Luke 1-2

The Sound of Silence

That’s how Luke begins his telling of Christ’s story. It starts with a 400 year silence that was about to be broken. God’s people had not heard form a prophet in four centuries. Not since Malachi had promised that a great leader would come had they heard a word from the Lord. And now that silence would at last be broken.

And they were ready! Herod, who the detail-driven Dr. Luke names as “king of Judea”, was a scoundrel. We think he’d had ten wives and history says at least one he had executed for no apparent reason. He was known as a godless, selfish man who was above the law. He ruled a puppet kingdom and feared anyone taking it from him. Remember Matthew’s story of his attempt to kill Christ? It was indeed a dark and silent time in Israel when the light of hope had all but been extinguished by wicked rulers and Roman occupation. Where was the voice of God?

Silence.

So in this silence we meet the first prophet in Luke’s gospel: Zechariah. It’s no wonder that when this old priest, who would become John the Baptist’s father, heard that promise from the angel Gabriel that he was a touch skeptical. “How can I be sure this will happen?” Gabriel’s response tells me he didn’t get asked for his ID very often. And so he gives Zechariah a sign he wouldn’t soon forget: He could speak a word until his baby was born. He was condemned to 9 months of…

Silence.

I can relate. If God struck me with silence, I wouldn’t know what to do. (My wife and son might rejoice…) But I’d sure have a lot of time to remember that when God makes a promise, even when he is silent for a time, I must not doubt him. God’s silence is often the prelude to the healing or hopeful words I need. And when they come, I need to be ready to trust and obey. And rejoice, just like the second prophet in Luke’s story, Simeon. This old man had been waiting through the silent dark years. Waiting for God to speak again, and yet speak as he had never before. His words always make me smile. Here’s this old, faithful man who finally gets to see Jesus. And then he’s ready to go be with God because…

The silence was over.

"Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace.
For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel."

Luke 2:29-32

May we listen for God’s voice this week so that I may be ready to trust and follow what he has NEXT for me!