Christmas 2024 Songs of Christmas 1

Luke 1:67-80 Zechariah’s Song; Benedictus Dominus Deus Israel

Intro—

We all have our favorite Christmas Carols. Some of you start listening to them earlier than others, some have been around longer than others, but we all enjoy hearing the sounds of Christmas in the background of our lives.

Did you know that the Bible has a set of Greatest Hits of Christmas Songs?

Mary’ Song - The Magnificat

Zechariah’s Song - The Benedictus (The blessing)

The Angels Song - Gloria

The Song of Simeon - Nunc Dimittus (Now Depart)

Now, they most likely would not have been sung by Mary, Zechariah, the Angels, or Simeon, but because of their poetic nature, they have been easily adopted and adapted to any culture, and sung by Christians over the centuries.

This year we are going to look at Zechariah and Simeon’s Songs, and maybe we will study the other two next year.

CONTEXT |

To understand Zechariah’s song you have to get to know he and his wife a little first, and to do this you only need to flip back a page to Luke 1:5.

Zechariah was a priest of the division of Abijah.

The service of the temple was divided into twenty-four divisions, and each provided for the needs of the temple service for a week at a time, twice a year.

In the time of Herod.

This is Herod the Great, who was appointed to rule by Rome, and unfortunately reigned for a long time with a heavy hand.

Zechariah had a wife named Elizabeth.

She was daughter from the priestly line of Aaron.

And, they were both righteous before God (v.6).

And up to this point, they were not able to have any children.

Luke 1:7 “they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.”

As a priest, Zechariah would serve his time in the temple, once twice a year and and during holy weeks, but often there were too many priests and not enough work, so they would cast lots to determine who would get to do what.

Some jobs were more desirable than others.

The burning of incense was a privilege, and in fact, according to the Mishnah, a priest could only do this task once in his life.

Performing this duty may have been the most important moment in Zechariah’s life.

This was an exciting time, and worshippers would have been present praying at the hour of incense.

So, Zechariah is doing his priestly job and out of nowhere an angel of the Lord appeared and told Zechariah,

Luke 1:13 “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.”

Amazing things were said about this son, but Zechariah had a hard time believing what he was hearing, so Zechariah said to the angel, (Luke 1:18-19) “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.”

Don’t you think this is a reasonable question? Evidently it wasn’t, something about it makes Gabriele respond by striking Zechariah mute for 9 months.

His question wasn’t the problem, but his unbelief was.

Luke 1:20 “And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.””

Luke 1:34 “And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?””

So, due to Zechariah’s unbelief he is unable to talk when he comes out of the Temple, and he engages in a biblical game of charades (v. 22).

v. 23and because of his devotion to his priestly duties, Zechariah didn’t go home until (Luke 1:23) “his time of service was ended.”

How did this conversation go, or should I say these hand signals?

I don’t know, but some how Elizabeth understood Zechariah, and she kept her self hidden for 5 months.

She couldn’t hide forever, so when her family and neighbors heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, they rejoiced.

When the child was born, Zechariah and Elizabeth named him John, just as they were told, Luke 1:64 “And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God.”

Zechariah’s song contains the blessing he spoke to God as soon as he was able, and helps us know how to respond to God’s mercy in our lives!

Zechariah responds to the mercy of God with theologically rich praise, not simply personal-situational gratitude.

It is important to see that Zechariah’s silence was about much more than his doubt, it was a sign that God’s silence was coming to an end.

God had not spoken since the time of the Prophets, from Malachi to now (Intertestamental Period), however, the word was about to become flesh and dwell among his creation.

So, Zechariah’s words here may seem odd, but they are very appropriate.

Just like John would point to Jesus, Zechariah’s words were pointing to the mercy of God!

So, How do you respond to the mercy of God in your life? Do you respond with praise to God for who he is, or simply for what he does for you?

To properly answer this question, it is important to answer...

Why does God show mercy to his people?

He is Faithful

v.70— “as he spoke from the mouths of the prophets of old”

God has historically redeemed his people, yet through this 400 years of silence many would have wondered if God had forgotten them.

But, just as he redeemed Israel from bondage in Egypt he would deliver his people now.

v.67—Zechariah was filled with Holy Spirit and then he prophesies.

