Welcome to Jill Hamming, a friend of mine from Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, and a regular participant on this web page. She will share her reflections on the readings from Luke 1-2.
SCRIPTURE: Luke 1:67-80
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
Zechariah began praising God the moment his voice worked again. The Holy Spirit filled him. This prophetic song is so powerful and beautiful!
Praise God because He has done what He promised to our ancestors long ago. He has brought salvation. He has shown mercy to enable us to serve him without fear! WOW. Praise God!
In reference to baby John; you are a prophet of the Most High, you will prepare the way for Him –Jesus, the rising Sun coming from heaven to shine in our darkness.
How many years had Israel waited? How the godly people longed to see this Salvation. Here it is, beginning in a little village, God kept His promise.
Do we see how amazing this is? How wonderful? Zechariah saw that the answer to every struggle, every fear, every longing was upon them. It is still so today. We should be singing Zechariah’s song all the time.
“Rejoice, rejoice, Immanuel shall come to you, O Israel.”
PRAYER:
Oh Lord, I am sorry that I forget the wonder and importance of what You have done. I take it for granted. Please forgive me. I praise You. I thank You. Renew my urgency to share You with the world. Guide our feet in the path of peace. Thank-you. Amen.
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
1. Its hard for me to appreciate what this meant for Zechariah and for the Jewish people. The hope of the messiah was the deepest, greatest longing, and their bondage under Roman rule only intensified that longing. There is a sense of FINALLY in this song!!!
2. At the heart of Judaism is the hope of a better world, of peace (shalom), righteousness and holiness. The Jews mistook this as primarily a Jewish hope (Zechariah focuses on the hope of Abraham’s descendants), but Jesus reveals that God’s original plan, as promised to Abraham, was for ALL people (Genesis 12:1-3). Jesus is the hope for a a better world, of peace (shalom), righteousness and holiness for ALL PEOPLE!
3. The Jews waited for centuries for God to come through on His promise, and despite severe and horrible trials, they persevered. Faithful Jews continued to believe that no matter what they saw/experienced, that God would come through in the end. Am I this confident in You, Lord? Despite what I see/experience? Despite how the world seems to be going from bad to worse, will I hope in Him (Lamentations 3:19-24)?
PRAYER:
Lord, thank You for what You do, even though I am aware of so little of it. I do not appreciate enough how You continue to fulfill Your promises every day. I join with Zechariah in praising You for Your faithful love! Amen.