Advent2025_Dec10
Blessed Be the Lord
Luke 1:67–71
When God breaks His silence, His people find their voice in praise.
For months, Zechariah has lived in silence. No spoken words. No priestly blessing. No ability to explain the miracle unfolding in his home. The man who once doubted God’s promise has been given an unexpected gift . . . a quiet classroom where faith can deepen.
But now the time has come. John is born. The neighbors gather. Zechariah writes the baby’s name on a tablet: “His name is John”. And at that moment, Luke says, “his mouth was opened, his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God.”
What a moment. The first words out of Zechariah’s mouth are not excuses or explanations or apologies. They are praise. Blessed be the Lord God of Israel. His silence gives way to a song. The man who once hesitated to believe now cannot keep himself from declaring that God has visited and redeemed His people.
And notice how Zechariah speaks. His words are steeped in Scripture, in the language of the Psalms, the promises to David, and the hope of the prophets. He calls Jesus “a horn of salvation,” recalling the strength and victory God promised through the line of David (Psalm 132:17). He speaks of God “visiting” His people, just as God once came to rescue Israel in Exodus. The old man’s voice becomes a bridge, connecting the ancient promises of God to the newborn child lying in a manger.
What we see here is a wonderful truth: when God’s Word is believed, praise becomes inevitable. Zechariah’s long silence becomes a doorway to deeper worship. His months of quiet contemplation now open into a torrent of prophecy. And the very first note he sings is this: God has come near.
Perhaps you know what it is to feel spiritually muted . . . to find your faith quiet or hesitant. Zechariah’s story reminds us that God meets us even there. When His mercy dawns and His promises take root, He loosens our tongues. He turns doubt into declaration, silence into song, hesitation into hope.
Blessed be the Lord. He has come to redeem His people. And when we grasp that, our hearts, like Zechariah’s, cannot help but rise.
_____
For Young Ones: What happened to Zechariah when he wrote “His name is John”? What were the first words he spoke?
For Older Ones: Where has God used seasons of silence or waiting to deepen your faith? How might He be preparing your heart for fresh praise?
Pray: Lord, open our lips that our mouths may declare Your praise. Turn our hesitations into trust and our silence into song.
Family Practice: Read Psalm 103:1–5 aloud together. This was a Psalm Zechariah likely knew well. Let its words shape a simple family prayer of thanksgiving.
Luke 1:67–71
When God breaks His silence, His people find their voice in praise.
For months, Zechariah has lived in silence. No spoken words. No priestly blessing. No ability to explain the miracle unfolding in his home. The man who once doubted God’s promise has been given an unexpected gift . . . a quiet classroom where faith can deepen.
But now the time has come. John is born. The neighbors gather. Zechariah writes the baby’s name on a tablet: “His name is John”. And at that moment, Luke says, “his mouth was opened, his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God.”
What a moment. The first words out of Zechariah’s mouth are not excuses or explanations or apologies. They are praise. Blessed be the Lord God of Israel. His silence gives way to a song. The man who once hesitated to believe now cannot keep himself from declaring that God has visited and redeemed His people.
And notice how Zechariah speaks. His words are steeped in Scripture, in the language of the Psalms, the promises to David, and the hope of the prophets. He calls Jesus “a horn of salvation,” recalling the strength and victory God promised through the line of David (Psalm 132:17). He speaks of God “visiting” His people, just as God once came to rescue Israel in Exodus. The old man’s voice becomes a bridge, connecting the ancient promises of God to the newborn child lying in a manger.
What we see here is a wonderful truth: when God’s Word is believed, praise becomes inevitable. Zechariah’s long silence becomes a doorway to deeper worship. His months of quiet contemplation now open into a torrent of prophecy. And the very first note he sings is this: God has come near.
Perhaps you know what it is to feel spiritually muted . . . to find your faith quiet or hesitant. Zechariah’s story reminds us that God meets us even there. When His mercy dawns and His promises take root, He loosens our tongues. He turns doubt into declaration, silence into song, hesitation into hope.
Blessed be the Lord. He has come to redeem His people. And when we grasp that, our hearts, like Zechariah’s, cannot help but rise.
_____
For Young Ones: What happened to Zechariah when he wrote “His name is John”? What were the first words he spoke?
For Older Ones: Where has God used seasons of silence or waiting to deepen your faith? How might He be preparing your heart for fresh praise?
Pray: Lord, open our lips that our mouths may declare Your praise. Turn our hesitations into trust and our silence into song.
Family Practice: Read Psalm 103:1–5 aloud together. This was a Psalm Zechariah likely knew well. Let its words shape a simple family prayer of thanksgiving.
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