Week 1 / Zechariah’s Song

Praise Out of Silence

Read: Luke 1:5-25; Luke 1:57-68

SOAP: Luke 1:68

“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,

because he has come to help and has redeemed his people.”

Into the Text

Zechariah spent more than nine months in silence. God had rebuked him for his unbelief of the angel’s words that his wife Elizabeth would finally have a son after many years of infertility, longing, praying, and waiting. Because he did not believe, Zechariah had to spend many days not being able to talk to his family and friends. This gave him ample time to think, to be quiet, and to reflect on God’s words.

As we start another Advent season we need to ask ourselves: Do we have enough time to be quiet before God? If we want to meet with God and be filled with the Holy Spirit, it is vital that we spend time in prayer and meditate on God’s Words. We are surrounded by so much noise that it often takes great discipline and a firm resolve to switch off the TV, put away our phones, go into our room, close the door and - in that stillness - spend time alone with God.

In today’s passage, we can see that the long months of stillness had been good for Zechariah. His first words after the birth of his son were that of praise to God as he was filled with the Holy Spirit. He even prophesied about the amazing events that were about to take place. Even though God had rebuked and punished him for his lack of faith, Zechariah had not grown bitter or angry. He now believed every word which Gabriel had spoken to him and was filled with deep thankfulness that the long-awaited Messiah was about to appear.

In our own lives, there are two very different responses we can have to the difficulties and trials God sends our way. We can either harden our hearts, become bitter, and shake our fists at God for allowing such suffering, or we can choose to trust Him in the midst of the darkness. We can believe in His words and His ways even when we can’t understand them. God often uses difficulties to humble us and to draw us nearer to Himself. Let’s trust Him, even in the dark times. He has promised to work them out for our good.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, draw me closer to you even through my trials. Help me to be still before you. Amen.