Luke 1:67-80:

Question: What can be learned from Zachariah’s prophecy in v. 67-79?

Answer: Zachariah’s praise of God for the birth of John, the forerunner, and Jesus, the Redeemer, as prophesied, is faith building for me.

In v. 68-75, the subject is the glorification of God for the future birth of a “horn of salvation,” namely, Jesus. This had been prophesied by the Old Testament prophets, see Gen. 15:1-6; Ps. 18:3; 106:10 among other passages.

This was all part of God keeping His covenant with Abraham, see Gen. 17:1-2; Lev. 26:42; Ps. 105:8. The main enemy to be overcome, v. 74, was the temptations of the devil and his servants. This promise keeping by God is faith building.

I note that throughout this chapter, God is praised. This teaches me to praise God in prayer and song today.

In v. 76-79, the subject changes to the role of John. He is called a prophet and a forerunner. His message was to give knowledge about the Messiah and the forgiveness of sins by the future visit of “the sunrise,” a phrase describing Jesus—see Is. 9:2; 60:1-3; Mal. 4:2.

This ‘light’ would guide people into peace with God, v. 79, a peace sorely desired today.

John grew up in the wilderness until he began to address the public, v. 80.

This chapter is a faith-building set of words that prepares us to read in chapter 2 of the birth and early life of Jesus.

What I learned: God is to be praised and that the prophecy of the birth of John the Baptist and its fulfillment was important to a proper understanding of the life and work of Jesus.

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