Nazarene Commentary Luke 1:67-80 – Zechariah’s Prophecy

Luke 1:67-80 – Zechariah’s Prophecy

LK1:67 Then the baby’s father Zechariah was filled with holy Pneuma and prophesied:[1] “Blessed [be] YHWH, The God of Israel,[2] [Psalm 41:13] LK1:68 for He visited and redeemed His People.[3] [Psalm 111:9] LK1:69 He raised up for us a horn[4] of salvation in His servant David’s House. [Psalm 132:17] LK1:70 Just as He spoke through the mouth of His holy prophets from ages past[5] – LK1:71 that He would save us from the hand of our enemies who hated us.[6] [Psalm 106:10] LK1:72 This in order to demonstrate [His] mercy to our forefathers and to remember His holy covenant.[7] [Psalm 105:8] LK1:73 That oath He swore to our father Abraham [Genesis 22:16] – LK1:74 to grant us deliverance from the hand of our enemies [Jeremiah 30:8] – LK1:75 so that we may serve Him fearlessly all our days in holiness and righteousness. [Jeremiah 30:9] LK1:76 And so you also, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High. For in the sight of YHWH you will go before to prepare His way[8] [Isaiah 40:3; Malachi 3:1] – LK1:77 to give knowledge of salvation to His People by a forgiveness of their sins,[9] LK1:78 through the tender mercies of our God that will dawn on us from a heavenly visitation – LK1:79 to become visible to those sitting in the darkness of death’s shadow,[10] [Isaiah 9:2] to direct our feet into the way of peace.” LK1:80 And so the child continued to grow and become stronger mentally,[11] remaining in the desert until the day of his appearing to Israel.

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[1] Prophesied: Zechariah, like Mary, speaks in language borrowed from a half dozen verses in the Hebrew Bible.

[2] Blessed [be] YHWH, The God of Israel: Compare also 1 Kings 1:48; Psalm 72:18; 106:48.

[3] Redeemed His People: Compare Luke 7:16.

[4] He raised up for us a horn: From Psalm 132:17 but with echoes of Hannah again. [1 Samuel 2:10]

[5] He spoke through the mouth of His holy prophets from ages past: As in Jeremiah 23:5; Daniel 9:24. Compare Hebrews 1:1.

[6] He would save us from the hand of our enemies who hated us: From Psalm 106:10.

[7] To remember His holy covenant: Compare Psalm 105:8; 106:45. Several times Zechariah draws from the historical psalms. On the covenant see Genesis 17:7; Leviticus 26:42; Deuteronomy 4:31; 7:12.

[8] Prepare His way: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew 3:3.

[9] Forgiveness of their sins: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Mark 1:4.

[10] Those sitting in the darkness of death’s shadow: From Isaiah 9:2. Compare Psalm 107:10; Isaiah 49:9; 59:9. For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew 4:16.

[11] So the child continued to grow and become stronger mentally: Or, strong in spirit. Compare Jesus at Luke 2:40.

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Preceding articles:

The Advent of the saviour to Roman oppression

Story of Jesus’ birth begins long before the New Testament

Nazarene Commentary to Zechariah and Elizabeth

Nazarene Commentary to An Angel Appearing to a Priest

Nazarene Commentary to Struck Dumb For Disbelief

Nazarene Commentary to Elizabeth Pregnant

Nazarene Commentary Luke 1:46-56 – Mary Magnifies God

Nazarene Commentary Luke 1:57-66 – Elizabeth Gives Birth To John

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The Birth of John the Baptist – circa 1554, Tintoretto (1518–1594)

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