Wednesday 14 December 2022

Psalm 76

Background

When Luke wrote his Gospel (c. 85AD), he and his congregation had a thoroughly developed and distinctive theology, focused on Jesus. In telling Jesus’s story, Luke infused everything he wrote with his mature theology. Today’s passage makes a crucial theological point. While Jesus was unique, he owed an immense amount to John (the Baptist); indeed John, born just in advance of Jesus, was as much part of God’s plan as Jesus was.

The story is set in the reign of King Herod the Great (40-4BC). Among much else, Herod in 20BC began a mammoth rebuilding of the Jerusalem Temple, where this story is set. At dawn and dusk each day (Exodus 30.7-8) the prayers of the devout were ritually offered in and through the incense offering in the Holy of Holies (Psalm 141:2). Only once in their lifetime was a priest permitted to offer the incense. On Zechariah’s great day, he had a vision. The angel Gabriel revealed God’s promise of a child, to be named John (‘God has been gracious’), for the ageing Zechariah and Elizabeth. Filled with the Holy Spirit, John was to fulfil a distinct vocation to Israel. And because Zechariah did not unconditionally trust Gabriel’s word, he was robbed of the power of speech for a spell.

But this story has roots that go deep into Israel’s history. Zechariah and Elizabeth were both descendants of Aaron; the discipline laid on John of not drinking alcohol, repeated the depth of Aaron’s consecration to God (Leviticus 10:9). Elizabeth’s story – from childlessness to motherhood, by God’s creativity – echoes that of Hannah (1 Samuel 1-2). John’s distinctive ministry (the long-awaited Elijah) fulfilled Malachi’s prophecy (Malachi 3:1, 4:5-6). 

Elizabeth had long met with public shame because she was childless. Once miraculously pregnant, she continued to keep a low profile. In her heart, however, she knew the truth: God had looked favourably on her.

To Ponder:

• Great stress is laid in society today on the creativity of older people. Is that true in your congregation? What expectations are there of the elderly? How may older people be enabled to make strong contributions? 
• Childlessness is no longer in our society a trigger for prejudice. For this we thank God. Even so, not being able to become pregnant or have a child can create much frustration, impatience, resentment and self-criticism. How is your congregation able to offer support for couples going through such an experience, always uncertain of the outcome?