Original Christmas Carols - "The Song of Salvation" - Luke 1:5-25; 67-80 - Mike Maglish

LifeSpring Christian Church Sermons

The Song of Salvation
Luke 1:5-25; 67-80
Mike Maglish

Part of Original Christmas CarolsStrength for the Holidays

December 10, 2023

5 In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. —Luke 1:5-6

What we learn about Zechariah and Elizabeth
They were both descendants of Aaron (Levitical priestly line)
Zechariah was of the 8th division of priests (1 Chronicles 24:10).
They were both righteous and blameless

7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years. —Luke 1:7

We feel confused when God doesn’t act in our life.

ZECHARIAH

• Was in the 8th of 24 priestly divisions
• There would have been hundreds (thousands) within his own division
• Performed priestly duties 2 weeks out of the year (Passover, Pentacost, Tabernacles)
• The Lot fell on him to offer prayers
• He was an old man and his wife was past childbearing years

—Luke 1:8-17

Promises/Instruction about John the Baptist

• Great before the Lord (15)
• Under the Nazarite Vow (15)
• Filled with the Holy Spirit from Conception (15)
• Turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God (16)
• Go before Jesus in the spirit and power of Elijah (17)
• Turn hearts (17)
• Make ready the Lord a people prepared (17)

—Matthew 3:1-6

God hears our prayers even when He doesn’t act in our time

—Luke 1:24-25

God acts in his timing

The Benedictus
(Latin) Benedictus Dominus Deus Israel - “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel”

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. —Luke 1:67-75About John the Baptist
76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people
in the forgiveness of their sins,
78 because of the tender mercy of our God,
whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high
79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace.” —Luke 1:76-79

Takeaway: God always has a plan