Devotional: Songs of Christmas: Zechariah’s Song Luke 1:68-79

Reflection

• (Luk 1:68 ESV) “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people
• (Luk 1:69 ESV) and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David,
• (Luk 1:70 ESV) as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,
• (Luk 1:71 ESV) that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us;
• (Luk 1:72 ESV) to show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant,
• (Luk 1:73 ESV) the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us
• (Luk 1:74 ESV) that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear,
• (Luk 1:75 ESV) in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
• (Luk 1:76 ESV) And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
• (Luk 1:77 ESV) to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins,
• (Luk 1:78 ESV) because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high
• (Luk 1:79 ESV) to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

Discussion

Looking at the words Zechariah uses in his song of praise, we see reference after reference to Old Testament texts.  Looking at the words he uses and his mastery of Scripture shows us how we too should interact with God in both our prayers and our times of praise.  He has laced the very Word of God completely throughout his song of praise to God.

Connection

How does seeing the way Zechariah praises God enlighten your own worship experience?

How can Scripture be used more in your prayers and times of praise?

Find one verse you can use in praising God this week.

Expansion

Mankind

God created mankind in His own image with two genders: male and female designed to compliment each in a monogamous marriage unit.  At creation the first man and woman were sinless and tasked with tending God’s creation.  While Adam and Eve were created to glorify God, they disobeyed launching themselves and all of mankind after them into sinfulness and separation from God.  Because of our fallen nature, all of mankind is damned to hell and unable to justify themselves before God without the grace of God providing redemption of their souls through faith in Christ alone.

Genesis 1:27-28, Genesis 2:7, Colossians 1:16, Deuteronomy 6:5, Isaiah 43:6-7, 1 Corinthians 10:31, Matthew 5:16, Genesis 3:1-8, Psalm 51:5, Isaiah 6:5, Romans 3:9-23, Romans 5:12, Ephesians 2:1-3, Romans 5:18, 1 Corinthians 15:22