The Song of Zechariah (The Benedictus)

Today's Christmas message is called The song of Zechariah --  who was the father of John the Baptist.  And his song, was a Hymn of Hope.  As we’ll see today Zechariah was well versed in the prophecies of the Old Testament and expresses great hope for the coming Messiah as the events around the birth of John and Jesus unfolded.

John Fonville’s new book is called Hope and Holiness: How the Gospel Enables and Empowers Sexual Purity.  It comes out this Fall and was based on the current series. We hope you will take the time to pre-order and invest in your spiritual growth library.  

Hope and Holiness: How the Gospel Enables and Empowers Sexual Purity

https://www.amazon.com/Hope-Holiness-Gospel-Enables-Empowers/dp/0802428894/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=hope+and+holiness+john+fonville&qid=1670792509&sprefix=hope+and+holiness%2Caps%2C128&sr=8-1

About John

John Fonville is Pastor of Paramount Church in Jacksonville, Florida. Paramount Church is part of the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA). 

The Him We Proclaim Podcast features the preaching and teaching ministry of Dr. John Fonville at Paramount Church. This resource aims to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ to all people. The gospel cannot be assumed. An assumed gospel will, in time, become a denied gospel. Thus, each generation must rediscover the paramount truths of the gospel and apply the gospel's implications to their own day and age. Him we proclaim (Col. 1:28)!

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Transcript

Take your Bibles and turn to the Gospel of Luke Luke chapter one and we're going to be looking at versus 68 to 79. Luke chapter one verses 68 to 79.

This is the Psalms Zachariah or Zacharias prophecy.

So let's read this together, and then we'll take a look at it. So let's look at this Luke Chapter One beginning in verse 67. And it says this, he says in his father's Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying, bless it be the Lord God of Israel, because he has visited us and accomplished redemption for his people.

And because he has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of David, his servant, just as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets, from of old salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all who hate us,

to show mercy towards our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant, the oath which he swore to Abraham, our Father, and to grant us that we been rescued from the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,

in holiness and in righteousness before him all our days. And your child will be called the Prophet of the Most High, for you will go on before the Lord to prepare his ways to give his people the knowledge of salvation, by the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, with which the sunrise from on high will visit us

to shine upon those who sit in darkness, and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into a way of peace. And the child grew continued to grow and to become strong and spirit, and he lived in the deserts until the day of his public appearance to Israel.

So we just sang this famous Advent hymn of camo calm, Emanuelle and ransom captive Israel that mourns in lonely exile here until the Son of God appear. Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel, shall come to you, oh, Israel.

That is the first stanza of the famous Advent hymn that we just wrote by John Mason Neale. And as we come to the opening chapters of Luke's Gospel,

the words of that famous Advent him capture for us this expected longing that Old Testament saints

possess, as they're eagerly waiting in hope for the coming of the Promised Messiah. And so far what we studied in Luke's gospel as we've looked at the song of Elizabeth or Elizabeth Hill of blessing, we have looked at the song of Mary the Magnificat Mary song, our hymn of praise.

And so today, this brings us to the third song that clusters around that nativity story. In the opening chapters of Luke's Gospel, it is the song of Zachariah, or we could say is Zacharias song of hope?

His hymn of hope.

His entire hymn that you're going to see in a moment is looking forward and hope. Hope is the great expectation that characterizes his song. And he's looking forward and hope for the assured fulfillment of God's promises both to Abraham and to David, of how God through the birth of Jesus, the conception and birth of Jesus is fulfilling in Mary's womb. He's fulfilling both the Abrahamic and Davidic covenants. And these are what the Old Testament saints had longed for and hoped for 2000 years.

Let me just give you some quick background about this song before we look at it. Who has Zacharias? Zachariah is the husband of Elizabeth who was

pregnant with John the Baptist that we've already looked at.

He is the father of John the Baptist. And this is very significant. He was an aged Levitical priest.

