Luke 1:68-71 (click to view Scripture below)
Our Scripture reading today is the prophetic utterance that flows from Zechariah after nine months of being totally silent. The angel Gabriel has silenced Zechariah because of his unwillingness to believe what the angel had to say about Elizabeth and the miracle that would be theirs at the birth of a son. (1:18-20)
One can only imagine what 9 months of silence and contemplation did to Zechariah. We certainly see that Zechariah’s obedience displayed in his affirming that his son is to be called John as that affirmation releases a prophetic utterance. Zechariah praises God for the clear way in which God is now being made known to His people. This most powerful God is one who visits them and brings a very specific result: redemption! Zechariah follows the pattern of what the prophets have promised and announces the arrival of a clear deliverance from all the people’s fears. (1:70)
Have you felt like it has been too long since God has filled you with an exuberance you couldn’t contain? The hope of this season is not merely wishful thinking. Regardless of where we find ourselves in life, God is still with us, to redeem us with a promise of redemption. This is not a new or even novel idea, but an eternal plan that has a foundation that will come to pass and is coming to pass with the birth of Jesus.
Vice President, ChildHope
Prayer: Thank You for the promises You give us. Oh Lord, forgive us when we forget those promises are true! They are true and will be fulfilled because they are Your promises. You will bring them to pass just as You did for Zechariah and Elizabeth.
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Luke 1:68-71 (ESV)
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;
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