East Baptist Church – Denison, TX

Zechariah’s Song – Poem Of God’s Promise Kept

Luke 1:67-79

Food for thought:::Beginning with Genesis 3:15 and through the last words of the Old Testament, there are 333 prophecies regarding Jesus the Saviour; and fittingly enough some of these received emphasis by Zacharias. This holy priest had probably spent the previous months studying those very prophecies and coming to the conclusion that the time had arrived for God to fulfill them all. (Think if your words were taken and you were unable to speak how much more time you would have for the Word of God in the Bible.)

 Let us look at some of the words and dive a little deeper on their meaning:⁶⁸  ” Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited us and accomplished redemption for His people, The word ”redeem” means ”to set free by paying a price.” It can refer to the releasing of a prisoner or the liberating of a slave. Jesus Christ came to earth to bring ”deliverance to the captives” (Luke 4:18), salvation to people in bondage to sin and death. Certainly we are unable to set ourselves ourselves free; only Christ could pay the price necessary for our redemption. HE WAS AND IS  OUR KINSMENREDEEMER.

 Next we need to get the meaning of ⁶⁹  And has raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of David His servant–In Scripture, a ”horn” symbolizes power and victory (1 Kings 22:11; Ps. 89:17, 24). The picture here is that of an army about to be taken captive, but then help arrives and the enemy is defeated. In the previous picture, the captives were set free; but in this picture, the enemy is defeated so that he cannot capture more prisoners. It means total, ever lasting victory for the people of God. (Once saved, forever saved.)

The word ”salvation” in verse 69 and 71 carries the meaning of ”health and soundness.” No matter what the condition of the captives, their Redeemer brings spiritual health and soundness. When you trust Jesus Christ as Savior, you are delivered from Satan’s power, moved into God’s kingdom, redeemed, and forgiven. Colossians 1:12-13 (NASB77)¹²  giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.¹³  For He delivered us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, (My beloved if that does not light your fire your wood is wet!!!)

Malachi 3:1 (NASB77)¹  ” Behold, I am going to send My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple; and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming,” says the LORD of hosts. I wonder how many times the silent priest Zechariah read this four hundred year old Scripture and knew it was coming true before his very eyes, yet could not speak of it no wonder his heart burst out of his song.  

I have wonderful news of the truth that everyone that knows the saving grace of God in Christ for the forgiveness of sin has not only the privilege of leading others to the cure for sin but the obligation to do so.When you were reborn by the blood of the cross and love that put our Lord on that cross, you became like John the Baptist. I am Brett the Baptist, you can put your name in place of John’s also. My beloved Christmas is the perfect widow for us to point the way to Christ Jesus, to make the road straight that leads to His saving grace.