So he was an old Levitical priest. Keep that in mind because it's going to come back that's very significant.

The song as Zachariah Luke tells us is a spirit filled praise and prophecy

is spoken by Zachariah who is being illuminated by the power of the Holy Spirit to give this spirit filled song.

And just like the song of Mary in verses 46 through 56, the song Zachariah has occupied a prominent place in the worship of the Church throughout the centuries. The popular title of the song and worship is called the Benedictus.

And the word the Latin word Benedictus comes from the first word of the Latin version of this song which is Benedictus are blessing.

It bless it be the Lord God of Israel. And so Zacharias song as a blessing, it is a Jewish, praise him to God, for God's blessings in fulfillment of His promises to his people.

And so what Zacharias song does is it it focuses on John the Baptist relationship to Jesus.

And back in chapter one, verses 13 through 17, and chapter one, verses 31 through 35, we've already been introduced both to John and to Jesus by angels from heaven.

And what John was Zacharias song does is takes those two introductions that we've already received in chapter one, and brings into focus the relationship of how John the Baptist relates to Jesus.

So he expounds on these verses. And so what happens in verses 57 through 66 is Zechariah, because unbelief was struck with muteness he was unable to speak.

But when God's naming of John, which was an unusual name for John, because it wasn't coming from his father is confirmed by Zachariah. Luke says Zachariah immediately regains his speech. So you have these supernatural events happening around the conception of John the Baptist,

and the supernatural events that are occurring. And the naming of John raises the question in everyone who's looking, looking at these events, look at verse 66.

Everyone has this question in their mind when they're looking at the supernatural events? What then will this child turn out to be? Who is this baby and Elizabeth and John and Elizabeth they're gonna have?

They say, for the hand of the Lord was certainly with him. Who is this child and what will he be? And so Zacharias song answers the people's question of verse 66.

telling you who John will be, and what his mission will be in relationship to Jesus. So the song is Zacharia literally consists of two verses two stanzas divided into two sections, which are two long Greek complex sentences.

Okay, so in verses 68 through 75, that's one long sentence.

And there and those verses Zachariah is focusing in on Jesus, and he's explaining the purpose of Jesus's coming. And then in the second stanza, and verses 76 through 79. Zachariah changes his focus to his son, John, and he explains who John is the identity of John, and the purpose for John coming. So that gives you the background and the context of what we have happening here. So let's look at the song Zachariah. Look at verses 68 through 75.

No one verses 68 through 75. John is going to I mean, Luke is going to show us how Zachariah is focusing on Jesus. He tells us the identity of Jesus and he tells us why Jesus came the purpose of His coming. And specifically what he's doing is this is He is praising the God of Israel, the LORD God of Israel, who has provided salvation to his people by fulfilling the Abrahamic and Davidic covenants. That's the whole point of what Zechariah is giving us here. So let's look at this.

Just like marry songs Zachariah song is steeped in the Old Testament. Let me give you some examples.

was really quick just so you get an idea of how well acquainted these Old Testament believers were with the Old Testament. He borrows from the book of Genesis, the book of Exodus, the book of Psalms, Second Samuel the prophet Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezra Zechariah, Micah and Molokai to write the song.

He knew his old testament. Look at verse 67. Luke tells us the Zachariah as I said, he's still with the Holy Spirit. And because he sell it the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit is enabling Zachariah to comprehend. Listen, the Christ centered focus of Scripture.

As you come to the end of Luke's gospel, and Luke chapter 24, Luke tells you over and over in chapter 24, through the words of Jesus himself, that the whole Bible, the Old Testament scriptures, Genesis, all the way to Malikai, was about Christ was about himself. And so Luke is already setting us up for chapter 24 that we find. But as I said, Zechariah was a Levitical priest. And so he was very well acquainted with the Old Testament scriptures, especially the Mosaic Covenant, the law.

