The Praises of Christmas – Advent Week II – Revelation Praise
“But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?”
Luke 1: 43
“And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest; for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways.”
Luke 1: 76
Praise In The Midst of Uncertainty
Here we are again, another Christmas season in which to rest in the Father and take time to reflect on the precious gift of His blessed Son, Jesus Christ. Oh, what human mind could wrap itself around the power and majesty, grace and saving power that arrived that Christmas morning, wrapped in the covering of human flesh, even the flesh of a newborn babe?
Even those who were directly involved and present at His birth could not fully comprehend the meaning of His arrival. As we reflected last week, Mary was able to lift her voice in surrender and praise to the Father even as she realized the uncertainty of her future as the mother of a Child born of the Spirit, the very Son of God. But even as she praised the Lord she did not fully understand the things that were to come. That was what made her praise so sweet in the hearing of the Father!
Revelation Praise
This week I would like for us to consider a different type of praise; the praise that, even as it bursts forward from the lips of mankind, grants sweet revelation from the Father. Let’s take time to look at the praise of two individuals, Zacharias and Elizabeth.
The Background
In Luke, we read: “There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years.” (Luke 1: 5-7)
All Things Are Not As They Seem
I never cease to be amazed at the faithfulness and timing of the Lord. All things are fulfilled in His perfect timing! Zacharias was a priest, set aside to serve the Lord. Elizabeth was of the daughters of Aaron (of the daughters of the priesthood). The Bible tells us they were righteous and blameless before the Lord, but yet they were without a child; a tragic condition for any woman to find herself in Biblical times. Why had God withheld this blessing from Zacharias and Elizabeth?
Have you ever heard the expression, “all things are not as they seem”? Well, this is a perfect example. It would seem that the Lord had withheld the blessing of a child from this couple, long past the time when it would be “humanly” possible for any hope. But God……..
Once In A Lifetime
As we read further we find Zacharias in the temple preparing to “to burn incense”. We understand that this was something that a priest only performed once in his lifetime. And this was indeed a “once in a lifetime” experience for Zacharias as the angel Gabriel met him there, announcing to him that his prayers had been heard and that his wife would bear a child. His barren and advanced in age wife would not only bear a son but that son would have a mighty calling on his life:
“For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children.’ And the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” (Luke 1: 15-17)
Show Me A Sign
Now as would be understandable, Zacharias is a bit overwhelmed and doesn’t really take this all in. He actually questions Gabriel, asking for a sign. This is a priest of God, one who serves the Lord in the temple as his livelihood, one who would be familiar with the prophecy of and anticipating the arrival of the Messiah. And yet, he is overwhelmed with the thought that God is able to cause a barren woman to bear the child who will grow to be the forerunner of the Lord. As a result of his unbelief he remains mute until the time of the naming of his son, John.
His Name Is John
Fast forward a bit. Elizabeth is with child. The pregnancy progresses as it should and the time comes to deliver the promised child. Zacharias has literally watched all this in silence! And now the time has come to name the child. As the relatives are ready to name the child based on family tradition, the mother speaks up, “No, he shall be called John.” (v. 60). Everyone is confused and they look to Zacharias to confirm his wishes. He asks for a writing tablet and as he writes “His name is John”….immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, praising God.” (v. 61, 63-64)
Have you ever thought about why his tongue was loosed at that moment? Why not when he returned home and Elizabeth discovered that she had conceived? Why not when the child was delivered? Why was it at the moment that Zacharias wrote on the tablet “His name is John”? Even as I began to write this devotion the Lord spoke into my spirit, “obedience and belief release the tongue of praise”! In writing “His name is John” Zacharias was demonstrating obedience to the Lord and belief in the promise of the Lord not only regarding the birth of this child but of the plan the Lord has for this child’s life! How amazing is that?
His Tongue Was Loosed
As soon as his tongue was loosed, Zacharias began to praise the Lord. Wouldn’t you have loved to be there in that moment? I can only imagine how amazing the praise was that came from those lips that had been bound – all the amazing things that Zacharias had to endure silently now burst forth from his lips towards his God! God had heard his prayers, had sent him an angel and had promised a son, a son that would be the forerunner of the Messiah…and all had come to pass just as the Lord has promised through his angel.
The Revelation
That in itself is exciting praise. But it gets better! God blessed Zacharias’s praise by granting him revelation.
We read “Now his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying: Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed His people, and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David, as He spoke by the mouth of His Holy prophets.” (v. 67-70).
Zacharias whose tongue was bound because of his unbelief now speaks freely of the coming of the Messiah! And he doesn’t stop there; he continues to speak prophecy over the son that he didn’t even believe would be born!
“And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest, for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to His people by the remission of their sins, through the tender mercy of our God, with which the Dayspring from on high has visited us.” (v. 76-78).
This revelation of the Messiah and of Zacharias’s own son as the prophet of the Highest could only have come from God as the Holy Spirit descended upon him. Here we see not only the Praise of Obedience but also the Praise of Revelation, through the Holy Spirit, that comes with it!
Elizabeth's Story
Now, let’s move back a few steps and consider Elizabeth. Elizabeth is barren and advanced in age.
“Now after those days his wife Elizabeth conceived; and she hid herself five months, saying, “Thus the Lord has dealt with me, in the days when He looked upon me, to take away my reproach among my people.” (Luke 1: 24-25).
Elizabeth recognizes and acknowledges God’s hand on her situation right from the beginning. After Mary is visited by the angel Gabriel and surrenders her body to birth the Son of God, she goes to visit Elizabeth, as the angel has also told her the news about Elizabeth’s blessing. “And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said,
“Blessed are you among woman and blessed is the fruit of your womb! But why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord would come to me? For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.” (Luke 1: 41-45)
Revelation
Here we see again the Praise of Revelation brought forth by the presence of the Holy Spirit. Elizabeth hears the voice of Mary and the babe in her own womb leaps for joy as he recognized the presence of His Lord, even from the womb! At that moment Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit opened her mouth and granted her revelation that Mary was carrying the Son of God! Furthermore, the Lord blesses Mary for her belief through the lips of Elizabeth as she Praises God.
This Season
Oh, the mighty work of the Father through the precious Son, Jesus Christ and through the working of the Holy Spirit! How amazing it is to read that the Lord grants revelation and speaks through ordinary people in ordinary situations and that the impossible is never impossible with God!
This advent season, will you take time with me to reflect on the Praise of Revelation? Are you waiting for the fulfillment of the promises of God in your life? Have you become weary in waiting? Have you begun to doubt what you heard or that God is able? Or has that fulfillment presented itself before you and you are yet unable to believe that it is so? Today is the day to step out in faith and to be obedient to what the Lord is speaking into your life. And in your time of obedience, as you open your lips to praise the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, He will bless you further as He grants you understanding and revelation in your life!
Let Us Pray Together
Mighty God, Heavenly Father, even now, thousands of years after You sent Your precious Son, we still have difficulty comprehending the fullness of what was done. This advent season we ask You, Lord, to open our hearts and minds and spirits to receive a clear revelation of the enormity of that Christmas morn. That as we willingly open our mouths to praise You and seek to be obedient to Your will in our lives, that You would grant us understanding and revelation of Your mighty and precious Word! We ask this in the precious name of Jesus. Amen and Amen and Amen.
Until next time,
From my heart to yours!
