Enter the Songs ~ Zechariah’s Jesus Song: Silence – then Song

My husband Steve and I have two sons – now adults of course, but when the boys were little and when teaching school, we sometimes used the “time-out” strategy of discipline – a time away from activity and conversation – a time excluded from participation – a time apart. Usually this was for the kids (sometimes I was for me 😊)… and it was effective. When I went on a silent retreat in 2003 as part of my studies at Vancouver School of Theology it felt a bit like a time-out, but in a good way.

Prior to that experience I don’t know if I had really taken time-out for more than 10 minutes or so. I had never been on a true retreat before – other events that went by that name were usually workshops in disguise and none of them included much silence or reflection. It was the silence that was worrying – and not just for me – everyone I knew was worried for me too!

Surprisingly, I loved it. I was refreshed by it – appreciated the time to myself – to think – to rest from organizing things – to just sit. We were in the lovely setting of the Bethlehem Retreat Center in Nanaimo, BC so there were opportunities to walk and enjoy the scenery as well. Recently… I have enjoyed several afternoons of personal silence as I painted ceramics. I am no artist but the sense of solitude and lack of conversation as well as limited interaction for hours on end has been restful, restorative – a time to let my mind wander. In both of these “time out” scenarios some clichés have also turned out to be true: the limiting of one sense or mode of expression heightens the others – my written reflections flourished during those few days at Bethlehem Center – I have experience renewed joy in the creative process – and silence really is golden.

Although his silence was much longer – and not of his own choosing – I wonder if Zechariah would agree with me. Did he value his time of silence or long for the chance to talk again? Did he learn anything about himself or the world or God during his months of imposed silence? What we do know is that as soon as the angel Gabriel’s prophecy that he doubted was fulfilled, Zechariah was given voice again and the first thing he did was sing.

Zechariah sings. Full of wild hope, he sings. Knowing the state of the world, he intones a song of blessing. The words of Zechariah from Luke’s gospel are a song – a eulogy – often called the Benedictus – Latin for blessed – the first word he utters. It is a burst of praise celebrating God’s mighty acts on behalf of Israel. He emphasizes redemption as a social and political act – echoing Exodus imagery and the vision of a righteous king. Zechariah’s Jesus Song is a proclamation of God’s faithfulness – God’s salvation – God’s peace.

Zechariah’s Jesus Song – addresses the “Lord and King” nature of God’s character coming into the world in the person of Jesus. Like a melody in a musical overture, Zechariah’s prophecy hints at things to come, while reflecting refrains from long before. It is rife with allusions to Hebrew Bible passages that accentuate the promises and prophecies of Israel coming to fulfillment in Jesus, and that John is the prophet who paves the way. These verses are similar to psalms of praise for God’s deliverance of Israel. God has raised up “a mighty savior” for Israel – literally “a horn of salvation.” This savior is the fulfillment of prophecies and of God’s merciful covenant that Israel would be saved from her enemies.

The Song of Zechariah heralds the dawning of the light of Jesus on all who sit in darkness. 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.

Even before the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary, he came to Zechariah repeating promises God first made to Abraham. Have you ever noticed the parallels between the stories of Abraham and Sarah in Genesis and Zechariah and Elizabeth in Luke?

Like their ancestors Abraham and Sarah, Zechariah and Elizabeth are blessed with a son in their old age. Both sons serve a key role in the fulfilling of the covenant. The connection is not lost on Zechariah, who praises God for remaining faithful to the covenant with Abraham.

Both couples receive news of their child from heavenly visitors. One spouse believes the announcement – Abraham and Elizabeth – while the other does not – Sarah and Zechariah. The unbelieving spouse is quick to reveal their incredulity with their responses. Zechariah’s doubt at Gabriel’s words parallels Sarah’s laughter at the annunciation of Isaac: Sarah laughs in disbelief when the heavenly visitors reveal she will have a son. Zechariah is ministering in the holy of holies of the Temple when the angel Gabriel reveals Elizabeth will bear a son. Zechariah’s questioning reveals his skepticism and Gabriel renders him mute until the day these things occur.

Zechariah’s doubt results in a ten-month verbal “time out”. His imposed silence reminds us of the previous 400 hundred years of silence experienced by God’s people when there were no prophets in Israel. The return of Zechariah’s voice foreshadows the return of a prophet – his son, John the Baptist. John’s prophetic preaching ministry in the wilderness will prepare the way for the coming of Jesus – the Word of God made flesh – the Promised Messiah – the Fulfillment of Covenant.

When the time comes for their child to be named, Elizabeth – to the confusion of all assembled – insists that he be given the name that Gabriel foretold. The people turn to Zechariah, who writes on a tablet: His name is John… immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue freed, and he began to speak, praising God. The prophecy of Gabriel is fulfilled and Zechariah himself is thus empowered to speak prophetic words.

Together with other songs in Luke, Zechariah’s contribution offers a symphony of praise to the God who is – has been – and always will be – working among God’s people. The prophecy previews several claims of this gospel: God remains faithful to God’s promises – God’s way is salvation – God’s path is peace.

Filled with the Holy Spirit, Zechariah’s Jesus Song begins with words of praise from the psalms. It continues by pointing backward to God’s long-established covenant with God’s people. This is no distant divine being – content to set the world in motion and then to leave it alone – this is the Holy One who comes to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death – the God who has raised up a savior for us. The promise given long ago is the same as the promise given today: God is active among us – here and now.

We know this because God has been active among us from the beginning. That is the testimony of the Old Testament – of Jesus – of the gospel writers – and of the church. Zechariah’s Jesus Song presents an opportunity to bear witness to the ways that God is at work in this community of faith – part of the larger story of God’s people.

Zechariah’s song is very much our song. We see the faint glimmer on the horizon, and await the full, dazzling spectacle of God’s incarnation. 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 darkness inside and around us.

The truth is that the moment of already and not-yet is where we find ourselves all the time. To live the life of a disciple of Christ is to live always in a kind of Advent time, knowing that the light has come and awaiting the light that has yet to shine in its fullest measure. Advent time is anticipatory time – yet it is also frustrating – sometimes discouraging. The dawning of the light must sustain us as we continue – in our waiting – and in our living. Sometimes the wait for the full light of Jesus in the world seems long.

We may – with Zechariah – doubt that such a thing is possible. We may – with Zechariah – lose our voice – remaining silent in uncertainty. But we may also – with Zechariah – burst out in song – praising God for the dawn – the first shimmering of promises in whose light we already bask, as we wait for its full radiance. Amen