83Q
THE KING’S BUSINESS
many shall rejoice at His birth (v. 14, 58). The coming of the child was a magnifying of God’s mercy (v. 58, R. V.). Little did the neighbors and kinsfolk who rejoiced with Elizabeth realize how much was wrap ped up in the birth of that child. Every thing was done in strict accordance with the law of God given by Moses (v. 59, cf. Lev. 12:3; ch. 2:21; Gen. 17:12; 21:34; Phil. 3:5). ■The neighbors wanted the naming of the child; the name they suggested, that of its own father, seemed proper enough, but God had already named the boy (v. 13) ; so any other name was wrong. Doubt less Zacharias had communicated to Eliza beth already what the angel had told him, and she without any explanation stood firm ly for God’s commandment. The neighbors were bound to have their own way, but Zacharias settled it. Note exactly what Zacharias says, “His name is John.” There was no going back on God’s word. The appointed term of punishment for Zacharias was ended (cf. v. 20), and Zach arias had stood for God’s promise (v. 63, cf. v. 13), and immediately “his mouth was opened, and his tongue loosed.” He at once used his restored speech to praise God. The manifestation of God’s power caused all to fear (v. 65, cf. 7:16; Acts 2:43; 5:5, 11; 19:17; Rev. 11:11). Those that heard these sayings did the wiest thing that they could possibly do, “they laid them up in their hearts” (cf. Ps. 119:11; ch. 2:19, 51; 9:44). The change in verse 66 of “and’ to “for” in the Revised Version, is deeply significant. When the hand of the Lord is with a child, people may well inquire. “What manner of child shall this be?” The Holy Spirit is a Spirit of song and praise (v. 67, cf. Eph. 5 :18-20) : the Spirit came upon Elizabeth, and she burst forth into song (see above), and pow Zacharias is “filled with the Holy Ghost,” and he too bursts into song. Further on we shall see the aged Simeon filled with the Spirit and Thursday, September 23. Luke 1:64-67.
he will burst into song. Heaven, itself, is a most musical place. Friday, September 24. Luke 1:68-80. The song of Zacharias is wonderful; every clause in it is worthy of an attention that it is impossible to give it here. It is a song of “salvation”; the word “salva tion” is found in it three times (see R. V.), and the thought of salvation runs all through it. It sings of salvation from all enemies, and salvation from sin. The pur pose of this salvation is that we may serve God (v. 74), that is, it is salvation unto service. That is the kind of salvation that is greatly needed in our churches today. The service to which we are saved is also deeply significant! it is first of all service “without fear.” There is so much servile service in our day, but that is not Christian service; as children of God we “have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear, but the Spirit of adoption (placing as a son) whereby we cry, Abba, Father” (Rom. 8:15). In the next place, it is service “in holiness and righteousness.” This is one of the most glorious things about the sal vation that God has provided for us in Christ, that it is a salvation unto holiness of heart and holiness of life, and not merely salvation from the torment that sin necessi tates. Sin itself is an immeasurably worse thing than any torment sin entails: and Jesus saves from sin (Matt. 1:21). In the next place, the service is “before him”; that is, in the presence of God, and in fellowship with God. Finally, it is perpetual service “all the days of our life.” The dawn will soon come: the night shadows will all soon flee away: the “sun of righteousness” will shine upon them “that sit in aniicness and in the shadow of death.” What a wide difference there is between the songs of Elizabeth, Mary and Zacharias, and the sickening twaddle of much of our modern hymnology. Saturday, September 25. Luke 2:1-7. Seven hundred years before, Micah had
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