Knowing The Word in Luke 1:67-79, Zechariah's Prophecy

After centuries of oppression from their enemies, Israel is ready for deliverance. Zechariah’s prophetic poem captures the delight that God is finally acting to save his people. It shows that God is keeping his ancient promises to his chosen people in what he will do in the lives of John and Jesus.

67 And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying,

68 “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people 69 and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, 70 as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, 71 that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us; 72 to show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, 73 the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us 74 that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear, 75 in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. 76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, 77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, 78 because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high 79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

Prayer: Father, thank you that you keep your promises and that we can trust your word. Help me today to keep my promises and my word to others that people may see that I am indeed created in your image. Amen.