Great Joy: "When Dad Sings Again"

 Great Joy

Introduction:

Good morning friends and family. Merry Christmas. To those of you who are visiting with us this morning, my name is Stuart Davidson. I am so glad to see you this morning. Thank you for worshipping with us today and if you are watching online, I pray that God is blessing you during this Christmas season. 

Over the last couple of weeks we have been engaged in a new Christmas series entitled “Great Joy”. I have said it many many times behind this pulpit, I love Christmas. It is one of, if not may favorite time of the years. I love everything about Christmas. I love the lights. 

I mean come on…who doesn’t love driving down to Fairhope to see all the trees lit? 

Who doesn’t love driving over to the Sehoy neighborhood to see all the giant inflatables?

I love the decorations. Christmas trees. Wreathes. The little blinky lights. Im all about it. 

Do you know what else I love? I love the music. The Christmas music. I bet that if I asked all of you what your favorite Christmas song was, we’d all have different tunes to sing. 

I went to the Google machine as I often do and asked what the top 5 Christmas songs were and in no particular order, this is what the Google machine told me:

“Jingle Bell Rock”

“Santa Tell Me”

“Rockin Around The Christmas Tree”

“Last Christmas”

Now my favorite has always been “Baby It’s Cold Outside”. But that one did not make the list. 

Do you know the all time, number one Christmas song? Some of you probably do. The song is “All I Want For Christmas Is You” by Mariah Carey. Do you know that Mariah Carey makes 3 million dollars a year from this song every single December? Now that is what I call a Christmas gift. 

There is a Christmas song tucked right into the pages of Scripture, and it may very well be the first Christmas song ever sung. It came from Zachariah. I mentioned him briefly last week. Zachariah was a priest, a man of intense devotion, yet still very human and very flawed. His quiet life was suddenly interrupted by an angel who announced that his wife, his elderly and lifelong barren wife, would soon give birth to a child. This child would prepare the way for the coming Messiah. Zachariah met that news with understandable disbelief, and the angel took his voice as a lesson in trust. In God’s timing, Zachariah learned that every promise the Lord makes is a promise the Lord keeps.

When today’s passage opens, the baby has arrived and Zachariah’s voice is restored. You might assume that after nine months of silence he would preach a sermon or offer a thoughtful reflection. Maybe he would simply shout for joy after waiting so long.

Nope! He does none of these things.

Zachariah sings. He lifts his voice in praise. He pours out glory to God.

And that brings us to the title of today’s message, “When Dad Sings Again.”

Today’s Message:

“When Dad Sings Again”

Imagine what it must have been like for Zachariah to suddenly lose his voice. Not misplaced, not faded, but taken. One moment he is speaking with an angel and the next he cannot make a sound. No prayers spoken. No blessings offered. No singing in the temple. For a priest, the voice was his tool, his calling, his primary way to serve and provide. Gabriel did not just silence him, Gabriel shut down his preaching ministry and his teaching ministry. If you or I lost our voice for nine months, we would be climbing the walls by day two. You can almost feel the frustration rising in him every time he tried to communicate with Elizabeth or every time he was expected to lead worship. This was more than inconvenient. It was humbling.

And you have to wonder how the neighbors talked about it. People in that day often assumed that any affliction meant God was punishing someone. You can imagine the whispers around town. 

“You hear about Zachariah? Lost his voice. Must have done something.” That is how people thought. 

They treated every hardship like it was a spiritual report card. But God was not punishing Zachariah. God was teaching him. The silence was not judgment. It was discipleship. It was the classroom where Zachariah learned to trust again. And when his voice finally returned, he did not complain and he did not defend himself. He worshiped. He sang. He gave glory to God.

Let me tell you what I think when I stop to reflect on Zachariah’s story…fill in the blanks under “Today’s Thought”…

Zachariah reminds us that God’s faithfulness reaches us, His mercy frees us, and His light leads us! 

In Zachariah’s song we find a God who does not abandon His people, a God who rescues believers weighed down by doubt, and a God who guides us toward a future that is anchored in Christ.

Today’s Thought:

Zachariah Reminds Us That God’s Faithfulness Reaches Us, His Mercy Frees Us, And His Light Leads Us!

You know, sometimes good old Matthew Henry’s commentary gives us the best thought. I love what my trusty, handy dandy commentary stated about God’s mercy, His grace, His kindness, and His long-suffering in Psalm 103. 

Today’s Quote:

“The mercy of God is so rich that it rises as high as the heavens, stretches as wide as the earth, and sinks as deep as any sorrow the heart can feel. His compassions do not fail, nor do they ebb and flow with our obedience. They are the constant stream of His fatherly kindness, renewed every morning, sustaining the weakest believer and restoring the faintest soul.”

