SONG OF ZACHARIAS.
Luke 1:68-79.
Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and spoke forth a message in the power and authority of God. The famous song is introduced as a prophecy (Luke 1:67). Our proclamation of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ has no efficacy without the overpowering influence of the Spirit of God (1 Corinthians 12:3).
The priest pronounced a benediction. Not indeed a blessing of the people, but “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel” (Luke 1:68). To proclaim God blessed is to acknowledge Him as the source of all blessings. The priest added nothing to God by these words, but magnified Him before the people.
At the forefront of the old prophet's mind was not first and foremost his own son, but the visitation of God to His people (Luke 1:68). When we pray, we hallow God's name first, and humbly acknowledge His goodness to His people. Even as a baby, John was already pointing away from himself to the One whom he came to proclaim!
God was visiting His people in the person of Jesus, in order to bring deliverance from the captivity of sin and death (Luke 1:68). This is Immanuel, God with us (Matthew 1:23). The horn of salvation was at last budding in the house of David (Luke 1:69), and John appeared before Him as a priest carrying His lamp (Psalm 132:16-17).
The prophets all point to Christ (Luke 1:70). They were “holy,” set apart as God's ambassadors. They spoke of such things as salvation, mercy and covenant, and the fulfilling of the oath made to Abraham (Luke 1:71-73).
Our deliverance, like that of Israel out of Egypt, is into the service of God, “without fear” (Luke 1:74). Our salvation is a transference of allegiance from the tyranny of this world to our willing service of the loving Lord. We have a new master now who will lead us into holiness towards God, and a righteousness from God towards men (Luke 1:75). When we are right with God through the Lord Jesus Christ, we will do right things for God.
John's message was intended to bring knowledge of salvation to God's people (Luke 1:77). If we repent we have the remission of our sins by the blood of Jesus Christ. This is only possible because of God's mercy in visiting us in the person of Jesus (Luke 1:78). He is the light in our darkness (Isaiah 9:2), who guides us into the path of peace (Luke 1:79).
