Zechariah’s Song
Jeffery Anselmi / General Adult
Heaven and Nature Sing / Christmas / Luke 1:67–79
Zechariah’s praise to God is relatable for us, because as Christians our hopes and dreams of what this life should be have also been radically changed by God
INTRODUCTION
OPENING SLIDE
• Can you believe that Christmas 2025 is almost here?
• Jerry began our four-week series, Heaven and Nature Sing, last week.
• Our four-week series looks at the Christmas story from the songs sung in the Gospels before, during, and after Jesus’s birth.
• These songs reveal the songwriters’ heart for the Messiah, the hope of the world; they will warm your heart, stir your soul, and challenge your worship.
• Today we move to our next song that involves a unique situation.
• Have you ever noticed that silence can speak volumes?
• There are moments in life when God seems to press the pause button on our words—when we want to speak but can’t.
• For nine long months, Zechariah lived in that silence.
• He had doubted God’s promise that he and Elizabeth would have a son, and as a result, his voice was taken from him.
• Imagine that—a priest who couldn’t pronounce a blessing, a father who couldn’t announce his son’s name, a person who couldn’t share his joy.
• According to Luke 1:57-58, on the eighth day after the miracle baby was born, the neighbors and family gathered with great joy.
• Look at Luke 1:59 with me.
Luke 1:59 NET 2nd ed.
59 On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they wanted to name him Zechariah after his father.
• This was expected since Zechariah was the father; however, Elizabeth said the baby’s name would be John.
• Look at verses Luke 1:61-63
Luke 1:61–63 NET 2nd ed.
61 They said to her, “But none of your relatives bears this name.”
62 So they made signs to the baby’s father, inquiring what he wanted to name his son.
63 He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they were all amazed.
• The Bible says, “Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God.”
• What a moment! Out of months of silence came a song—a Spirit-filled song about the faithfulness and mercy of God.
• When Zechariah finally opens his mouth after months of silence, you’d expect him to start with something personal—maybe, “I can talk again!” or “Look at my miracle baby!”
• But he doesn’t.
• Instead, his very first words are about God, not about himself, Elizabeth, or even John.
• Luke tells us, “Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying, ‘Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has come to His people and redeemed them.’”
Zechariah’s heart overflows with praise because he sees what God is doing.
• Zechariah’s song isn’t just ancient poetry—it’s a testimony of what happens when God redeems a doubting heart and turns it into a worshiping one.
It’s a reminder that the God who visited Zechariah’s family still visits us today—to redeem, to remember, and to reveal His salvation through Jesus Christ.
• That’s what we’re all about here at First Christian—“Changing Lives by Connecting People with Christ.”
• Because when Christ visits your life, your silence turns to song, your fear turns to faith, and your waiting turns to worship.
• He realizes that this little baby in his arms is part of something much bigger—God is keeping His ancient promise to redeem His people.
• The long night of waiting is ending.
• The dawn of salvation is breaking.
• And that’s where his song begins: with the God who redeems.
• Let’s look at verses 67 through 71 and see how Zechariah sings of the God who steps into our story to bring us back to Himself.
Luke 1:67–71 NET 2nd ed.
67 Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied,
68 “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, because he has come to help and has redeemed his people.
69 For he has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David,
70 as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from long ago,
71 that we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all who hate us.
MAIN POINT 1 SLIDE
SERMON
The song of Zechariah is about:
I. The God Who Redeems
• Zechariah is filled with praise for the God who kept him silent for 9 months.
• He starts his song of praise by marveling at how God came to His people.
REDEMPTION SLIDE
A. Redemption Begins with God’s Initiative
• Did you notice something about the song of praise from Zechariah?
• Zechariah doesn’t sing, “We found our way back to God.”
• He sings, “God has come to His people.”
• Redemption isn’t man climbing up to heaven—it’s heaven stepping down to man.
• For four hundred silent years, God’s people waited for a word from Him.
• This period is often referred to as the Intertestamental Period, the time between the Old Testament and the New Testament, during which there were no recorded prophetic messages from God.
• The last prophetic book in the Old Testament is Malachi, and after that, there were no new revelations until the events surrounding the birth of John the Baptist and Jesus, beginning with the angel Gabriel's announcement to Zechariah.
• Then suddenly, through this baby’s birth and through Zechariah’s voice, God breaks the silence to say, “I’m still here. I still keep My promises.”
