Intentional Faith

Notes on Today’s Reading

Luke 1:68-79
Zechariah is in a priestly order; Elizabeth is a descendent of Aaron. Thus both of John’s parents are the descendants of priests, and Elizabeth of the first priest (Exodus 40:12-15). Gabriel’s promise that John will be filled with “the spirit and power of Elijah” (1:17) clearly identifies John as a prophet who will turn the people to repentance (Malachi 4:5-6). Zechariah’s doubt at Gabriel’s words (1:18-20) parallels Sarah’s laughter at the annunciation of Isaac (Genesis 18:12-15).

The immediate circumstances of Zechariah’s song continue this theme of the fulfillment of Hebrew Bible promises and prophecies. When Gabriel tells him of the coming birth of John, Zechariah doesn’t believe, and Gabriel renders him mute “until the day these things occur” (1:20). Eight days after John’s birth, Zechariah and Elizabeth take him to be circumcised, following the divine command to Abraham in Genesis 17:12.

When the time comes for the child to be named, Elizabeth, to the confusion of the assembled, insists that he be given the name that Gabriel foretold (1:13, 60). The people turn to Zechariah, who writes on a tablet “His name is John” (1:63); “Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue freed, and he began to speak, praising God” (1:64). The prophecy of Gabriel is fulfilled, and Zechariah himself is thus empowered to speak prophetic words.

Today’s Scriptural Reading

Luke 1:68-79 (MSG)
68 Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; he came and set his people free.
69 He set the power of salvation in the center of our lives, and in the very house of David his servant, 70 Just as he promised long ago through the preaching of his holy prophets:
71 Deliverance from our enemies and every hateful hand;
72 Mercy to our fathers, as he remembers to do what he said he’d do,
73 What he swore to our father Abraham— 74 a clean rescue from the enemy camp, So we can worship him without a care in the world, 75 made holy before him as long as we live.
76 And you, my child, “Prophet of the Highest,” will go ahead of the Master to prepare his ways, 77 Present the offer of salvation to his people, the forgiveness of their sins.
78 Through the heartfelt mercies of our God, God’s Sunrise will break in upon us,
79 Shining on those in the darkness, those sitting in the shadow of death, Then showing us the way, one foot at a time, down the path of peace.

Today’s Prayer

Father, I cannot imagine what it is like for the reporters who gather our news. In the streets, face to face with people, they build a story from the ground up. All truth that follows stems from them. Grant them a heart of integrity as well as a spirit for truth. Let their desire rise above getting the ‘story’ to helping us ‘understand’. They are our eyes and ears. Let them see and be heard. Amen.

Family Devotions

Luke 1:68-79. Children’s interest in this prayer is based more on context than content. They are curious about the old priest who did not believe the angel who promised him and his elderly wife a baby and consequently was struck speechless until the promised child was born. They can imagine his silent excitement as he waited for the birth of the two special babies in his family and appreciate his burst of praise when John was born and his speech returned. They do have trouble following Zechariah’s praises, filled with abstract words and Old Testament images. When they know Zechariah’s story and are urged to listen for prayers about Jesus and about John, older children can catch occasional phrases.

CHILDREN: What are some of your favorite names your parent’s call you? Ask them why they chose your name?

YOUTH: Can you imagine your parents having a baby when they are in their eighties? Do you think age (young or old) matters to God when He wants to use you to do His will?

ADULT: An old priest was struck dumb for questioning the will of God. How does God deal with people today who question God’s will for them.

Notes on Today’s Reading

Once rendered mute on account of his doubt, the father of John is now the prophet who proclaims the fulfillment of God’s promises to Israel. His is a song of Advent, as we wait for the light that has already come and is still yet to come.

Before the angel Gabriel, an official emissary of God (see Daniel 8:16), appeared to Mary, he came to Zechariah, and, as the multiple allusions to Hebrew Bible persons and event show, repeats the promises God first made to Abraham. Elizabeth and Zechariah’s advanced age at John’s conception is a clear parallel between these blessed parents and Sarah and Abraham (1:7 and 18), as is the shame of Elizabeth’s “barrenness” (1:25; see Genesis 16:4).