Matthew Henry’s “Commentary on the Whole Bible”, Commentary on Psalm 103.

Gracious friends. God showed Zachariah amazing grace, tremendous mercy, and unfailing kindness. If God shows that to Zachariah grace, mercy and kindness, He will do the very same to you and I. 

Open your Bibles friends to Luke 1:67-79. As you do that, let me set up the scene for you. 

Background and Context:

Have you ever wished that you were a fly on a wall? Ever wanted to be a part to something historical, something important, life altering? Well this is one of those moments. After four hundred years of silence from heaven, God suddenly speaks. An angel appears to an elderly priest, we know him to be Zachariah. The angel interrupts Zachariah during his temple duty and announces that his barren wife Elizabeth will have a son who will prepare the way for the Messiah. This child will be known as John the Baptist. The greatest man to have ever lived according to Jesus. Zachariah struggles to believe the news, and in that moment the angel removes his voice as a lesson in trust. For nine months he watches God keep every promise while remaining completely silent.

By the time we reach Luke 1 verse 67, the baby has been born and the people gather for his naming. Elizabeth declares that his name is John, and Zachariah confirms it in writing. The moment he agrees with God’s plan, his tongue is restored. After months of silence, he doesn’t complain or explain. He worships. Zachariah is filled with the Holy Spirit, he breaks into prophecy. He sings a Christmas song that celebrates God’s faithfulness, God’s mercy, and the light that has come into our world.

Statement of Belief:

“We are opening the living and powerful Word of God…truth without error, breathed out by Him, and fully sufficient for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness. It is our authority, our guide, and our hope. In honor of the God who gave us His perfect Word, I invite you to stand with me as we read it together.”

Today’s Scripture:

Luke 1:67-79 CSB

Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied: [68] Blessed is the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited and provided redemption for his people. [69] He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, [70] just as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets in ancient times; [71] salvation from our enemies and from the hand of those who hate us. [72] He has dealt mercifully with our ancestors and remembered his holy covenant- [73] the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant that we, [74] having been rescued from the hand of our enemies, would serve him without fear [75] in holiness and righteousness in his presence all our days. [76] And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, [77] to give his people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins. [78] Because of our God's merciful compassion, the dawn from on high will visit us [79] to shine on those who live in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Pastor:”This is the Word of the Lord.”

Congregation: “Praise His name, praise His holy name.”

What Can We Learn From Zachariah’s Prophecy?

First…We Learn That God Remembers His Covenant vs. 68-73

So, let’s dive into these three points this morning. 

What can we learn from Zachariah’s prophecy? You could also say, what can we learn from Zachariah’s song?

Our first point this morning is that first, we learn that God remembers His covenant. Covenant is just another great word for promise. God always remembers and better yet…keeps His promises. 

Illustration: Husband’s Fix It

Folks, have you ever noticed how husbands are famous for saying, “I promise I will fix that,” even though everyone in the house knows that promise may take twelve to fifteen business years. A wife will say, “Honey, the sink is leaking.” And the husband says, “I promise, I will get to it.” And she thinks, “Lord, come quickly.” Because the truth is, we all have people in our lives who make promises they fully intend to keep but somehow never get around to it.

But God is not like that. God never says, “I will get to it when I have time.” He never forgets. He never procrastinates. He never needs reminding. When He makes a promise, it is as good as done. 

If God says He will provide, He will. 

If He says He will protect, He will. 

If He says He will walk with you, He will. 

Our promises might be hit or miss, but God’s promises always hit the mark.

Go back to verses 68-73. 

Blessed is the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited and provided redemption for his people. 

I made a short note there for you on your outline. 

“God proves His faithfulness by remembering His people and keeping His promises.”

From the very moment sin ended this world, God promised that a Savior would come. 

He promised a Redeemer in the garden. 

He promised a King through David. 

He promised a Suffering Servant through Isaiah. 

And now, in Zachariah’s day, that long awaited promise is finally taking on flesh. God kept His greatest promise by sending Jesus into the world.

Israel could have absolute confidence that God would keep every promise because He had never failed them in the past. 

He promised Abraham a son and gave him Isaac. 

He promised deliverance in Egypt and raised up Moses. 

He promised a land and brought Joshua across the Jordan. 

He promised protection in the wilderness, manna in scarcity, and victory in impossible battles. 

Every step of their history shouted the same truth. God remembers. God provides. God never forgets His word.