• Have you felt that God is distant or that you could never connect with Him?
• When you feel like heaven has gone quiet, remember—God is not absent; He’s preparing to visit.
• In verse 69, Zechariah sings praises about the Horn of Salvation.
HORN OF SALVATION SLIDE
B. The “Horn of Salvation” Speaks of God’s Power
• The phrase “horn of salvation” might sound strange to us today, but in the ancient world, a horn symbolized strength and victory—like the horn of a bull or ram used in battle.
• In the Old Testament, horns were associated with the power of animals, particularly in battle.
• They also appeared on the altar in the tabernacle and temple, symbolizing refuge and divine authority.
• When Zechariah speaks of a 'horn of salvation,' he is declaring that God has raised up a mighty and powerful deliverer, the Messiah, who will bring salvation to His people.
• This phrase also connects to several Old Testament passages, such as Psalm 18:2, where God is called 'the horn of my salvation,' and 1 Samuel 2:10, where Hannah speaks of God exalting the horn of His anointed.
• These references emphasize God's power to save and His faithfulness to His covenant promises.
• In Luke 1:69, the 'horn of salvation' is a prophetic declaration that God is fulfilling His promises by sending a powerful Savior, Jesus Christ, to redeem His people and establish His kingdom.
• Zechariah sees that the Savior God is raising up isn’t weak or tentative. He’s mighty to save!
• This “horn” comes from “the house of David,” meaning the Messiah will come through the promised royal line—fulfilled perfectly in Jesus.
• Salvation isn’t fragile—it’s powerful. The same strength that raised Christ from the dead is the strength that redeems your life today.
GOD’S FAITHFULNESS SLIDE
C. Redemption Is Rooted in God’s Faithfulness
• Verses 70–71 remind us: this redemption was “as He said through His holy prophets of long ago.”
• Zechariah is connecting dots that stretch across centuries.
• God’s salvation plan didn’t begin with Zechariah or even with Mary and Joseph—it began in eternity past.
• He promised redemption in the Garden of Eden… echoed it through Abraham… proclaimed it through David and the prophets… and now fulfills it in Christ.
• God doesn’t make promises He can’t keep.
• If He was faithful to redeem Israel through Christ, He’ll be faithful to redeem every broken story in your life too.
• Picture an old stained chair restored by a master craftsman.
• What was once discarded and worthless becomes beautiful again—not because the chair fixed itself, but because the craftsman’s hands restored it.
• That’s redemption. God doesn’t throw you away—He takes what’s broken, repairs what’s been lost, and brings you back to purpose.
• Zechariah’s song begins with a shout of praise for redemption—but he doesn’t stop there. He reminds us that this redeeming God is not only powerful; He’s faithful.
• He remembers His promises, His people, and His mercy.
• Let’s look next at verses 72 through 75 and see how Zechariah praises the God who remembers.
Luke 1:72–75 NET 2nd ed.
72 He has done this to show mercy to our ancestors, and to remember his holy covenant—
73 the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham. This oath grants
74 that we, being rescued from the hand of our enemies, may serve him without fear,
75 in holiness and righteousness before him for as long as we live.
MAIN POINT 2 SLIDE
The song of Zechariah is about:
II. The God Who Remembers
• The praise from Zechariah continues in verses 71-75.
• Zechariah praises God because God remembers!
GOD’S MERCY SLIDE
A. God’s Mercy Is His Memory at Work
• When Zechariah says that God “remembers His holy covenant,” he isn’t saying God forgot and suddenly recalled it—He’s saying God is now acting on what He promised.
• In the Bible, when God “remembers,” He moves with mercy.
• He remembered Noah and stopped the flood.
• He remembered Abraham and spared Lot.
• He remembered Rachel and opened her womb.
• Now He remembers His covenant and sends His Son.
• God remembers you; He moves on your behalf.
• You may feel forgotten, but God’s mercy has a perfect memory.
• He has not forgotten your prayers, your tears, or your faithfulness.
GOD’S FAITHFULNESS SLIDE
B. God’s Faithfulness Frees Us to Serve Him Fearlessly
• In verse 74, Zechariah sings that God rescues His people “to serve Him without fear.”
• The goal of salvation isn’t just escape from danger—it’s entrance into relationship.
• We are not only delivered from something; we are delivered for something.
