Trees, lights, candles, purple cloths… must be the beginning of Advent: a season of anticipation and expectant longing at its best and break-neck consumerism at its worst. To take seriously the congregational context as we consider the scriptures to be read and proclaimed is a big part of preaching. Not everyone lives in the Advent season like the preacher does. Not everyone is filled with thoughts of incarnation and candle lighters and what worship will sound like this time of year. People live in the real world during Advent…
And that is why our passage from Luke 1:5-23 was so poignant. Zechariah and Elizabeth lived life in the real world. Sure, they came from godly folks. But they had hardship like the rest of us. They had questions and doubts. Their lives were filled with unmet hopes and unanswered prayers. They felt like many of us do much of the time… “For a God who knows and loves me, he sure has been quiet lately.”
But then, out of no where, Zachariah is encountered by Gabriel. The angel knows his name. The angel says that God has heard his prayers. All of a sudden, a life of disgrace and anonymity is one encountered by the reality of God in a fascinating way. “God knows my name. God has heard my prayers.” That is Zachariah’s epiphany. God was at work in the silence after all.
Zachariah’s son was going to pave the way for the son of David, the seed of Jesse. In Isaiah 40 at the beginning of the chapter we read about the ministry of Zachariah’s son. He will make straight the path for the Messiah. Awesome!
There is a neat little detail in this story; a curious instance. For appealing to he and his wife’s old age as a reason why Gabriel had the wrong guy, Zachariah was rendered mute. It was his duty to walk out of the temple and address the gathered people with the blessing of his wife’s ancestor, Aaron. “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” Not every priest got to do that. This was a once in a lifetime thing.
But he couldn’t say it. He couldn’t say anything. And it was in his silence that the people realized that Zachariah had an encounter with God. His silence was what told them, “God is at work! God had done something and said something to Zachariah. But we don’t know what it is. What is God up to now?”
Zachariah’s silence was the indicator that God was present, active, working, redeeming, renewing, and rekindling the hope of a people. How interesting that chapter 40 of Isaiah that begins with “A voice of one calling: ‘In the desert prepare the way for the Lord…’” speaking of son of Zachariah, ends with “but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength, they will mount up with wings like eagles…”
God is at work in the silence. Wait on him. Hope in him.
Pastor Scott
And that is why our passage from Luke 1:5-23 was so poignant. Zechariah and Elizabeth lived life in the real world. Sure, they came from godly folks. But they had hardship like the rest of us. They had questions and doubts. Their lives were filled with unmet hopes and unanswered prayers. They felt like many of us do much of the time… “For a God who knows and loves me, he sure has been quiet lately.”
But then, out of no where, Zachariah is encountered by Gabriel. The angel knows his name. The angel says that God has heard his prayers. All of a sudden, a life of disgrace and anonymity is one encountered by the reality of God in a fascinating way. “God knows my name. God has heard my prayers.” That is Zachariah’s epiphany. God was at work in the silence after all.
Zachariah’s son was going to pave the way for the son of David, the seed of Jesse. In Isaiah 40 at the beginning of the chapter we read about the ministry of Zachariah’s son. He will make straight the path for the Messiah. Awesome!
There is a neat little detail in this story; a curious instance. For appealing to he and his wife’s old age as a reason why Gabriel had the wrong guy, Zachariah was rendered mute. It was his duty to walk out of the temple and address the gathered people with the blessing of his wife’s ancestor, Aaron. “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” Not every priest got to do that. This was a once in a lifetime thing.
But he couldn’t say it. He couldn’t say anything. And it was in his silence that the people realized that Zachariah had an encounter with God. His silence was what told them, “God is at work! God had done something and said something to Zachariah. But we don’t know what it is. What is God up to now?”
Zachariah’s silence was the indicator that God was present, active, working, redeeming, renewing, and rekindling the hope of a people. How interesting that chapter 40 of Isaiah that begins with “A voice of one calling: ‘In the desert prepare the way for the Lord…’” speaking of son of Zachariah, ends with “but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength, they will mount up with wings like eagles…”
God is at work in the silence. Wait on him. Hope in him.
Pastor Scott
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