"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 in the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God..." ( Luke 1:76 & 77 )
"to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins"
This good news should make our hearts rejoice exceedingly.
As we light the third candle this weekend in the Advent wreath, we'll look at another song in the Scriptures. And that's the song of the high priest Zechariah - John the Baptist's dad - which is another prophetic word given of the promised Messiah soon to come.
The story of Zechariah is similar to Mary's in that the angel Gabriel appears to him to let him know that the long awaited Savior is coming to redeem his people, and as the virgin Mary would carry the Christ Child, Zechariah's son would be the one to prepare His way.
Except Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth had no children. Elizabeth was barren, and now both were advanced in years and far beyond the child-bearing stage. Have you ever noticed in the biblical narrative how God seems to work through barren women in his story?
God sovereignly and miraculously works his plan of salvation through a virgin and a barren woman each conceiving and giving birth to ensure to all of us that it is Him and Him alone who brings about the rescue of his people. He's the only One who can. As we saw in last week's blog, God worked the miracles in Egypt, "so they will know that I am the LORD." ( Exodus 10:1-2 )
Miracles have a purpose in that they confirm who God is and as we see in the New Testament, who Jesus is as well - the Messiah and suffering Servant spoken of through the Law and the Prophets.
The Bible lives and breathes, not as a disjointed arrangement of stories, but as one cohesive, soul-stirring narrative of the redeeming work of God through the life, death, and resurrection of his Son.
The angel Gabriel appears on the right side of the altar as Zechariah is serving as priest, burning incense before God according to the custom of the priesthood in the temple of the Lord. Gabriel tells him that Elizabeth will indeed bear a son in her old age and they are to name him"John." Gabriel says that Zechariah's prayer for a child has been heard. Going past the eleventh hour, has to be like a Red Sea moment. ( Luke 1:5-25 )
So, God has heard Zechariah's prayer for a child.
One truth this year in my study of "the freedom of the will" that has become more and more illuminated to me as I read the Scriptures is the fact that God not only ordains the end, but the means. He uses our prayers to accomplish his purposes. I have to say that nothing has ever bolstered my prayer life like this humbling truth. This means of grace. ( 1 Corinthians 3:9-16 )
I find myself praying during the day so much more and for more situations in light of the knowledge of being a fellow worker with God. I've also come to understand that the outcome of my prayers is seldom what I expected. Or rather how I expected they would turn out. The truth has encouraged me to keep praying even when I can't see the way out.
As I was reading through a Spurgeon sermon I came upon this quote, "He ( God ) never violates the human will, though he constantly and effectually influences it." This makes sense to me - because I can see this sovereign operation flowing throughout the entire Bible.
I believe God's sovereignty is the most comforting truth. As bad as things already are in a fallen world, I still can't imagine the horror otherwise - if man or the devil were left to their own purposes with no restraint. Can you? But they aren't - God uses them both for our good and his glory. ( Romans 8: 28- 39 )
"Forever, O LORD, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens. Your faithfulness endures to all generations; YOU have established the earth, and it stands fast. By YOUR appointment they stand this day, for All things are YOUR servants." ( my emphasis, Psalm 119: 89-91 )
Although the Scriptures tell us that Zechariah was fearful with Gabriel's appearance, one can't help but wonder if he didn't suppress a laugh as well. Surely the couple had given up on this prayer for a baby decades ago. It rings of Abraham and Sarah, doesn't it?
God told Abraham that he would bless all nations of the earth through his offspring with his barren wife Sarah, and here we are again. God will prepare the way for his Offspring, born of a virgin, no less, by another barren woman. You have to love the way God works. ( Genesis 12:1-3, Genesis 15 )
But if we get focused on things other than Christ, we'll miss God's true work and what he is accomplishing through his Son. Zechariah's prophetic song helps remind us.
Because of his unbelief, Gabriel informs Zechariah that he will be unable to speak until the child is born. Once his lips are loosed, this is what flows out:
Friends, let's meditate on these powerful, Holy Spirit fulfilled words this third week of Advent:
"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
for he has visited and redeemed his people
and has raised up a horn of salvation for us
in the house of David,
as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,
that we should be saved from our enemies
and from the hand of all who hate us;
to show the mercy promised to our fathers
and to remember his holy covenant,
the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us
that we, being delivered from the hand 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
in the forgiveness of their sins
because of the tender mercy of our God,
whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high
to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace." ( Luke 1:68-79 )
To God be the Glory
Soli Deo Gloria
💜
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| They called a "Ruber" lol Too much partying |
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