5. From Silence To Praise

After months of silence Zechariah speaks again. Zechariah is a symbol of the nation of Israel, who for centuries heard no word from God.

But suddenly, God is speaking again.

He is going to communicate with humanity, not just with a few prophets in Israel. The whole world is going to hear a word from God.

The opening verses of the letter to the Hebrews tell us that “in the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son.”

Literally, God has spoken in Son. That’s God’s native tongue. His language. His mode of communicating with humanity is in Son.

Do you want to hear God? Listen to the Son.

Do you want to know what God is like? Look at the Son.

Because in Son is how God has communicated with the human race that He loves and made in His image.

Zechariah spoke again as a sign that God was about to speak again. The silence is about to be gloriously shattered.

Not only does Zechariah speak. He sings. Everyone’s singing! Luke might as well have written a musical. Mary has sung. Zechariah is singing. Soon, angels will sing and even an old crooner called Simeon will show that he still has plenty of power in his pipes.

For Zechariah, it’s been a long time since he spoke a word. Nine months. If I was silenced for nine months then could suddenly speak, what words would come out of my mouth? “Latte.” Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

But seriously, is it not amazing that after a tight nine months of silence, what issues forth from Zechariah’s lips is praise? That’s what has been welling up within him but has had no release. That’s the instinct of the person who loves and trusts God.

“Open my lips, Lord, and my mouth will declare your praise.” (Psalm 51:15)

Zechariah’s spontaneous, Spirit-filled, prophetic song is in two parts.

First, he praises God who is faithful to His promises to save His people from the things that hate and oppress them, so that they may be set free to serve Him.

Second, he addresses his baby son who will prepare the way for a greater baby Son. Zechariah’s boy will announce salvation and the forgiveness of sins (another way of saying that the exile from God’s presence is over). The darkness will end. How? Because a greater Son will rise like the sun and give light to those sitting in darkness - a light that will guide them to peace.

Ponder that God’s ultimate message to humanity is not some words on a page but rather the Word is a Son who communicates, explains and demonstrates God to us.

Ponder Zechariah’s song of salvation, forgiveness and release from oppressive, hateful, bullying enemies. What enemies oppress you? Take hope - a great light has shone in the darkness.

Ponder how, on one level God is working to fulfil the plan of the ages and bring about a prophet (John the Baptist) who will be the forerunner to the greatest event ever – the return of the Presence of God to dwell among people - but at the same time on another level God is working to heal the brokenness of a devoted couple of nobodies who live in the hills outside Jerusalem. God works great things through humble people.