Zechariah would not say the wrong things this time, and God ensured that His message would be shared.

V.71—reminded that God’s people would be saved.

v. 72—that he would show the mercy promised to past generations.

v.72—and that he would remember his holy covenant.

Zechariah knew the faithfulness of God personally, but greater than that he knew God’s consistency throughout all time.

Zechariah’s praise points out that God is doing something big here, bigger than his priestly duties, bigger than his marital status, bigger than Israel...(v.69) he has raised up a horn for us.

What does “a horn of salvation” mean?

A horn is a sign of power. That is why you see horns blown in battle, worn on helmets into war—but here the power of salvation is in view.

Ps. 132.17 “I will make a horn to sprout for David; I have prepared a lamp for my anointed.”

God was no longer silent, salvation was coming, God shows mercy because he is faithful!

God shows mercy because He (God) Cares For His People

Zechariah’s song reminds us that God cares for his people.

Though Israel rebelled and served the God’s of the nations, God gave Israel thousands of chances to repent and return to him.

And in Zechariah’s life, God showed him mercy, even in his unbelief, by giving him a son, his voice back, and a Spirit inspired message to share.

To emphasis the care of God, Zechariah mentions the Abrahamic Covenant.

He remembers his holy covenant (v. 72)

He delivers his people from their enemies (v.74)

So that his people can serve him without fear (boldly) (v. 74).

This is far more than national security and liberation from the heavy hand of Rome. It is spiritual liberation of the soul so that God’s people can worship...

in holiness and righteousness before him all of our days .

You see, the aim of salvation has always been service!

Think about it...

In the Garden Adam and Eve were given life to serve God and care for creation.

Noah and his family were saved from the flood to serve God and care for creation

Moses told Pharoah to let God’s people go so that they could worship him.

God’s perfectly designed creator/creation relationship has always been fearless worship and service in his presents, but this can only be carried out by holy and righteous people.

This is what Zechariah’s song is all about, the mercy of God to save his people to serve him as they were always intended to do.

How do you respond to God’s mercy in your life?

Mercy is not getting what one deserves.

We deserve God’s wrath, his punishment, and abandonment.

But, God shows mercy to his people through his faithfulness, his care, and his presence.

God desires to be with his people (v.78—He “visits” them)

v.76— “And you, child will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways.”

Finally, Zechariah highlights the importance of his son—a prophet of the Most High who would prepare the way of the Lord.

The silence of God was over, and John’s role was to prepare Israel for the coming of the Lord.

v.78—We are told that God’s plan is an expression of his “tender mercy.”

“splagchnon”— inner most part of God’s mercy and care was being expressed through his redemptive plan.

v.78—The “sunrise” mentioned here is a reference to Malachi 4:2 “But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall.”

I find this connection interesting. If we take Malachi’s prophecy alongside Luke’s gospel, we get a wonderful picture of the tender mercy of God as he cares for his people.

Have you seen the Christmas commercials about giving money to help abused animals living in horrible conditions.

This is the picture here, in our sin, doubt, and disobedience we sit in darkness and in the shadow of death…just waiting to die!

But God, in his mercy, sent his Son to care for you, to guide you out of the darkness and into the light…to lead you leaping like calves being freed from their stalls as to worship him!

CONCLUSION |

Do you know the tender mercy of God in Jesus Christ?

Have you seen His faithfulness in the birth of Jesus Christ?

Do you experienced His care through salvation only the Son of God can accomplish?

Do you know his presence through his word and by his Spirit in the ordinary means of grace?

What does your response to him look like?

You may not have a song named for you that blesses the name of the Lord, but the way you live your life certain can!

Pat Forrester, a 63 year old Astronaut at the top of his field, left NASA to pursue more in life as an intern at CHBC.

Forrester said, “I loved what I was doing, but there was a restlessness that there was more than this for me.” He first realized this as he stopped to take a picture on his way back to the space station. Forrester thought, “after all the work it had taken to get there, Is this all there is? Is this all that God has planned for my life?”

So, as a song of praise to God, Forrester quit his job at NASA and became an intern at CHBC so that he can serve the church in making the tender mercy of God known for the remainder of his days.

How can your life’s song praise the mercy of God?