Prophecy of Zechariah (Luke 1:67-80)
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Introduction
Introduction
Historical Context (Luke 1:57-66)
Birth of John the Baptist (57-58)
Luke 1:57–58 (ESV)
57 Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. 58 And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her.
Naming of John (59-64)
Luke 1:59–64 (ESV)
59 And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father, 60 but his mother answered, “No; he shall be called John.” 61 And they said to her, “None of your relatives is called by this name.” 62 And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called. 63 And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they all wondered. 64 And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God.
Neighbor’s question John (65-66)
Luke 1:65–66 (ESV)
65 And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea, 66 and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, “What then will this child be?” For the hand of the Lord was with him.
Zechariah’s prophecy
Luke 1:67 (ESV)
67 And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying,
Filled with the Holy Spirit
Angel’s message to Zechariah informs him that John will be filled with the Holy Spirit. (Luke 1:15)
Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit when Mary arrived at her house. (Luke 1:41)
Prophesied
Prophesied - to speak under the influence of divine inspiration, with or without reference to future events—‘to prophesy, to make inspired utterances.’ (Louw, Johannes P., and Eugene Albert Nida. Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains 1996: 439. Print.)
Zechariah’s Prophecy is God’s message for them.
Message for his Neighbors or Jews in general or to John?
Prophesy focuses on 2 people and 4 theological truths
God’ Savior (Jesus)
God’s Messenger (John)
“The greater theme, however, is the special role that John will play in God’s plan and the recognition by the townspeople that God is at work. The awe and praise that accompany the restoration of Zechariah’s speech is a recognition that the child is unique and will be a key player in God’s plan of salvation. At the climax of the narrative, everyone asks, “What then is this child going to be?” and the narrator adds, “For the Lord’s hand was with him” (1:66). In the broader context of Luke’s Gospel, John’s coming confirms that the prophetic voice—silent for all these years—has now been renewed in Israel and announces that God is about to visit and redeem his people through the coming of Jesus the Messiah (1:68, 76; cf. 3:4–6).” (France, R. T. Luke. Ed. Mark L. Strauss and John H. Walton. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2013. Print. Teach the Text Commentary Series.)
Redeem (Luke 1:68)
Redeem (Luke 1:68)
Luke 1:68 (ESV)
68 “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people
Visit
to be present, with the implication of concern—‘to be present to help, to be on hand to aid.’ (Louw, Johannes P., and Eugene Albert Nida. Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains 1996: 724. Print.)
Matthew and John bring more clarity to this idea.
Immanuel - God with us. (Matt 1:23)
Word became flesh.
John 1:1–2 (ESV)
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God.
John 1:14 (ESV)
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
God comes into the world in human bodily form.
Redeem
“to release or set free, with the implied analogy to the process of freeing a slave—‘to set free, to liberate, to deliver, liberation, deliverance.’” (Louw, Johannes P., and Eugene Albert Nida. Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains 1996: 487. Print.)
“Has redeemed is a reference to redemption, but it anticipates the total release into salvation that the full work of Messiah will bring for Israel. This involves both spiritual and material benefits eventually.” (Biblical Studies Press. The NET Bible. Second Edition. Denmark: Thomas Nelson, 2019. Print.)
Zechariah praises the Lord because he has come to bring redemption.
Salvation (Luke 1:69-75)
Salvation (Luke 1:69-75)
Luke 1:69–75 (ESV)
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.
Salvation (69,71)
Salvation (69, 71) - to rescue from danger and to restore to a former state of safety and well being—‘to deliver, to rescue, to make safe, deliverance.’ (Louw, Johannes P., and Eugene Albert Nida. Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains 1996: 240. Print.)
Mercy (72) - to show kindness or concern for someone in serious need—‘to show mercy, to be merciful toward, to have mercy on, mercy.’ (Louw, Johannes P., and Eugene Albert Nida. Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains 1996: 750. Print.)
Delivered (74) - to rescue from danger, with the implication that the danger in question is severe and acute—‘to rescue, to deliver.’ (Louw, Johannes P., and Eugene Albert Nida. Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains 1996: 240. Print.)
Horn of Salvation (69)
“The horn of salvation is a figure that refers to the power of Messiah and his ability to protect, as the horn refers to what an animal uses to attack and defend (Ps 75:4–5, 10; 148:14; 2 Sam 22:3). Thus the meaning of the figure is “a powerful savior.” (Biblical Studies Press. The NET Bible. Second Edition. Denmark: Thomas Nelson, 2019. Print.)