Zachariah knew God's law inside and out. He knew the Mosaic Covenant. He knew that the Mosaic covenant the law was given by God, to be a strict disciplinarian, to lead him and others to Christ. Why, so that he might be justified by faith Galatians three, verse 24.

And so this old Levitical priest has been working in the temple his whole life, waiting and looking in hope for the God of Israel to bring his covenant promises to fulfillment, laboring and waiting in hope, reading the Old Testament, longing and looking where where this promise? Where will it be fulfilled? When will it come? And now to Zechariah is surprise and great joy is coming to his family. His relative Mary is going to have the consummation and for the fulfillment of the promises to Abraham and David, and the angel is announcing this to Zachariah.

And he's overcome with joy. And so he says, Bless it be the Lord God of Israel, he is overcome with praise to God. Look at verse 68. Blessed be the Lord God of Israel. Why? Because he has visited us.

And he has listened he has accomplished redemption for his people. John has already looked at or Zechariah is already looking forward, and hope that the coming of Christ in Mary's womb will be the accomplishment of redemption for his people, that he is going to visit us. He is going to be God with us.

And so how has God visited us? How has he accomplished this redemption? Look at verses 69 through 73.

Zachariah tells you how God has done this. He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of David,

his servant, as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets, from of old salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all who hate us to show mercy towards our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant, the oath which he swore to Abraham, our father, Zachariah praising God, the God of Israel,

because he has accomplished redemption, how he tells you here, because he has fulfilled God's covenant promises to Abraham and David, and he's done it in the womb of marriage.

This is amazing. God has accomplished his redemption. He has visited his people, because he is fulfilling His covenant promises to Abraham and to David.

This is quite amazing, because this is what all the pious God fears, Old Testament saints were waiting in hope for. And they had been waiting for 2000 years for the fulfillment of this promise.

Now to better understand the depths of Zacharias eager expectation, the depth of his hope, the depth of his longing, the depth of his joy and praise that he is giving to God.

We need to better understand is Christ centered focus of the Old Testament? Because the you see the unseen

Holding story of redemption, God has accomplished redemption for his people, this unfolding story of redemption moves from promise Old Testament to fulfillment New Testament.

And Zechariah, as I said, was steeped in this unfolding story of redemption. And he goes from Genesis all the way to Malikai in this song, sweeping through the entire Old Testament story, reflecting on God's faithfulness to keep his promise. So what was he understanding? Where you go all the way back, as we've seen already from the song of Mary in the song of Elizabeth, he goes all the way back and the Lord promises to even Genesis chapter three, verse 15, to give her an offspring who will come and crush the serpent's head.

And so the Lord's promise from this point forward, the question that occupied the minds of God's people, the, especially every mother in Israel, was, who will be the mother of this champion offspring is going to come and crush the serpent's head.

And so for in Genesis 315, forward the Lord's promise created this expect and hope and God's people

that were longing and waiting for the offspring of the woman to come, who will it be.

And so as the story of redemption begins to unfold, we come to Genesis chapter 15, and verse four in the Abrahamic covenant of Genesis 12 through 17. And we realize that the author Moses is telling us that the Lord's promise is more fully revealed, it is expanded from Eve's offspring now, it will come through Abraham,

the offspring of evil come through a man called Abraham.

And so the Abrahamic covenant will begin to play a central role in the unfolding story of redemption. So turn with me very quickly. Look at Genesis chapter 12.

Genesis chapter 12. And let's look at verses one to three.

Now, again, this is what we're doing. We're trying as best we can to put ourselves in the shoes of Zechariah, and see why he was so overcome with joy, and why he has such great hope for the future, the great expectation, how did he read the Bible? We're trying to get in this song from his perspective. And so as he is reflecting on God's fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant, surely, he's thinking of Genesis chapter 12, verses one to three, where the Lord calls Abram, and makes an unconditional promise to him and listen to what he does.

