The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-01-09
SUNDAY MEDITATION.
Practical Duties Talsht by Study OF the later.
national sunday school Lesson Appointed for
Jan. TO- st. Luke. :G7-7O

Moses lex, 10: 1-I9) and Miriam's response
". 81 were prepared beforehand On tho
face of st. Luke's account, we would. however,
presume IaCharias spoke from the fulncss of
the heart, aud under inspiration of the Holy
Spirit-in one sense spoke because he could not
reprcss his feelings. Doubtless lie. however.
afterward wrote the Song, as no easily could,
since such a Cantcle-would make u strong inn
preston on ones memory.
2 Time
We date the Song B. g. 6, and not unlikely
February, about threc-fourth of year after
the Angel visited ZlCharias in the Holy Place
Il 5000 It was on the eighth day after tho
birth of st. John Baptist. Il So Indeed, it
was coincident with his circumcision. 1t was
about six months prior to the birth of Jesus
Christ.
3. Place
The Song was uttered in the home Of Zacha-
rias and Elisabeth, at Juttaf, in the hill country
of Judea (1:39.) The name of the place is
also spelled Juta. 1t is now quite q village, in
habited by Maiaomctans 1t is five miles south
of Hebron, and - snuth of jerusalem. 1t was
a sacerdotal city, fact apparent since the place
was the residence of the priest Iacharas.
Josh, ID: %; 81 49, 1t twas the place where
originated not only the Benedictus but also
the Magnificent. Mary visited it during three
of the months intervening between her con-
vicinity the youth st. John Baptist spent about
80 years Of his life
4. Speaker.
The Benedictus was first uttered by the
father of Christ's forerunner For three
fourths Of a year Xacharias had been deaf and
dumb In moment of distrust as to Gods
promise he was deprived OF speech and of the
power of hearing. U:20.) The months roll
by, proving all the Angel had said to him was
true. Then Xacharias was filled with n glow
ing, praising spirit. (l:6i.l When struck
dumb he was promised restoration after all that
the Angel propheced and Zacharias doubted
were completed. Eight days after the birth Of
st. John Baptist passed. TachaTias must have
wondered when lie was to be relieved. He was
obliged 10 write the name determined on to be
borne by his son. No sooner had be desig-
mated the name than power to hear aud speak
was regained.
Though Iacharias spoke, VIC may suppose he
afterward recorded the song in MS, and that
said MS, n copy thereof, was ut the hand of
S. Luke The Holy Spirit was the real Au-
thor Of tho Benedictus. He could foreseo the
use 10 which the Church could put such grand
production, and would take care that il he pre-
served and handed down for the generations of
woFshipers TO follow. We think the Church
needed just such poem or hymn. aud that
Providence met the demand. We see, too, how
indebted We are TO the third Gospel.
s. The Hearers
The FIRST part was addressed to God and the
second part to the child of Zacharas. Elisa
beth, of course, was among the listeners. We
suppose the Virgin Mary was preseut Gem
pare verses 26 aud So She would be very
likely to remain over till after the ciTeumcis-
ION. NeiRhbors aud cousins were also at hand.
tVs 50. 66.) The word praised in verse Ct
probably refers to the Bene'iieius. Verse 66
speaks thus they heard it," 10 w.t. the Song
of Zacharias Though the child did not COM
prehend the Canticle, he also heard it. Zacha-
rias probably broke out in the hearing of all
the party which had gathered in honor of the
circumcision. ". 5s.l
9. The Divisions Of he Song.
The Cantiele Is naturally divided into two
parts-Verses $50 aud verses 1910.
Z. Verses 6s-75.
These verses are addressed to God. They are
in tho form of praise. tV.6L)
Let as notice the items for which ZAcharias
praised Jehovah:
/. Because he had visited Israel. fSee Gen,
30: u, %; Tx, , 10. II; 4 81 Ru {: 6 Ps.,
SD Heb, ? g. God is represented rs coming
in early times to the rescue OF his people, God
visited the Jews at intervals in mercy. favor
with horn OF salvation. Ancionty Princes used
TO visit their different provinces to confer favors
Ahh W AOhASNS "ibhSo. hG tt1is pn SINtbiiIS,
the Virgin Mary, Joseph, and others, by the
Angel Gabriel, were visits of God through his
authoritative representative. The coming of
Christ, with his stay earth for So years, was
a visit.
2. For redemption or for reieeming his peo-
pie. ransom WAS price paid u rescue n
prisoner and hand him over To his friends.
Christ was the price paid for our escape from
captivity TO sin. The coin paid was bis blood
or life. So he redeemed u.s. Valueless before,
wo can now pass ut par. ST. Matt. 20: 25 st.
Mark, 10: 10; Ps., Ill g; Eph., 1:7.)
3. For raising up horn of salvation. Noes
sott thought the alluson is 10 the iron horn on
ancient helmets. IL was so constructed il could
be elevated on the helmet or let down If vic.
torious the party came from action with the
horn raised. So Christ gives us victory and
enables ns all to elevate the emblem of the con-
queror.
Fischer supposed the reference is to the four
horns on the corners of the great altar at the
temple. One fleeing and catching at either of
these could not be slain while clinging 10 it.
Il XII, l so; .: 2S) So the ayaI and foci
among the Greeks and Romans we=o sacred
places, at which no one could be slain. Christ
Is our Horn of salvation. lie is our Refuge.
No one Is in danger who clings TO our Savior.
The horns are the great means of defense to
horned animals and hence the horn has become
the symbol of power aud strength. So is Christ
hS u Horn 10 us. lie Is strong enough 10 elect
our salvation. Very many hold To this view
OF the text
Christ saves us from temporal enemies and
dangers, and in special rescues us from sin.
The genealogical lists in St Matt Chap y
and st. Luke (Chap. II show Jesus was from
the house of David. (V co.
L. For performing mercy to Abraham and
other Jewish ancestors. " ~ The word
mercy" is equivalent TO the word promise
" Promised" in verse - may be- omitted, ns
not In the Greek text 10 was Il favor to the
olden fathers to bless their children aud nation.
Abraham and the rest of the jewish ancestors
died in the faith and hope of such prosperity,
trusting their offspring might enjoy tho Mes
siah's reign. IL is certain the descendants of
the patriarchs tho inheritors of the promises,
Iachariah and all his generation, had reason
10 praise God for remembering to fulfill all the
pledges and favorable prophecies made by Je-
hovah to Abraham and the other fathers of the
lsraelitish race rs To their offspring
D. For his fidelity aud veracity; for remem-
bering his covenants; for fuldlling his prom
isesi for making good his Oaths pledges to
Abraham, Isaac, jacob, and other fathers. All
that is meant by God swearing is that he as
snred parties; his promises are as sure as are
Jehovah's existence aud truthfulness Gods
general form of oath Is, "As | live" We al
ways swear by asuperior who can punish us for
untruth. There being no greater than God, he
was obliged to affirm by his own power and
Veracity.
8. Verses 1919.
These are addressed to the child who became
st. John Baptist. They are in the form of
prophecy. We notice the several items:
4. %