Canticle Of Zacharias
The candles of hope, love, and joy continue to shine and are finally joined by the candle of peace. With its lighting the flame shines brightly inviting the Price of Peace to rule our hearts and minds.
Clearly, Zechariah sees the love of God embodied in the coming Savior of the world. He tells his son "In the tender compassion of our God, the dawn from on high shall break upon us, to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death and to guide our feet into the way of peace." All that the Father hopes for us is echoed there, his love, his compassion, his care for those who are lost, it is all there and in it we hear the parent's prayer for their children.
For Zechariah, the birth of his son, - despite his advanced age, her wife’s barrenness, and the return of his speech, is divine signs of the dawn of salvation (v.78). This “salvation” (v.71) means (a) the forgiveness and mercy from God for all the sins of the people of Abraham.
God’s grace of salvation or, as graphically pictured in v.73b as God’s rescuing of his people from the hand of enemies, is not be conditioned by any human attitude or comportment. For God, this salvation, has become an “oath” (v.73). He has made a pledge long ago, and he will oblige himself, in spite of and despite human failures. This “oath” (v.73), He will truly fulfill for his people. This is so because God promised, and he will never break his promise. This is because God is faithful, and despite human’s repeated unfaithfulness, God remains to be faithful. This is God’s love beyond condition. There is no human condition that will prevent God from redeeming his chosen people. This was part of the oath he made to Abraham, the father of faith. The challenge then is how to truly commemorate this greatest gift of God. With the birth of his son, we commemorate the advent of our being true sons and daughters of God. Virtually and really, with the birth of Jesus, we were made worthy “to serve him in holiness and righteousness.” This is our life long task: To preserve ourselves and persevere in holiness and in righteousness of God so that we become worthy sons and daughters, slaves and servants of a loving Father.
The Naming Of John the Baptist
In the Middle East, they pick names based on different criteria than we do. For them, the way the name sounded was not that important. It was also not that important if the name was popular or unpopular. Generally, they picked names in one of two ways.
First, they most often named firstborn sons after the father, and other sons after some other relative. Similarly, girls were often named after the mother or grandmother. But sometimes, they chose different names for their children, and in these cases the names were chosen for what they mean. You see, names are like all words, they have definitions. And the people of the Middle East often looked upon the meaning of the name of a child as a prediction or prophecy for what kind of person that child would grow up to be.
Now Zacharias would have been a good name. It was his father's name, and it means "the one whom Yahweh remembers." That's a good name to have. But just at the priest was praying this prayer, Elizabeth jumps in, she interrupts, and says, "No! Wait! He is not be named Zacharias.
"His name is John." John, by the way , is a good name too. It means, "God has been gracious." And God was gracious, to Zacharias and Elizabeth, and to all who encountered John later in life. God himself gave John that name and it was revealed to his father Zachary in a vision (Luke 1:13). That this name was given to the child already before his birth shows that God has a purpose and plan for the child. The words of Isaiah apply equally to John: “The lord called me before I was born, while I was in my mother's womb he named me. … he formed me in the womb to be his servant (Isaiah 49:1, 5).
You know, most of the time, almost all of the time, gossip is bad. But there are a few instances where gossip is good. We could call it "good news gossip" or "Gospel Gossip."
This good kind of gossip is when God does something amazing for us, or in our church, or for somebody else, and we just want to spread it all over town. It is so amazing that we want to call everybody in the phonebook, and say, "Wow! Did you hear what God did for Zacharias?"
Or, "You'll never believe what happened! We prayed for Harry and Sally at the prayer meeting and Bible study on Wednesday night, and not one week later, our prayer was answered! Isn't that incredible?" I hope you can do that at work and in your neighborhood. Godly gossip. Gospel gossip. Just letting your mouth speak from the overflow in your life of what exciting things God is doing.
In the Middle East, they pick names based on different criteria than we do. For them, the way the name sounded was not that important. It was also not that important if the name was popular or unpopular. Generally, they picked names in one of two ways.
First, they most often named firstborn sons after the father, and other sons after some other relative. Similarly, girls were often named after the mother or grandmother. But sometimes, they chose different names for their children, and in these cases the names were chosen for what they mean. You see, names are like all words, they have definitions. And the people of the Middle East often looked upon the meaning of the name of a child as a prediction or prophecy for what kind of person that child would grow up to be.
Now Zacharias would have been a good name. It was his father's name, and it means "the one whom Yahweh remembers." That's a good name to have. But just at the priest was praying this prayer, Elizabeth jumps in, she interrupts, and says, "No! Wait! He is not be named Zacharias.
"His name is John." John, by the way , is a good name too. It means, "God has been gracious." And God was gracious, to Zacharias and Elizabeth, and to all who encountered John later in life. God himself gave John that name and it was revealed to his father Zachary in a vision (Luke 1:13). That this name was given to the child already before his birth shows that God has a purpose and plan for the child. The words of Isaiah apply equally to John: “The lord called me before I was born, while I was in my mother's womb he named me. … he formed me in the womb to be his servant (Isaiah 49:1, 5).