• God doesn’t redeem us just to sit safely on the sidelines.
• He redeems us to step forward in confidence and serve Him.
• The world’s fear says, “Protect yourself.
• Faith says, “Serve boldly.”
• If God has been faithful to remember His covenant, we can trust Him enough to live courageously for Him.
GOD’S LOVE SLIDE
C. God’s Covenant Love Calls Us to Holiness
• Zechariah rejoices that God enables His people to serve “in holiness and righteousness before Him all our days.”
• Holiness isn’t about being flawless—it’s about being faithful.
• It means living every day in response to the mercy that remembered you.
• The best way to thank a remembering God is to live a remembering life, one that doesn’t forget who He is or what He’s done.
• When we remember His mercy, we walk in holiness.
• When we forget His mercy, we drift into fear.
• There’s a story about a soldier in World War II who carried a crumpled letter from home in his pocket.
• Every time the battle got fierce, he’d pull it out and read it.
• The words reminded him of why he was fighting—and that someone loved him.
• The promises of God are our letter from home.
• When the battles of life become fierce, His Word reminds us that we’re not forgotten; we’re loved, remembered, and kept by covenant mercy.
• Zechariah’s song has celebrated the God who redeems and the God who remembers.
• But he’s not finished yet.
• Now, as he looks down at his newborn son, John, the prophet’s eyes lift toward the horizon. He sees the dawn of salvation rising.
• Let’s move to verses 76–79 and hear Zechariah’s final verse, his praise to the God who reveals His salvation.
Luke 1:76–79 NET 2nd ed.
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 his people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins.
78 Because of our God’s tender mercy the dawn will break upon 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.”
The song of Zechariah is about:
MAIN POINT 3 SLIDE
III. The God Who Reveals
• The last of the Old Testament prophets was John.
• The entire line of Old Testament prophets led to John, who would be the forerunner for Jesus.
• John will be the one to unlock the door previously closed by the other prophets.
1 Peter 1:10–11 NET 2nd ed.
10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets who predicted the grace that would come to you searched and investigated carefully.
11 They probed into what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating when he testified beforehand about the sufferings appointed for Christ and his subsequent glory.
• The other Old Testament prophets only saw bits and pieces; John opened the floodgates!
MESSENGER SLIDE
A. God Reveals His Salvation Through His Messenger
• Zechariah turns to his newborn son and declares, “You will go before the Lord to prepare the way for Him.”
• John the Baptist’s calling was clear: point people to Jesus.
• Before the Messiah stepped onto the scene, John’s voice cried out in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord!”
• He was the bridge between promise and fulfillment, the last prophet before the Word Himself arrived.
FORGIVENESS SLIDE
B. God Reveals His Heart Through Forgiveness
• Verse 77 says, “to give His people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins.”
• God’s ultimate revelation isn’t just information—it’s forgiveness.
• He doesn’t merely show us the way to live; He removes what kept us from living it.
• The forgiveness Zechariah sings about would come through the blood of Jesus—mercy made visible on a cross.
• We live in a world that’s overeducated in guilt and underexposed to grace.
• Our calling is to reveal the heart of a God who forgives, not just to tell people what they’ve done wrong, but to point them to the One who can make it right.
DARKNESS SLIDE
C. God Reveals His Light in Our Darkness
• Zechariah sings of “the rising sun from heaven”—a vivid image of dawn breaking after the longest night.
• Jesus is that sunrise.
• He shines on those “living in darkness and in the shadow of death” and “guides our feet into the path of peace.”
• You can almost feel the relief in Zechariah’s voice—the world’s night is ending, and the Son is rising!
• Every sunrise you see is a reminder that no darkness lasts forever.
• If your life feels overshadowed by grief, fear, or uncertainty, the same God who revealed His light in Bethlehem still shines today through Christ in you.
CLOSING SLIDE
CONCLUSION
• Zechariah’s story began in silence and ends in song.
• When doubt kept him quiet, grace gave him a new voice.
• His song celebrates the God who redeems, the God who remembers, and the God who reveals.
• And that same God is still working today—redeeming broken lives, remembering His promises, and revealing His salvation through His people.
• Let’s open our mouths like Zechariah did.
• Let’s praise the God who visited us in Christ.
• Let’s sing our own song of redemption—because when Christ comes into your life, silence turns into song, fear turns into faith, and darkness turns into dawn.
