Christmas devotions: Dec. 30, 2017

Saturday December 30

Luke 1-67-80 Zechariah’s song

Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke this prophecy:
‘Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
   for he has looked favorably on his people and redeemed them.
He has raised up a mighty savior for us
   in the house of his servant David,
as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,
   that we would be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us.
Thus he has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors,
   and has remembered his holy covenant,
the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham,
   to grant us that we, being rescued from the hands of our enemies,
might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness
   before him all our days.
And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;
   for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
to give knowledge of salvation to his people
   by the forgiveness of their sins.
By the tender mercy of our God,
   the dawn from on high will break upon us,
to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
   to guide our feet into the way of peace.’

 The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day he appeared publicly to Israel.

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There are a couple of musicals written about Jesus’ life – Jesus Christ Superstar and Godspell.  Yet, there is not a one (that I can think of) about Jesus’ birth – though many of people’s favorite hymns are also Christmas carols.  In preparation for the birth of Christ, we are given two different songs – Mary’s Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55) and today’s reading of Zechariah’s song (there is also the song of Simeon after Jesus’ birth in Luke 2:29-32).

Music has a way of expressing our faith that mere words by themselves cannot match.  There is a quote attributed to St. Augustine that states “he who sings, prays twice”. 

Zechariah cannot help but burst forth in song (much like in musicals) as his words just don’t suffice.  He and his wife, Elizabeth were barren and when the angel Gabriel appeared to him, he did not believe the message that they would have a child.  He was made mute until the birth of his son.  When he tongue was loosed, he proclaimed his son’s name – John (the Baptist) - and then burst forth in this song of praise.

As our own ears are filled with songs, what hymn, carol or song reflects your own words of praise of God?   How might you use that song as a reflection of your own life of faith?

Prayer: When in our music God is glorified, and adoration has no room for pride, it is as if the whole creation cried: alleluia.  How oft, in making music, we have found a new dimension in the world of sound, as worship moved us to a more profound alleluia.  So has the church, in liturgy and song, in faith and love, through centuries of wrong, borne witness to the truth in every tongue: alleluia.  And did not Jesus sing a psalm the night when utmost evil strove against the light?  Then let us sing, for whom we won the fight: alleluia.  Let every instrument be tuned for praise; let all rejoice who have a voice to raise and may God give us faith to sing always: alleluia.  Amen (Hymn #851, ELW)

Pastor Jen Boyd