67 Now his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying: 68 “Blessed is 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, Who have been since the world began, 71 That we should be saved from our enemies And from the hand of all who hate us,
In verses 67-80, Zechariah prophesied the coming ministry of the Messiah on earth. It is a psalm known in church history as “the Benedictus.”
1:67
Now his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying:
Zechariah became filled with the Spirit and prophesied. The filling enabled him to prophecy.
1:68
“Blessed is the Lord God of Israel,
Zechariah began by praising God.
For He has visited and redeemed His people,
God deserved praise because He had come to visit the nation and redeem His people, Israel. “Redeemed” means to free by paying the price. The Greek used this term in the first century for freeing and liberating slaves. Only Christ could do this in God’s system (Eph 1:7; 1 Pe 1:18-21).
1:69
And has raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of His servant David,
Zechariah blessed God because He again raised up the line of David. The “horn” of salvation is a metaphor for the Messiah’s power. Horns were deemed the most powerful aspect of an animal. The deliverance of Israel was to come through the Messiah. It was the fulfillment of the promise of the Davidic Covenant, an unconditional and irrevocable contract God made with David.
1:70
As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets,
The Old Testament prophets prophesied a future lineage of David and the covenant promised to him.
Who have been since the world began,
The praise stresses God doing what He promised from the beginning of time.
1:71
That we should be saved from our enemies And from the hand of all who hate us,
God’s restoration of the Davidic dynasty would deliver Israel from her enemies.
PRINCIPLE:
We praise God because He sent His Son, the Messiah, to deliver us.
APPLICATION:
God is faithful to His covenants. The Davidic Covenant has both a near and far fulfillment (2 Sam 7:12-14). Solomon began to fulfill it, but Jesus would complete it. Solomon’s kingdom split into the northern and southern kingdoms, ultimately falling to the Babylonians. That kingdom promise extended to Someone greater than Solomon (Lu 11:31). His kingdom will last forever (2 Sam 7:13, 16). The promise of a coming Davidic kingdom drew Zechariah’s praise.
