The next song of adoration in the Christmas story is the song of Zechariah. Zechariah was informed by the angel Gabriel that he and his wife Elizabeth would have a child, even though they were quite old. He expressed doubt to Gabriel and was stricken with the inability to speak until the child was born. Zechariah broke his long silence with a song of praise as he realized the place in God’s plan of redemption that his own child would have.
Zechariah praised God for many things including His nearness, His defeat of enemies, His removal of fear, and His mercy in salvation. We, too, praise God for these things. In Christ and with the gift of the Holy Spirit, God has come near to us and promises to always be with us. Because of Christ’s work, the Evil One has been defeated and death has lost its power. Through the gift of faith, we are enabled to live in such a way that fear does not rule over us. Finally, we praise God because he has given us the greatest gift of all, the gift of eternal life through Jesus.
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