You know, most of the time, almost all of the time, gossip is bad. But there are a few instances where gossip is good. We could call it "good news gossip" or "Gospel Gossip."
This good kind of gossip is when God does something amazing for us, or in our church, or for somebody else, and we just want to spread it all over town. It is so amazing that we want to call everybody in the phonebook, and say, "Wow! Did you hear what God did for Zacharias?"
Or, "You'll never believe what happened! We prayed for Harry and Sally at the prayer meeting and Bible study on Wednesday night, and not one week later, our prayer was answered! Isn't that incredible?" I hope you can do that at work and in your neighborhood. Godly gossip. Gospel gossip. Just letting your mouth speak from the overflow in your life of what exciting things God is doing.
Magnificat
What is truly remarkable is the fact that she is fully conscious of that fact, acknowledges it, and praises God for that incomparable and unique privilege that consists in being the mother of the Savior of all ages to come.
The first object for which she lifts her voice in praise is for salvation. In verse 47, she declares her dependence upon God in Heaven for salvation. She is simply praising the Lord for the salvation she possesses.
Mary is telling Elizabeth that she is a nobody, but she has experienced the grace of God first hand. Mary knows that she does not deserve wonderful favor of the Lord that has been extended to her. Yet, the Lord did it anyway. Think of the change He made in your life, 2 Cor. 5:17. Think of the blessings you have enjoyed. Think of the benefits that are yours as a child of God. Think of the glory that awaits out there in the future. We have been blessed abundantly! Like Mary, we all have reason to praise the Name of the Lord!
Only those who are willing to humble themselves before the Lord can expect anything from the Lord. Salvation comes to the humble - Matt. 18:3. Before we can expect anything from the Lord, we must be willing to humble ourselves in His sight. When we do, we can experience His grace in a very real way.
Many are like the "church crowd" down in Laodicea, Rev. 3:14-22. They thought they had everything they needed, but failed to see that they were the neediest people of all. With all they possessed, they still lacked everything. Because to have the entire world and not have Jesus is to be eternally doomed to the fires of Hell. Yet, to have Him and nothing more is to have the greatest treasure that Heaven can afford. If you have all the goods of this world in your hand and do not have the Lord Jesus Christ in your heart, you are destitute and headed to Hell - Mark 8:36-37.
Mary praises the Lord for remembering to do what He has promised to do. She exalts His Name because He did not forget her people. The Lord still keeps His promises. He will never allow anything He has promised to do go undone, Rom. 4:21! That is why He can be trusted in every situation in life. Whether it be for salvation, 2 Tim. 1:12, or for daily provision, Phil. 4:19. God will do what He has said He will do. Therefore, learn to trust Him and learn to praise Him for His goodness, even if the answer has not yet been seen! If there is one thing we can be sure of this morning/evening, it is that we can depend on the Lord, He will never let one of His promises fall to the ground - 2 Pet. 3:9.
What is truly remarkable is the fact that she is fully conscious of that fact, acknowledges it, and praises God for that incomparable and unique privilege that consists in being the mother of the Savior of all ages to come.
The first object for which she lifts her voice in praise is for salvation. In verse 47, she declares her dependence upon God in Heaven for salvation. She is simply praising the Lord for the salvation she possesses.
Mary is telling Elizabeth that she is a nobody, but she has experienced the grace of God first hand. Mary knows that she does not deserve wonderful favor of the Lord that has been extended to her. Yet, the Lord did it anyway. Think of the change He made in your life, 2 Cor. 5:17. Think of the blessings you have enjoyed. Think of the benefits that are yours as a child of God. Think of the glory that awaits out there in the future. We have been blessed abundantly! Like Mary, we all have reason to praise the Name of the Lord!
Only those who are willing to humble themselves before the Lord can expect anything from the Lord. Salvation comes to the humble - Matt. 18:3. Before we can expect anything from the Lord, we must be willing to humble ourselves in His sight. When we do, we can experience His grace in a very real way.
Many are like the "church crowd" down in Laodicea, Rev. 3:14-22. They thought they had everything they needed, but failed to see that they were the neediest people of all. With all they possessed, they still lacked everything. Because to have the entire world and not have Jesus is to be eternally doomed to the fires of Hell. Yet, to have Him and nothing more is to have the greatest treasure that Heaven can afford. If you have all the goods of this world in your hand and do not have the Lord Jesus Christ in your heart, you are destitute and headed to Hell - Mark 8:36-37.
Mary praises the Lord for remembering to do what He has promised to do. She exalts His Name because He did not forget her people. The Lord still keeps His promises. He will never allow anything He has promised to do go undone, Rom. 4:21! That is why He can be trusted in every situation in life. Whether it be for salvation, 2 Tim. 1:12, or for daily provision, Phil. 4:19. God will do what He has said He will do. Therefore, learn to trust Him and learn to praise Him for His goodness, even if the answer has not yet been seen! If there is one thing we can be sure of this morning/evening, it is that we can depend on the Lord, He will never let one of His promises fall to the ground - 2 Pet. 3:9.
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