Zechariah's Song (Part 3)

Serving without fear.

…so that we could serve him without fear…

What is the opposite of fear?

While cultural and societal understanding would almost certainly say that the opposite of fear is courage or bravery, this is not a great understanding in scripture. Particularly in the New Testament, the opposite of fear is love, faith, and trust.

How does that inform how you read today’s passage?

When we connect the rescue from the power of our enemies to no longer living in fear, we won’t find Christians punishing or demoralizing their enemies. Zechariah’s song here demonstrates that to leave fear is to serve God in holiness and justice.

To not fear is to live boldly in living rightly, doing justice, and pursuing goodness.

…for as long as we live.

Luke 1:73b-75

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.

Ezekiel 36:26-28

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you. I will remove your stony heart from your body and replace it with a living one, and I will give you my spirit so that you may walk according to my regulations and carefully observe my case laws. Then you will live in the land that I gave to your ancestors, you will be my people, and I will be your God.

Prayer

God,

My mind wants to make it one thing that you deliver us from fear and another thing to do the loving work of righteousness and justice. But I’m seeing that these two things are joined at the hip.

So lead me into loving faith and just action. Help me to trust that this is your work —seeking justice, pursuing goodness, and reflecting your holiness in all I do. Even as I strive for this, give me joy, that I can whistle as I work. Not in an ignorant way, but in a way that conveys the innate contagiousness of good news.

By your spirit & in Christ,
Amen.