While I’ve Got The Chance, I’ll Praise Him

One of the valuable things that my Mother taught me was a sense of praise and gratitude towards God. One of her often repeated sayings was “this is a day that was never promised to me!”. As such, she was invoking the psalmist who told us to rejoice and be glad in this day that the Lord has made. When approach our lives from a position of gratitude, as opposed to an attitude of entitlement, we are ever ready to praise God. In Luke 1:57-66; 76-79 Elizabeth and Zechariah at long last had the child that they had prayed for, and that God had told them He would bless them with. Zechariah had been silenced when he doubted the Angel Gabriel’s message, but was now miraculously able to speak again… and the first thing he did was to immediately praise God. I pray that regardless of what you may be going through, that while you have the chance, you will give God praise. Praise Him for all that He has done, is doing and will do in your life!

Listen here as Anthony Brown with Fellowship Chorale sings “Praise Him” (it’s old school gospel, but it’s still powerful)

When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy.

On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him after his father Zechariah, but his mother spoke up and said, “No! He is to be called John.”

They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who has that name.” (Luke 1:57-61)  Elizabeth, at an advanced age was able to give birth to a son, just as the Angel Gabriel had foretold. The miracle of this birth alerted family and neighbors that God had his hand in this. As per Jewish law, the baby was to be circumcised on the eighth day, and their neighbors and relatives came to take part in this ritual. When they proceeded to name him, Elizabeth stopped them from naming him Zechariah after his father. In obedience to what God had said through the Angel Gabriel, she insisted that his name was John.  Unswayed by Elizabeth's instruction to them, they countered that no one in her family lineage had that name.  God is not new to this (like some of your friends and family), He's true to this!  So don't let anyone else try to convince you He's wrong.

Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child. He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, “His name is John.” Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God. All the neighbors were filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judea people were talking about all these things.

Everyone who heard this wondered about it, asking, “What then is this child going to be?” For the Lord’s hand was with him. (Luke 1:62-66)  Ignoring Elizabeth’s direction, they then turned to Zechariah to find out what he wanted to name the baby. It is evident that they didn’t understand what was going on and what God was doing in this circumstance. And in a show of how clueless they were, instead of speaking to Zechariah, they made signs to communicate with him…for some reason they didn’t understand that Zechariah was mute, not deaf!   Zechariah confirmed in writing that the boy’s name was John.  And because of his and Elizabeth’s obedience to what God had told them to do, Zechariah immediately received his ability to speak again. This sign further confirmed God’s hand in John’s life. Note that despite God taking away Zechariah’s ability to speak until John’s birth, Zechariah was not bitter or distant from God.  In fact, the very first thing he did when he was able to speak again was to praise God!  And it caused the neighbors to be in awe and to begin spreading the word about the supernatural event they had witnessed.  As word spread, people began asking about what John was to grow up to become. For it had become evident to them that the Lord’s hand was with him.  You took it for granted until God took it away. Now you've learned to praise Him for everything!  

And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High;

for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,

to give his people the knowledge of salvation

through the forgiveness of their sins,

because of the tender mercy of our God,

by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven

to shine on those living in darkness

and in the shadow of death,

to guide our feet into the path of peace.” (Luke 1:76-79)  Zechariah’s song which begins in verse 67, concludes here in verses 76-79.  Zechariah showed no bitterness for God having silenced him when he doubted what the Angel Gabriel had said the Lord would do.  Instead, Zechariah, full of the Holy Spirit, first praised God for His redemption and the salvation of His people (verses 67-75).  Then Zechariah prophesied about his son, John.  Verse 66 above says that Zechariah’s neighbors wondered “what then is this child going to be?”, but Zechariah knew the answer.  And his song prophesied to all those assembled that John  (1) would be a prophet of God for His people, (2) would go ahead of the Lord to prepare the way (the people’s hearts) for Him, (3) would tell them about God's salvation and forgiveness of sin available to them because of His mercy and grace, and (4) would tell people living in the shadow of death about the Light that would lead them from fear into peace.  Praise God not just for what He has done, but for what He has told you He will do!

Zechariah’s song of praise reminds us that we too have much to praise God for. During this season of Advent, we are reminded of God's salvation, forgiveness and peace, that He has offered us because of His great mercy and grace.  Regardless of what you may be going through, when you think about the goodness of God, you should be filled with praise. You don't have to dwell on your current problems, you can fix your mind on what God has promised He will do.  Hold fast to His light and watch the goodness of the Lord.  Remembering that we are not entitled to anything, we can be grateful for everything… And while we have the chance, we can give Him the praise!

Blessings,

Rev. Glenn

         "Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.
         Praise the LORD."  ~  Psalm 150:6