He says to Abraham, he says, go from your country, and your kindred and your father's house to the land, and I will show you and I will make you a great nation, and I will make you a great nation. And I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I'm gonna bless those who bless you and Him who dishonors you, I will curse and in you, all the families of the earth shall be blessed.

If you drop all the way to the Galatians, chapter three, verse eight, the apostle Paul quotes, Genesis chapter 12, verse three,

and he calls Genesis chapter 12, verse three, the Abrahamic Covenant promise of God, he calls it quote, The Gospel beforehand. In other words, Genesis chapter 12, verse three, God's covenant with Abraham, Paul says, was the gospel and promise.

It's the gospel. It's the good news of this coming offspring of the woman.

And so as you go, continue to read the unfolding story of redemption, you come to Genesis chapter 15, and Abraham's like, how's this going to happen? And so God ratifies His covenant promise with Abraham in a covenant cutting ceremony.

And what is so amazing about this covenant cutting ceremony in Genesis chapter 15, which God does to give Abraham assurance, again, guarantee that this is going to be true for him? What is amazing about this covenant cutting ceremony is that Abraham falls into a deep sleep.

He's doing nothing. He's sleeping,

and look, but while he sleeps, the Lord Himself assumes the full obligations to fulfill his promise, and as symbolized by the Lord walking by himself through severed halves and animals.

Now, that's very strange to us, isn't it? But that's how P international peace treaties were made back in Abraham's day 2000 years ago.

And so by walking alone through the sovereign house of these animals, the Lord who was the great Souza and the great king, he is taking a blood oath.

And he is invoking death upon himself if he does not fulfill the promise that he just made to Abraham in Genesis chapter 12.

That's amazing, isn't it?

And then Abraham's like, well, how is that going to be? This is so fantastic. Genesis chapter 17.

What does the Lord do? He seals he guarantees His covenant promises and his covenant cutting ceremony to Abraham by instituting a sacrament called circumcision.

And circumcision is the sacrament of the Abrahamic Covenant, the gospel and promise and it is a visible, bloody sign and seal a guarantee of God's covenant promised to Abraham to bring about this offspring of Abraham, who was the offspring of Eve who will crush the serpent's head and bless all people of the earth.

And so this bloody ritual of cutting the flesh of every male signified, and sealed God's covenant with Abraham, when God was walking by himself through the severed hands of these bloody animals.

This is what Zachariah was looking at.

And then he continued to read the book of Genesis, and he came to Genesis chapter 49, at the end of the book of Genesis, And in Genesis chapter 49, Jacob is now blessing the 12 Sons of Israel, his sons.

And as Jacob blesses his sons, we discover that the offspring of Abraham will come through the royal line of Judah.

In Genesis chapter 49, verse 10, Jacob is blessing his son, Judah. And he says, quote, The scepter, shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler, staff, from between his feet until Shiloh comes, and to Him shall be the obedience of the peoples.

And what we want to note from Genesis 4910 is simply this is that Jacob's blessing of Judah sets the tone for the chief aspect of Messianic hope in the entire Old Testament.

Jacob prophesize, of the great kingdom of David, and the greater kingdom of Christ, the second David, who will come.

He tells us right here, that from the very beginning, Abraham's offspring will be a son of David, who comes through the tribe of Judah, who will reign as King forever and ever.

All of this in the book of Genesis.

And so it is the Lord's promise to Abraham, it is the Lord's promise to Eve that is creating this expected longing, this hope in the hearts of every Old Testament saints, particularly the mothers of Israel,

who will bear this offspring, this great King to come. Now, fast forward 1000 years and turn to the Book of Second Samuel chapter seven.

Because remember, Zechariah is praising the God of Israel for fulfilling not only the Abrahamic covenant, but also for fulfilling the Davidic Covenant. And we know that from the story of Genesis through Abraham through the line of Judah, to the son of Jacob who came right from Abraham, listen.

