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Adult Bible Study December 16, 2007 |
Lesson Text: Luke 1:67-80
By George Epp
E-mail: g.epp@sasktel.netThe Red Sox won the baseball World Series of this year. To celebrate the event, the city of Boston turned out in droves to line the streets. Costumed and painted, they shouted, danced, and frolicked with joy as the players drove through the city.
Sports events seem to raise the spontaneous energy of pure delight in us; sports . . . and the winning of lotteries, perhaps. Postwar events like VE Day and after-election parties also might qualify as extraordinary, delight-producing experiences.
In Jewish history, events that signaled the end of oppression and the beginning of a new day for God’s people often triggered outbursts of ecstasy. These outpourings of gratitude and happiness were commemorated in the hymnody of the people.
The Benedictus of Zechariah and the Magnificat of Mary follow in the tradition of the Psalms, and can justifiably be seen as paving the way for Hymnal: A Worship Book in 1992 and Sing the Journey in 2005. We sing to express our joy. Some Christian groups might bang drums and dance in the streets as well whenever God’s grace produces a new day.
On November 25, 2007, my church (Eigenheim Mennonite) conducted an ordination service for our pastor, Allan Friesen. It was a time of great joy. The singing was exuberant, and I think we all felt that we had been fanned by the breath of the Spirit. Like Zechariah, we were celebrating the advent of a new day, recognizing that, like John the Baptizer, Allan had declared himself willing to “go on before the Lord to prepare a way for him” (v. 76).
And that’s a task for all of us. Before Christ appears to anyone, there will always be a faithful servant who “prepares the way.” Let’s celebrate with Zechariah the sound of many feet on many roads, God’s people “preparing the way.”
This Advent, if the thought of this causes us to break out spontaneously in verse, dance a little, or shout out for sheer joy, then so be it. Zechariah will nod and smile.