Bible Studies

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The Songs
Luke 1:68-79 – The Candle of Blessings
Background:

Zechariah, an aging yet devoted priest, and his wife Elizabeth were childless. They had given up any hope of having children. Then, suddenly, the angel Gabriel appears to Zechariah announcing that Elizabeth will give birth to a son that they should name John. John will be filled with the Holy Spirit at birth and he will prepare the way for the coming Messiah. Zechariah was skeptical and, because of his doubt, Gabriel rendered him speechless until this song of praise, “The Benedictus,” came flooding forth at John’s naming ceremony, eight days following his miraculous birth.

Key Verses: (MSG)

• 68: “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; He came and set His people free.” – Zechariah has now witnessed the first steps of the miracle that Gabriel predicted. He sees in the birth of his son that the Messiah will come.
  
  
• 70-71: “Just as He promised long ago through the preaching of His holy prophets: Deliverance from our enemies and every hateful hand.” – The hope at this time was for a military hero, a ‘King David’, that would ride victoriously into their lives and overthrow their oppressors, the Roman army.
  
  
• 73-75: “What He swore to our father Abraham…so we can worship Him without a care in the world, made holy before Him as long as we live.” – God’s promises, His covenant to the people of Abraham, are being fulfilled and, through these promises, they will be made holy and righteous.
  
  
• 76: “And you, my child, ‘Prophet of the Highest,’ will go ahead of the Master to prepare His ways.” – Zechariah shares the message from the angel Gabriel – John will prepare the way for the coming Messiah.
  
  
• 77: “Present the offer of salvation to His people, the forgiveness of their sins.” – John would preach the message of forgiveness that is available through baptism in Christ’s holy name.
  
  
• 78-79: “God’s Sunrise will break in upon us, shining on those in the darkness…, then showing us the way, one foot at a time, down the path of peace.” – Rejoice!
  

Points to Contemplate:

• Do you ever have doubt? If the angel Gabriel suddenly stood before you, would you still be a skeptic? If God sent you a priest that sang a beautiful song proclaiming the coming of the Lord, would you continue to wonder if it were true? If He sent a prophet that taught you the meaning of forgiveness, would you, again, hesitate? If He came Himself, would you still have questions? Zechariah, in the midst of all these miracles, reveals our human tendency to doubt. Do you still have doubts that render you speechless? Or are you filled with a song of joy at the knowledge of His coming?
  
  
• Is today a good day to count your blessings? Do you accept that God blesses you so that you, in turn, can be a blessing to others? Do you recognize that in order to be a blessing to the world you first must be made holy? That without God’s grace and redeeming love your sins would keep you from being able to worship God? Does this help you see how God’s covenant with Abraham is fulfilled in Jesus Christ? Do you accept that Christ’s sacrificial love empowers you to become the blessing you are called to be?
  
  
• Has “God’s Sunrise” broken into your life? Does His Light shine in your darkness? Is He showing you the way, one step at a time? Are you following Him in the paths of righteousness? Are you being transformed into His holiness? Is this not a reason to rejoice? Does it make you want to break out in song? Are you overwhelmed with joy?
  

Promise of the Gospel:

Zechariah’s beautiful song reminds us of God’s blessings. He has promised that He will bless us. In turn, we are to be a blessing to the world. This is only made possible through the forgiveness of our sins. Christ, “God’s Sunrise,” has broken into our lives, providing light in the midst of our darkness. Through His love we are made holy and, because of His holiness, we are empowered to become His light to the world around us. When we think of all His blessings He has provided, it causes us, also, to burst out in songs of praise and joy.

For this second week in Advent, we light the Candle of Blessings.

FUMC Devotionals

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