by Caroline Speas
Luke 1:68-75 - “Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed His people, and has raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of His servant David, as He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets, who have been since the world began, that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us,to perform the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant, the oath which He swore to our father Abraham: to grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life."
Sometimes when I read the Christmas story, I tend to rush through the parts about Zechariah. I’m not sure why. But as I was reading this passage recently, it seems like the words from every single line struck me in a new way. After the promise of the angel Gabriel (the promise that Elizabeth and Zechariah would have a son in their old age) was fulfilled, Zechariah prophesied with passion about another promise that had been given. This promise was that the Messiah would be born of a young girl he knew named Mary.
After his son’s birth, Zechariah’s mouth was opened, and he used his renewed speech to share about the coming of the Messiah and all that it would mean for God’s people. So, what was God going to do through the coming of the Messiah?
Visit and redeem His people
Raise up a horn of salvation, or as The NLT calls Him, a Mighty Savior
Save us from our enemies and the hand of all who hate us
Perform the mercy He promised His people years ago
Grant that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness all the days of our lives
First of all, I believe those five reasons should move us to worship and thank Him. What a wonderful gift of salvation – one Person who came to do all that!
Secondly, that last line should move us to examine our hearts and lives.
Am I truly living without fear? Am I trusting every part of my life to this wonderful Horn of Salvation, this Mighty Savior who can do anything? Am I living in holiness and righteousness? Are my actions, words, and thoughts becoming of someone who has been genuinely delivered from sin? Would God say that sin really has been removed from my heart and life? Or did I just ask Him to forgive me a long time ago, yet I’m still entertaining sin in the things I say, the attitudes I have towards others, the things I watch, the ways I spend my time and money?
I’m glad I didn’t rush through this prophecy of Zechariah this year. It has been a timely reminder for me to worship and thank God for His wonderful salvation and to make sure that I am serving Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness… all the days of my life.
Passage Guide: Acts 3 & Psalm 118