In the opening line of today’s passage, Luke tells us that Zechariah prophesied (he had a lot to say after months of silence).

When we think of prophesy, what comes to mind? If you are like me, the first thing is some kind of writing or telling of the future. While that can be true, Alan Hirsch and Tim Catchim, in their book, The Permanent Revolution, say that the real purpose of prophesy is a call to “live in the existential here-and-now of faithfulness and obedience.” In other words, prophesy serves to motivate us to live faithfully and obediently now in light of our hope in what the future holds. Therefore, prophesy is necessarily founded on the attributes of God–His mercy, grace, goodness, love, omnipotence, etc.–and in the promises and instruction found in His Word. The character of God and the truth of His Word are the context of all prophesy.

Before reading Zechariah’s prophesy, first meditate on who you know God to be and reflect on the hope you have from His Word.

Luke 1.67-75

67 And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying,

68 “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,

for he has visited and redeemed his people

69 and has raised up a horn of salvation for us

in the house of his servant David,

70 as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,

71 that we should be saved from our enemies

and from the hand of all who hate us;

72 to show the mercy promised to our fathers

and to remember his holy covenant,

73 the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us

74 that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies,

might serve him without fear,

75 in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.

[ WHAT ] is this passage saying and what is a key truth or thought that we learn?

+ Who is the origin of all prophesy? [v. 67]

+ Who is the ‘horn of salvation’ of which Zechariah speaks? [v. 69]

+ Zechariah refers to old prophesies about this ‘horn of salvation [v. 70]. Read Isaiah 11.1-5, Jeremiah

23.5-6, or 2 Samuel 7.11b-16 and reflect of the faithfulness of God and His promises.

+ Zechariah [v. 74] and prophets of old spoke of God bringing deliverance from their enemies. What

enemies did the Jewish people in the days of Zechariah think they were being delivered from? What

enemy was God actually delivering them (and all of us) from?

[ HOW ] is the Lord calling me to action/obedience?

+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?

+ How well do I know the character of God and the truth of His Word that I may have confidence in His promises and prophesies?

+ The year 2020 has given rise to many potential sources of fear and anxiety. However, if Christ is our Savior, how are we to live as His followers according to v 74-75 in the presence of viruses, political and economic insecurity, and persecution/isolation?

+ In light of the freedom of the Gospel, what practical steps can I take to live without fear and with grace in the chaos of the world and reflect the peace that only comes from knowing Christ as Lord and Savior?

[ WHO ] am I walking with and praying for to discover Jesus?

+ What is my next step?

+ Who in my life is paralyzed by fear and anxiety and can benefit from my intercession on their behalf?

+ How can I approach someone paralyzed by fear and anxiety with the truth of freedom found in Christ?