The Music of Christmas, Day 9

 Benedictus

Read Luke 1:57-80
“Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel...” – Zechariah 

 

Remember the story of Zechariah and his involuntary song of silence? What would you say after nine months of silence? In Zechariah’s case, he didn’t speak but instead broke into song … a spontaneous song of praise in response to an angelic encounter and the miraculous birth of his son. Zechariah’s voice rang out weeks before Mary gave birth to Jesus yet the lyrics he sang were, curiously, in the past tense. “He has visited and redeemed his people” (Luke 1:68) and “He has raised up a horn of salvation for us,” he sang (v.69).

 

Zechariah, like the rest of his Jewish brothers and sisters, knew of the promises made to God’s chosen people, going back to Abraham. Promises of deliverance and redemption. Zechariah also knew those promises had not been fulfilled when he went into the temple a few months earlier. After four hundred years of silence, many Hebrews had given up on God’s deliverance. Even Zechariah expressed doubt when confronted with the news that God would use him and his wife in His plan to fulfill those promises. It was this doubt that sealed Zechariah’s lips. With the silence broken, he not only declared belief that God’s word would be fulfilled, he declared it had been. Jesus, the promised Savior of the world had not yet been born and Zechariah already counted God’s promises fulfilled. It was accomplished. Finished.

 

Zechariah’s song is called Benedictus or "blessed," a Latin word translated "good speaking." A song of encouragement to a discouraged world. A song of light piercing the darkness of doubt and fear. A good word silencing a chorus of despair. Zechariah wasn’t practicing blind optimism. He understood the work still ahead. He knew his son John would have a critical purpose in the coming years. Zechariah’s confidence in God was firm to the point of speaking in past tense. 

 

Our present day is still flooded by the noise of doubt. Like Zechariah, many are silenced by an avalanche of “bad speaking,” words of despair and disbelief. The “good” words Zechariah lifted in song was the “good news” of the Gospel. God had come to save His people. God cut through the clamor of sin and death with His “good” Word. The Word that become flesh -- Jesus. 

 

When the day we call “Good Friday” arrived, Jesus called out, “It is finished.” Salvation was “finished” well before Christ uttered those words from the cross. Zechariah understood that even before that day arrived. How? Confidence and trust in a God who delivers on every promise. 

 

 

Good Father,

 

Your promises are always true. You will do what You have said You will do.

Forgive my doubt and fear. Give me faith to believe what I cannot see,

and trust enough to say, “It is finished,” even before it has begun.

Amen.

The Music of Christmas is available in print or digital formats.