Movement 2 Gabriel and Zechariah

1 An aged priest in Judah
The altar incense burned
Who with his wife was childless
Yet duty never spurned

2 By lot this priest was chosen
The incense, his to bring
To burn upon the altar
A holy, sacred thing

3 Outside the crowd stood praying
The Priest, his duty filled
When all at once in wonder
The air was strangely stilled

4 Beside him at the altar
God’s messenger appeared
The old Priest started quaking
Amazed and full of fear

5 The angel spoke his message
Your long-prayed prayer is heard
And you dear Zechariah
Must hear this blessed Word

6 Elizabeth shall bear you
A son, you’ll name him John
From birth, full of the Spirit
He’ll mark Messiah’s dawn

7 The Priest was unbelieving
“I’m old”, as is my wife
Such things as you’re announcing
Can’t happen in my life

8 You’re old? – we’ll I, am Gabriel
I stand before the Lord
He sent me with this message
This boy will be your ward

9 But for your unbelieving
You’ll speak no word or sound
Then on the day you hold him
Your tongue will be unbound

10 This John, just like Elijah
Will stir the hearts of men
To seek the God of Isr’el
And clear the path again

11 The mighty angel left him
His work not yet complete
For barely six months later
He’ll walk a Naz’reth street

12 The priest went home confounded
In silence and in awe
Till in God’s perfect season
John’s birth set free his jaw

13 You my child, the old Priest said
A prophet are to be
Preparing hearts of people
That Christ they might receive

14 Before the Lord Of glory
You’ll go to make the way
Announcing God’s forgiveness
Proclaiming Christ’s new day

15 Because Of God’s compassion
Dawn visits from on high
To shine on those in darkness
Our feet to peace He’ll guide

16 They’d never dreamed their sorrow
Had glory at its base
That they would be a symbol
Of overcoming grace

17 Thus in their years past bearing
Christ’s herald they would birth
Soon John would cry “Behold Him”
“The Lamb of God on earth!”