Psalm 18:1–3 (ESV)
1 I love you, O Lord, my strength. 2 The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. 3 I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.
Savior from the line of Abraham and David
Message from the prophecy of old (70).
David (69)
Horn of our salvation is from the house of David.
King was to fight the enemies of his people to protect them and bring peace.
Abraham (73)
God promises to Abraham that he will deliver them from their enemies.
Genesis 22:16–18 (ESV)
16 and said, “By myself I have sworn, declares the Lord, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17 I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies, 18 and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.”
God is fulfilling his promise to Abraham through the Messiah.
Forgiveness (Luke 1:76-77)
Forgiveness (Luke 1:76-77)
Luke 1:76–77 (ESV)
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,
John prepares the Way (76)
Zechariah understands that God is fulfilling his promises through the Messiah (Jesus) and understands that his son is playing a major role in the plan of God. (76).
Prepare the way of the Lord.
Isaiah 40:3 (ESV)
3 A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
Malachi 3:1 (ESV)
1 “Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare 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.
God promised through the prophets to send a messenger to prepare people for the coming of the Messiah. This child that the neighbors is questioning is the one to prepare the people of God for the Messiah.
Knowledge of Salvation - Forgiveness of Sin
Forgiveness of Sins
Forgiveness - to remove the guilt resulting from wrongdoing—‘to pardon, to forgive, forgiveness.’ (Louw, Johannes P., and Eugene Albert Nida. Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains 1996: 502. Print.)
Sins - to act contrary to the will and law of God—‘to sin, to engage in wrongdoing, sin.’ (Louw, Johannes P., and Eugene Albert Nida. Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains 1996: 772. Print.)
“because of the tender mercy of our God,” (78a)
John’s Ministry and Message
Matthew 3:1–2 (ESV)
1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
John continues to testify to the Jews that they need to repent and be baptized in preparation for the Messiah coming. John identifies Jesus as the Messiah in John 1:29-34. “The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”
New Day Dawns (Luke 1:78-79)
New Day Dawns (Luke 1:78-79)
Luke 1:78–79 (ESV)
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.”
Sunrise (79; Isa 9:2, 58:8, 60:1-2)
"whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high" (78b) - (an idiom, literally ‘dawning from on high’) the bright dawn of salvation (or possibly to be understood as a title for the Messiah)—‘the dawn from on high.’ (Louw, Johannes P., and Eugene Albert Nida. Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains 1996: 173. Print.)
The Messiah has come to provide and guide humanity from darkness into light and peace.
Light in the Darkness (79)
Jesus is the light shining in the dark world. This was prophesied in the bool of Isaiah.
Isaiah 9:2 (ESV)
2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.
In the same prophecy of “For to us a child is born...”
He will guide them into ways of peace.
Jesus came to provide peace (with God and of God) through his death and resurrection. He also guides is in the behaviors (way) of peace.
“A sermon or lesson here should remind hearers that God is always faithful to his covenant promises and that, no matter what difficulties or challenges we face in life or how dark the night, the “rising sun” has come ...” (1:78–79). The dawn of God’s end-time salvation gives us hope for the future and peace in the present.” (France, R. T. Luke. Ed. Mark L. Strauss and John H. Walton. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2013. Print. Teach the Text Commentary Series.)
Lessons
Lessons
Zechariah’s song (the Benedictus) continues Mary’s theme of God’s fulfillment of his saving purpose.
God is fulfilling his promise to Abraham through the decedent of King David to save His people.
God has come into the world to show mercy and grace by provide salvation through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
John the baptist is the forerunner of God’s salvation with his message of repentance in preparing people for the messiah’s arrival.
“God calls us today to believe His Good News. Those who believe it experience His joy and want to express their praise to Him. It is not enough for us to say that Jesus is a Saviour, or even the Saviour. With Mary, we must say, “My spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour” (Luke 1:47, italics mine).” (Wiersbe, Warren W. The Bible Exposition Commentary. Vol. 1. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996. Print.)
“Oh sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth! Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples! For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, but the Lord made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and beauty are in his sanctuary. Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength! Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering, and come into his courts! Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness; tremble before him, all the earth!” (Psalm 96:1–9, ESV)