Day 16, Read Luke 1:57-80

All that the angel told Zacharias came to pass.  A son was born; there was great joy; and he was given the name “John” (Yahweh/Jehovah is gracious).  When he could speak again Zacharias gave God praise for His goodness as had Mary.  The hymn of Zacharias also has a Latin name, “Benedictus”, taken from the opening words “Praise be.”  Today let us meditate on this hymn; tomorrow we will meditate on a title of Christ in the hymn.

·        Zacharias blessed God for what He had done, v67-69,78. 

• God visited His people, v68,78.  This likely comes from Psalm 8:4 where David is amazed, given the insignificance of man, that God would visit him.  The Incarnation was the ultimate “visit” by God.
• God redeemed His people, v68.  The past tense indicates Zacharias knows that the birth of John is indication that God’s “loosing” of Israel from her enemies will be completed.
• God has raised up a horn of salvation, v69.  The “horn” is a symbol of governmental authority and power.  Jesus will occupy the throne of David and is that “Horn”.  (Cf. 1 Sam. 2:10; Ps. 18:2; 132:17-18 on the “horn”.)
• God will visit Israel through the Dayspring (tomorrow’s meditation).

·        Zacharias blessed God for how He had done it, v70-71.  God was doing all the above in the way He had indicated by the prophets.  His provision will be the “seed of the women;” sent in the line of Abraham, Judah and David; born in Bethlehem; born of a virgin.  These are all fulfillments of prophecy.

·        Zacharias blessed God for why He had done it, v72-75.  Four infinitives are the foundation of 4 purpose clauses that tell why God was sending His Son:

• To perform the mercy promised to the fathers.  In mercy God provided salvation for the sinner but also deliverance of Israel from her oppressors.
• To remember His holy covenant with Abraham.
• To grant fearlessness for His people.
• And all of this, so that they could serve Him in holiness and righteousness, the reason He had chosen them from the beginning.  Israel has failed at this, and does to this day, because they lack holiness and righteousness.

·        Zacharias blessed God for who He had chosen to do it, v76-79.  Zacharias understood that his son was not the centerpiece of what God was doing but that John would prepare the people for the coming of the Messiah by calling them to repentance.  John would be the last, and according to Jesus, the greatest of the Old Testament prophets.

For 400 years God seemed to be silent.  But Zacharias’ hymn recognizes that God is ever faithful and will perform His word with perfection.  Will we give Him that same praise as we live in hope?  Let us praise Him by living confidently in God who always fulfills His word.