Zachariah celebrates this in Psalm 111: 5 which says, “He provides food for those who fear Him, He remembers His covenant forever.” 

That promise is not just for ancient Israel. It is for you, right where you sit, right in the middle of whatever season you are walking through. The same God who remembered His covenant with His people remembers His covenant with His children today. You can trust Him because His track record is flawless. Every sunrise proves His consistency. Every answered prayer in your life or in the life of someone you love is another reminder that He has never once failed to do what He said He would do. We can rest in the confidence that God will keep His promises to us because He has always been faithful in the past and He will be faithful in the days ahead.

He will keep His promise to provide for you, even when resources seem scarce or the future feels uncertain. He will keep His promise to protect you, even when fear presses in or danger draws near. He will give you strength when you feel weak, light when life feels dark, and courage when the road feels lonely. He will steady you when your steps feel unsure. He will carry you when you no longer have the strength to stand. And when your journey reaches its final moment, He will give life that outshines death’s shadow. 

The God who remembered His covenant then is the God who remembers His covenant today, and His faithful love will meet you every time you call on Him.

What Can We Learn From Zachariah’s Prophecy?

First…We Learn That God Remembers His Covenant vs. 68-73

Next…We Learn That God Rescues His Children vs. 74-75

Let’s move to our second point this morning. We know that God keeps His promises. Next, we learn that God rescues His children. 

Friends…

“God delivers His people from fear and bondage so that they can joyfully serve Him.”

Go back to verses 74 and 75 this morning. 

“having been rescued from the hand of our enemies, would serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness in his presence all our days.”

Friends, there is something powerful about that word “rescued”. There is no better feeling than being rescued. 

Illustration:

Guys, do you remember several years ago, that a Carnival cruise ship had a fire in the engine room? Remember that? It was the Carnival Triumph. The Triumph completely lost power. It was a floating city with no ability to move. It left 4000 passengers with no working bathrooms, no air conditioning, and no way to get home. Passengers were forced to sleep outside. Sewage backed up into cabins. People were getting sick. Food was running low. That ship was not going anywhere on its own. It was adrift. Helpless. Stuck in the middle of the Gulf.

But then something happened. Help arrived. The Coast Guard came. A tug boat showed up, threw out a line, and began towing that massive, powerless ship all the way into Mobile Bay, right into our own backyard. What the ship could not do for itself, the rescuer did for them. They were pulled out of a situation they could never escape on their own and brought safely home.

That is exactly what God does for His children. We get stuck. We get powerless. We get overwhelmed by fear, sin, and circumstances we cannot fix. But God delights in coming to our rescue. 

Psalm 18:19 says, “He led me to a place of safety, He rescued me because He delights in me.” God does not rescue reluctantly. He rescues joyfully. When you cannot get yourself home, He throws out the line of His mercy and pulls you safely into His presence.

The Hebrew word for “rescue” is yah-shah. 

This verb is used throughout the Old Testament to describe God stepping in to save, deliver, or rescue His people. It is the root behind several powerful biblical words, including Yeshua, the name of Jesus, which means “The Lord saves.”

Another Hebrew word often translated as rescue or deliver is na-tsal. This word emphasizes being snatched away, pulled out, or rescued from danger, like someone being lifted out of a pit or pulled out of trouble.

Both words are really beautiful expressions of what God does for us in verses 74 and 75. 

Friends, how grateful are you that God is a rescuing God? I know that I sure am. 

God rescues us from so many things that we often don’t think about. He rescues us from sin, from the spiritual battles that wage around us, from Satan, and from death. 

Friends, our deepest need is not a new start or a better set of habits. Our deepest need is forgiveness from the sin that separates us from God. We cannot climb out of that pit by effort or good works. God had to step in. And He did. He sent His Son to take our place, to remove our guilt, and to give us life. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” Sin once held us captive, but Jesus kicked the door open. Through the cross, He rescued us from what we could never rescue ourselves. The chains fall off. The burden lifts. Grace moves in where guilt used to live.

God rescues us from the spiritual battles around us.

Every day unseen battles rage around us. Temptation, discouragement, spiritual attack, and forces at work that you and I cannot see with our eyes. Yet God surrounds His children with protection. He sends His angels. He strengthens our hearts. He guards our steps. Psalm 34:7 says, “The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.” You may not always feel the battle, but God is fighting for you. 

God rescues us from Satan.

