the past.
… our experiences in the present.
… God’s promises for the future.
No matter what we are going through, no matter what our present experiences, we should always expect God to be at work. Believing that God has an amazing plan and is fulfilling His purposes in us. Even expecting beyond …
Paul puts it this way.
To him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.
Ephesians 3:20
Expect God to work.
But don’t think God will always work as we expect.
Not every situation will be easy. 1 Peter 4:12 says “Do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.”
You won’t always live a righteous life even when walk faithfully. “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us” says 1 John 1:8.
Not every sickness will be healed … Paul always had his thorn in the flesh.
We are not called to stand firm in the spiritual picnic … we are called to stand firm in the spiritual battle.
Expect God to work … to direct all of His power towards showing His mercy and shining a light in the lives of those who are living in spiritual darkness.
But don’t always think that God will work as you expect.
… …
That is what happens if we just focus on the present.
God can you fix this.
God can you change that.
God these are my experiences.
God here is what I expect.
Let me assure you God knows exactly what you what. But what is more assuring is that God knows exactly what you need.
What you need for the moment.
So that you will have what you need for eternity.
That is a song worth singing … isn’t it.
Prayer
