If You're Happy and You Know It...Luke 1:69-75

“He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David (as he said through his holy prophets of long ago), salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us--to show mercy to our ancestors and to remember his holy covenant the oath he swore to our father Abraham: to rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.” (Luke 1:69-75) NIV

Random Thoughts:

This is the first time I realized Zechariah is singing a song. So was Mary and so was Elizabeth earlier in this chapter. It’s as if Luke is writing a version of Jesus Christ, Superstar but with much better theology. But why singing? Why these poetic devises in the middle of Luke’s historical account of Christ’s life? Perhaps because there is no better way to celebrate something of significance. We sing to celebrate life at birthdays, we sing to celebrate unions at weddings, we sing to say goodbye at funerals. Singing is the exclamation point to a message that words alone cannot convey. Singing comes from the soul.

And Zechariah soul is celebrating. It is singing about a God who can be trusted to keep His word and all that that will mean for humanity’s future. God’s mercy and justice, power and protection are all on a collision course with human history to transform our relationship with Him from one of brokenness and fear to one of wholeness and peace. To see the face of God--man’s highest hope--and live before Him all our days? This is something worth singing about.

Question:

When was the last time you sang in celebration? What moved you to such joy?

Journal Response:

As a Christian I get the chance to sing at least once a week and although I don’t always dance in the aisles, I can usually overcome my northern european reserve enough to lift my hands, close my eyes and let a smile spread across my face as I sing songs to God celebrating who He is and what is is doing in my life. Clapping, however, is more than this rhythmically-challenged anglo can muster. I’ve learned the hard way to just stick with singing, smiling and swaying. Nobody gets hurt.

Driving and singing, however, is a different story. It is a testament to God's mercy that on nights like last night, driving to pick up my children from their events, I manage to sing to Him along with a little help from the radio and not get hurt. I imagine Zechariah was more savvy about his singing environment. No bursts of song while operating heavy machinery. I might do well to do the same. :0)