Songs of Christmas: Peace

Daily Scripture Readings

Monday          Luke 5-25

Tuesday         Exodus 2:11-25

Wednesday   Exodus 3:1-15

Thursday       Exodus 3:16-22

Friday             Exodus 4:1-17

Saturday        Exodus 4:18-31

Opening Prayer

Lord, let me sing a song of peace for all who need to hear it during this season. In Jesus name, AMEN

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

In Jerusalem, a city under Roman occupation, Zechariah, a priest, is carrying out his duties in the Temple. He and his wife, Elizabeth, both from priestly families, are described as ‘righteous in the sight of God’ (v6).

Although they have longed for and prayed for a child, ‘Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old’ (v7).

Over the years, in response to their childlessness, tongues would have wagged questioning what sin they had committed for God to punish them in this way.

Their situation appears hopeless, but Zechariah is faithful in service to God and patient in prayer and sustained by old songs of hope that God would come to the rescue of Israel once again.

As Zechariah burns incense in the Temple and ‘the assembled worshippers were praying outside’ (v10), he is totally freaked out by an encounter with the angel Gabriel. The news is staggering.

Gabriel announces that God has heard their prayers. Elizabeth will bear a son, John, who will be ‘filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born’ (v15) and who will ‘make ready a people prepared for the Lord’ (v17). John is to play an important role in the salvation of Israel.

You may sense echoes and parallels with older stories such as Abraham and Sarah and the birth of Isaac in their old age – this is exactly the connection that Luke is wanting his readers to make.

https://www.salvationist.org.uk/faith/devotions/zechariahs-song-what-does-god-have-store-you