Luke 1:67-75

Luk 1:67 And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, and this is what he said,
Luk 1:68 “Blessed is the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited to help and has accomplished redemption for his people,
Luk 1:69 and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David,
Luk 1:70 just like he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from earliest times–
Luk 1:71 salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all those who hate us,
Luk 1:72 to show mercy to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant,
Luk 1:73 the oath that he swore to Abraham our father, to grant us
Luk 1:74 so that we, being rescued from the enemies’ hand, can now serve him without fear
Luk 1:75 in holiness and righteousness in his sight all our days.

rescued to serve without fear

Zechariah’s prophecy spoke to a reality far beyond his understanding. He spoke of Israel being rescued from its enemies (Rome) so that it could serve God without fear. But the salvation that John proclaimed went beyond that hope. He proclaimed a Messiah who would rescue all nations from the enemies of death and sin. And the deliverance this Messiah would bring enables us all to serve God in holiness and without fear of sin’s domination. Zechariah envisioned a people serving God in holiness and righteousness all their days. Jesus promised a resurrection unto eternal life, so that we can serve God forever.

LORD, come and complete your rescue. We long to serve you in holiness forever.