December 9th
| Bob and Leigh Elliott read Luke 1:67-80 | Covenant Praise band sing In Christ Alone | Ben shares a meditation on the importance of Zechariah's prophecy |
DAY 9
Zechariah's Prophecy
Then his father, Zechariah, was filled with the Holy Spirit and gave this prophecy:
“Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited and redeemed his people.
He has sent us a mighty Savior from the royal line of his servant David,
just as he promised through his holy prophets long ago.
Now we will be saved from our enemies and from all who hate us.
He has been merciful to our ancestors by remembering his sacred covenant—
the covenant he swore with an oath to our ancestor Abraham.
We have been rescued from our enemies so we can serve God without fear,
in holiness and righteousness for as long as we live.
“And you, my little son, will be called the prophet of the Most High, because you will prepare the way for the Lord.
You will tell his people how to find salvation through forgiveness of their sins.
Because of God’s tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us,
to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace.”
John grew up and became strong in spirit. And he lived in the wilderness until he began his public ministry to Israel. [Luke 1:67-80]
MEDITATION
We have mentioned the earthly reality that Judea was living with. Rome was in power and the people were under that hateful authority of Herod. It is very likely that was on the mind of Zechariah and those who heard him speak this prophecy. There is a deeper, more eternal truth in these words though.
While the admittedly important and very present issues of Jewish life may have distracted the nation from the true purpose of their long expected Deliverer,
God was not distracted.
The Jews expected their Savior to rescue their nation from the oppression of Rome.
God sent His Son to rescue His people from the oppression of death.
Listen to that prophecy again, this time through the lens of the truest and deepest enemies of humanity; sin and death.
When considered this way, we see
the truth of Zechariah’s prophecy is fulfilled in Christ and Christ alone.
PRAYER:
Father, we recognize that the lives we live here are important. Our day to day is what occupies our time and attention. Never allow us to forget though the importance of Your eternal purposes even as we deal with our temporary realities.