Zechariah's Song Series

Michele Hardie, of Holland, Michigan, describes a time when her family was getting ready for Advent. Recalling their preparation for advent a year earlier, she asked her children, “Who can tell me what the four candles in the Advent wreath represent?” She was looking for them to say hope, peace, joy, and love.

Luke, her seven-year-old, got all excited and replied, “There's love, joy, peace, and ... and ...”

“I know!” her six-year-old Elise interrupted: “Peace and quiet!” (Michele L. Hardie, Holland, Michigan. Christian Reader, “Kids of the Kingdom”)

Sometimes, it seems that Advent is anything but a time for “peace and quiet.” However, amidst the busyness and turmoil of the season, there is a way to find real peace.

That’s what Zechariah discovered. He was an elderly priest, who had lived under an oppressive Roman government all his life. Then it was his turn to burn incense in the temple. There, an angel told him that he and his wife, Elizabeth, would have a son, who would introduce the Messiah to the world. Zechariah couldn’t believe it, so the angel took away Zechariah’s ability to speak. Nine months later, his son, John, was born. Zechariah’s tongue was loosed, and the first words out of his mouth was a song of praise. His doubt was turned into delight, and he sang a song of God’s visitation, which leads to the way of peace.

If you have your Bibles, I invite you to turn with me to Luke 1, Luke 1, where we have Zechariah’s song and discover the way to peace amidst the doubts and fears of real life.

Luke 1:68-70 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old… (ESV)

With the coming of Messiah, Zechariah praises God, because He has finally visited, redeemed and saved His people as He had been promising to do for a long time. That’s how Zechariah found joy and peace in the midst of his doubt and fear. And that’s how you find joy and peace, as well, in the midst of YOUR doubt and fear.

REALIZE THAT GOD HAS VISITED YOU!

Appreciate the fact that in Christ God is with you! Recognize that in Christ God has come to take care of you.

That’s what the word “visit” means in the Bible. It means to take care of someone in their affliction and distress. James uses the same word in James 1, where he says, “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God… is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction….” (James 1:27).

When you were powerless to go to God for help; He visited you! He came to purchase your freedom and to powerfully deliver you from evil. The horn of an animal symbolized its power. Well, here it speaks of the power of our Savior against the forces of evil. Wonder of wonders! Our powerful God came to visit us!

Matthew Hosier, in a blog entitled “Incarnation through Middle Eastern Eyes” writes about a friend of his who moved to a Muslim majority nation.

When they arrived in the Middle East, they heard that on festival days everyone dresses in their best clothes and goes to visit their relatives and neighbors to celebrate. So, for their first festival they carefully cleaned their apartment, dressed up in their best clothes, got some sweets and chocolates which are traditional to hand out to visitors and waited in their house. But no-one came to visit.

Later, a friend explained what they did wrong: “On festival days, the small visit the big, and the big give out presents.” For example, everyone in a family visits their eldest brother, or their parents, or grandparents. When they arrive, they kiss the hand of the older person to show respect and honor. The host would then care for their guests by feeding them, serving them, and giving them gifts like good quality chocolate, money, or other presents. As newly arrived foreigners without social standing or relatives, naturally no-one came to visit them. They were considered “small” by the culture, so they were the ones who needed to do the visiting.”

Think about that in light of God visiting us in the incarnation. In every other religion, humans (the small) try to visit God by their own strength and good works. But as much as we try to dress up nicely, we cannot be clean enough to enter His house without polluting and disrespecting it.

In the incarnation, the “Big” visited the “Small.” In fact, He became “small” Himself, so He could visit us in our squalid house. But as the “Big.” He also played the role of host and gave gifts. He gave us redemption and salvation, freedom and deliverance from the powerful forces of evil. (Adapted from Matthew Hosier; “Incarnation Through Middle-Eastern Eyes,” 12-22-16; http://thinktheology.co.uk/blog/article/incarnation_through_ middle_eastern_eyes; www.PreachingToday.com)