This past week I have been thinking a lot about Zechariah's song (or the Benedictus). It can be found in Luke 1:68-79 and is the song Zechariah sings when his son John the Baptist is born. When Zechariah is first told by the Angel Gabriel that he and his wife Elizabeth are going to have a baby, Zechariah does not believe it. He and his wife are very old and on top of that why would his baby be the one that would point to the one everyone had been waiting for, the Messiah? As a result of his unbelief the Lord makes Zechariah dumb and he is unable to speak again until the birth of his son. To cut a long story short, Zechariah does not speak until his son is named, at which point Zechariah believes, is filled with the Holy Spirit and starts to sing his song. Now, this was the same man who just a few months previously could not even believe that God was going to give him a son. Now he not only has a son but believes that his son is going to be the one to point to the Messiah. Have you noticed that Zechariah starts to sing in the past tense about things that have yet to happen? Zechariah has now been filled with the Holy Spirit and therefore believes and believes to the extent that he begins speaking in the past tense. He believes that the promise of God to send the Messiah into the world has been fulfilled. Jesus has not even been born yet and Zechariah sings that God has redeemed his people, has sent us a mighty saviour and that people have been set free. Zechariah now believes so much that he is speaking as if all of this has already happened. Zechariah has gone from unbelief to belief, is now filled with the Holy Spirit and is believing the most wondrous, amazing things about God. Even that God would would actually come to the earth himself to redeem his people (v68). If you are struggling with unbelief - let this be a great encouragement to you! There is a difference between doubt and unbelief . Doubt is can't believe, unbelief is won't believe. Doubt is 'I can't see all you are doing Lord but I still trust you'. Unbelief is 'I can't see all you are doing and therefore you are not doing anything'. Doubt is looking for light. Unbelief is content with darkness. Doubt is okay. Unbelief is not. If you are struggling with unbelief, ask to be filled with the Holy Spirit. He can turn unbelief to belief and praise, just like he did with Zechariah. | Luke 1 68 Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited and redeemed his people. 69 He has sent us a mighty Savior from the royal line of his servant David, 70 just as he promised through his holy prophets long ago. 71 Now we will be saved from our enemies and from all who hate us. 72 He has been merciful to our ancestors by remembering his sacred covenant-- 73 the covenant he swore with an oath to our ancestor Abraham. 74 We have been rescued from our enemies so we can serve God without fear, 75 in holiness and righteousness for as long as we live. 76 “And you, my little son, will be called the prophet of the Most High, because you will prepare the way for the Lord. 77 You will tell his people how to find salvation through forgiveness of their sins. 78 Because of God’s tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us, 79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace.” |