On this third Sunday of Advent, Zechariah’s song is very much ours. We see the faint light on the horizon, and we await the full, dazzling light of God’s incarnation in Jesus Christ. We find ourselves now in-between, standing in that moment of the already and the not-yet. The light has dawned but doesn’t seem yet to have reached the deepest darknesses inside and around us.

Today’s Reading

Luke 1:68-79 (NIV)
68 “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come and has redeemed his people.
69 He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David
70 (as he said through his holy prophets of long ago),
71 salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us–
72 to show mercy to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant,
73 the oath he swore to our father Abraham:
74 to rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve him without fear
75 in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
76 And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,
77 to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins,
78 because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven
79 to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”

Malachi 3:1-4 Notes

Cyrus, King of Persia, has permitted the people of Israel to return to Palestine. The Temple, gutted in 586 BC, has been restored, but Israel is still a Persian province. People expected that their fidelity to God would be rewarded by (material) prosperity, but life has continued to be hard, so after several decades, they have lapsed into waywardness. It is the ungodly who prosper. In the old days, the king was God’s agent, but now (there being no king), the priests have assumed this role. In previous chapters, the prophet has condemned the priests for despising God, corrupting worship and misleading the people.

A “messenger” (v. 1) or angel, God’s agent, will come to prepare a way for him. God, long expected, will come to “his temple”, to the priests. God’s “covenant” with Israel was summed up in the priests. His arrival will be sudden, unannounced. V. 2 imply that when God comes, he will judge the people. (The accused stands to hear judgment.) A refiner used the heat of a fire to separate ore into pure metal and slag; a fuller cared for newly shorn wool or woven garments by cleaning them, purifying them, with lye. The messenger will “purify … and refine” ( v. 3) the priests (“the descendants of Levi”) until they hold him in proper respect. Their offerings, on behalf of the people, will then again be “pleasing to the Lord” (v. 4). God will judge adversely those who deviate from proper moral behavior and from his ways (v. 5). He will bless all who return to his ways, for he still cares for his people. 4:5 identifies the messenger as Elijah (who ascended to heaven without dying: see 2 Kings 2:10-12); hence the popular belief in Jesus’ day that Elijah would return: see, for example, Luke 9:7-8.

Today’s Reading
Malachi 3:1-4 (HCSB)
1 “See, I am going to send My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me. Then the Lord you seek will suddenly come to His temple, the Messenger of the covenant you desire—see, He is coming,” says the Lord of Hosts.
2 But who can endure the day of His coming? And who will be able to stand when He appears? For He will be like a refiner’s fire and like cleansing lye.
3 He will be like a refiner and purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver. Then they will present offerings to the Lord in righteousness.
4 And the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will please the Lord as in days of old and years gone by.

Friday’s Scriptural Reading

Luke 21:25-36 (HCSB)
25 “Then there will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars; and there will be anguish on the earth among nations bewildered by the roaring sea and waves.
26 People will faint from fear and expectation of the things that are coming on the world, because the celestial powers will be shaken.
27 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
28 But when these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is near!”
29 Then He told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees.
30 As soon as they put out [leaves] you can see for yourselves and recognize that summer is already near.
31 In the same way, when you see these things happening, recognize that the kingdom of God is near.
32 I assure you: This generation will certainly not pass away until all things take place.
33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.
34 “Be on your guard, so that your minds are not dulled from carousing, drunkenness, and worries of life, or that day will come on you unexpectedly
35 like a trap. For it will come on all who live on the face of the whole earth.
36 But be alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place and to stand before the Son of Man.”

Lord Who sees all, guide those who serve in our State Department and represent the will of the American people around the world. Let their vision and caution offer peace to world caught in conflict. Let our national interest serve the interest of all free men. Help us not be the world’s police but a beacon to what free men might do together. Amen.