Because of Our God's Deep Compassion
June 23, 2023
Luke 1:56-80 | Psalm 116:1-6
Don’t miss Zechariah’s song. For the second day in a row, we have a song/prayer/declaration of the gospel of God, characterized by a deep and wide liberation for people.
Luke 1:56-66
Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months, and then returned to her home.
When the time came for Elizabeth to have her child, she gave birth to a boy. Her neighbors and relatives celebrated with her because they had heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy. On the eighth day, it came time to circumcise the child. They wanted to name him Zechariah because that was his father’s name. But his mother replied, “No, his name will be John.”
They said to her, “None of your relatives have that name.” Then they began gesturing to his father to see what he wanted to call him.
After asking for a tablet, he surprised everyone by writing, “His name is John.” At that moment, Zechariah was able to speak again, and he began praising God.
All their neighbors were filled with awe, and everyone throughout the Judean highlands talked about what had happened. All who heard about this considered it carefully. They said, “What then will this child be?” Indeed, the Lord’s power was with him.
John’s father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied,
“Bless the Lord God of Israel
because he has come to help and has delivered his people.
He has raised up a mighty savior for us in his servant David’s house,
just as he said through the mouths of his holy prophets long ago.
He has brought salvation from our enemies
and from the power of all those who hate us.
He has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors,
and remembered his holy covenant,
the solemn pledge he made to our ancestor Abraham.
He has granted that we would be rescued
from the power of our enemies
so that we could serve him without fear,
in holiness and righteousness in God’s eyes,
for as long as we live.
You, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High,
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way.
You will tell his people how to be saved
through the forgiveness of their sins.
Because of our God’s deep compassion,
the dawn from heaven will break upon us,
to give light to those who are sitting in darkness
and in the shadow of death,
to guide us on the path of peace.”
The child grew up, becoming strong in character. He was in the wilderness until he began his public ministry to Israel.
Psalm 116:1-6
I love the Lord because he hears
my requests for mercy.
I’ll call out to him as long as I live,
because he listens closely to me.
Death’s ropes bound me;
the distress of the grave found me—
I came face-to-face with trouble and grief.
So I called on the Lord’s name:
“Lord, please save me!”
The Lord is merciful and righteous;
our God is compassionate.
The Lord protects simple folk;
he saves me whenever I am brought down.
Prayer
God,
I love the idea of your compassion. Honestly, I love it. For me, it is perhaps the strongest aspect of why I choose to believe in you. From Jesus’ care of the other to your insistence on sending him to do it, it’s your compassion…it’s your compassion that compels me.
Lord, give me your compassion. That I might not only be inspired by it, but that I would actually live my life according to it. Give me insight and empathy for others, grace and forgiveness abounding.
By your spirit & in Christ,
Amen.