Day 9: The Faith of the Forerunner
Scripture to meditate on: Luke 1:67-80 Zechariah’s Prophetic Praise
His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:
“Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,
because he has come to his people and redeemed them.
He has raised up a horn of salvation for us
in the house of his servant David
(as he said through his holy prophets of long ago),
salvation from our enemies
and from the hand of all who hate us—
to show mercy to our ancestors
and to remember his holy covenant,
the oath he swore to our father Abraham:
to rescue us from the hand of our enemies,
and to enable us to serve him without fear
in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High;
for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,
to give his people the knowledge of salvation
through the forgiveness of their sins,
because of the tender mercy of our God,
by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven
to shine on those living in darkness
and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the path of peace.”
And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the wilderness until he appeared publicly to Israel.
Devotional:
In this verse, we are blessed with the profound and joyous hymn of Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist. He is filled with the Holy Spirit after the birth of his son. Known as the “Benedictus,” this passage is full of praise and prophetic insight. Zechariah rejoices, proclaiming the faithfulness of God in fulfilling His promises and delivering His people. He foretells the role of his son, John, as the forerunner to the long-awaited Messiah–preparing the way for salvation.
Zechariah’s words are filled with hope, celebrating the dawn of redemption and the tender mercy of God. As we reflect on the Benedictus, may it stir up in us a spirit of gratitude for the faithfulness of God in our own lives. It’s a reminder that God’s promises are exciting and personal. Let’s get as excited as Zechariah about God’s plans in our lives and the way He keeps His word.
Questions to ponder:
- What does this passage say about God?
- What does this passage say about me or my relationships?
- What should I do in light of this passage?