The Bible is clear that we have a real enemy. He is a liar, an accuser, and a destroyer. He works to discourage hearts, divide families, and derail faith. But he is not stronger than God. When we submit to the Lord and stand firm in His truth, the enemy loses power. James 4:7 says, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” The devil is not impressed by our strength, but he trembles at the strength of our Savior. The child of God is protected by the power of God.

God rescues us from death.

Death feels like the great final enemy, the one no person can escape. Yet Jesus shattered the power of death with an empty tomb. He walked out of the grave and made a way for us to follow Him. For the believer, death is not the end. It is the doorway into life that never ends. John 11:25 says, “Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live.” God rescues His children from the fear of death by giving us the promise of eternal life. 

Folks, it doesn’t matter if it “rescue” is yah-shah or “rescue” na-tsal, God is our redeemer and our RESCUER! 

What Can We Learn From Zachariah’s Prophecy?

First…We Learn That God Remembers His Covenant vs. 68-73

Next…We Learn That God Rescues His Children vs. 74-75

Lastly…We Learn That God Restores Their Course vs. 76-79

So, we have made it to our last point this morning. God remembers His covenant. He rescues His children. Lastly, God restores their course. 

Go to that little note that left for you this morning there on your sermon outline. 

“God shines His light into our darkness, guiding our feet into a path marked by peace, purpose, and hope.”

Let’s go back and reread our Scripture this morning. 

“Because of our God's merciful compassion, the dawn from on high will visit us to shine on those who live in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

Friends, have you ever noticed that sin has a way of steering every one of us off course? It bends our hearts, blurs our vision, and pushes us into places we never intended to go. 

Sin is not just breaking rules. 

It is losing direction. 

It is drifting without a compass. 

It is stumbling through life without clarity or purpose. 

The good news is that God did not leave us lost. When we wandered into darkness, He sent His Son to find us. Jesus stepped into our night and turned on the light. The world was confused, broken, and blind, but into that darkness came the One who said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life”. 

Where sin brings confusion, Christ brings clarity. 

Where sin brings shadows, Christ brings sight. 

Where sin brings fear, Christ brings hope.

Scripture is full of this testimony. John tells us in John 1:5, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” Jesus is not a flicker. He is not a candle that blows out in the wind. His light is strong enough to pierce the deepest darkness and steady enough to guide the weakest heart. 

First John 1:7 adds, “If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” Light brings cleansing. It brings community. It brings direction. Just go to Psalm 119:105 CSB, “Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path.” God’s Word and God’s Son work together to guide us, guard us, and keep us from stumbling into the same old traps that once held us captive.

The benefit of having the light of Christ is simple but life changing. When you have light, you can see where you are going. You can avoid the holes that once tripped you. You can recognize the dangers that once fooled you. You can move forward with confidence because you are no longer trying to navigate by guesswork or emotion. Jesus lights up the path so that you can walk in peace instead of panic, purpose instead of confusion, and hope instead of despair. His light reveals what harms you and highlights what helps you. It shows you the next step, even when the whole journey feels uncertain. When His light leads you, darkness cannot define you, sin cannot steer you, and fear cannot hold you. The God who restores our course shines enough light for today and enough grace for tomorrow.

Conclusion:

Friends, Zachariah is singing, he is reminding us that Christmas is not simply about a manger or a star or a set of traditions we repeat each December. It is about a faithful God who remembers His promises, who rescues His children, and who restores their course through the light of His Son. 

Every part of Zachariah’s prophecy points us to Jesus. Jesus is the promise kept. He is the rescue provided. Jesus is the light revealed. Jesus is the hope given to a world that could not find its way. And when we follow Christ, when we trust His word, when we walk in His light, we discover that God has not forgotten us. He has not abandoned us. He has not turned away from us. He comes near, He draws close, and He leads us step by step into peace.

The God who remembered His covenant then is the God who remembers His covenant now. The God who rescued His people then is the God who rescues His people today. The God who shined light into the world then is the God who shines His light on you right now.

Merry Christmas Church…

God’s Light Has Come! You Are No Longer Lost!

Closing Prayer:

Father God…

Thank You for being the God who remembers His promises, the God who rescues His children, and the God who shines light into our darkness. Thank You for sending Jesus, the fulfillment of every covenant…every promise, and the hope of every sinner in need of grace. Teach us to trust You the way Zachariah learned to trust You. Help us to believe Your word even when we cannot see the way forward. Strengthen us in our weakness, steady us in our battles, and guide our steps when life feels confusing or heavy. Let the light of Christ lead us, lift us, and fill us with peace. As we leave this place, help us to walk in Your truth, rest in Your mercy, and follow Your Son with confidence and joy. We pray all of this in the strong and saving name of Jesus. Amen.