We come to Second Samuel seven where we come to the Davidic Covenant, and Second Samuel seven, specifically, verses 12 through 16. The Lord promises that when his righteous son builds a house with the Lord's name, the Lord will grant David son in eternal Kingdom, verse 13, of Second Samuel chapter seven, look at it.

The Lord swears to David he takes an oath, he swears an oath to David,

your son, he shall build a house for my name. And I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.

You know what, when when the Lord gave this promise to David, David believed that the Lord's promise would be fulfilled in his son, Solomon,

the Lord Thomas, David's son would have this kingdom forever and ever. And David believes Solomon, his son, the son of David, would be the fulfillment of the Lord's promise. So as you read the book of First Kings

Kings chapters one through 10. It initially appears that the Lord is fulfilling his promise to David and Solomon's reign as king.

The son of David, First Kings chapters one through 10 Show us that the Son of David is raining on the throne of his father David, at the height of Israel's glory.

His son built a house for his name. What did Solomon do? He built the temple. He built a house for the Lord's name. God's people are in the land and experiencing unprecedented peace and prosperity. Solomon tres and First Kings, chapter eight, verse 56, listen carefully. Blessed be the Lord, who has given rest to his people, Israel, according to all that He promised.

He's reflecting on the covenant promises of God all that he's promised. Not one word has failed, of all of His good promise, which he promised through Moses, his servant. What did he promise through Moses, his servant, that when God's people came into the land, they would have rest.

That the establishment of Israel in the land of Canaan would equal rest.

And Solomon's divinely given wisdom is unprecedented throughout the entire world. And the Queen of Sheba comes because she has heard of this amazing, wise king, ruling in splendor and glory and wealth and unprecedented power the world had never seen.

But then we come to First Kings chapter 11.

And the story of Israel goes from the height of glory, straight down off the cliff.

First Kings chapter 11, verse one, now King Solomon loved many foreign women.

Do you know what the author's showing us here? He's trying to destroy the offspring of the woman who's coming.

And the enemy knew that Solomon was the son of David. And if he can just destroy the son of David, the offspring who is going to crush his head will not come.

Verse four, his wives turned his heart away after other gods and his heart was not wholly devoted to the Lord his God as the heart of David his father had been.

The enemy thinks that he's destroyed the Offspring of a woman.

Solomon's failure had devastating results, Israel divides into two kingdoms. re a bomb rolls over Judah in the south, Jeroboam rolls over Israel in the north. And eventually as you just keep reading the Old Testament story, it goes from bad to worse.

And the Lord because the situation gets so bad, he sends the northern kingdom of Israel into a Syrian captivity and 722 BCE, and they're never to return.

And then 136 years later, in 586, BC, the Lord since the southern kingdom of Judah, and to Babylonian exile, where they would remain for 70 years.

And then listen, when the Persians allowed a remnant of Judah to return to the land, God's people are continuing to wait and hope for the Promised Messiah to come.

And yet, as we read Ezra, Nehemiah and the post Zelich prophets,

but you realize that the exiles return to strangers to the land and they begin to intermarry, again, with non Jews as their chapters nine and 10.

They continue after having just come out of 70 years of judgment in exile, they continue to ignore God's prophets.

And because of this, the identity of God's people was threatened, which threatened the Lord's promise of the coming offspring of Abraham and David.

Time and time again, this is what we see throughout the Old Testament story, as the unfolds of how the seed of the serpent is trying to prevent the seed of the woman from coming all the way back in Genesis chapter four if the seed of the woman cannot be prevented by murder, Cain killing Abel Genesis four, if the seed listen cannot be prevented by slavery in Egypt. If the sea cannot be prevented by disobedience that in the wilderness that eventually leads to exile in Babylon and the whole total

The destruction of the northern kingdom of Israel.

If none of that will work, well, then I'll come back to maybe I can get them to enter, marry with foreigners, to corrupt the genealogical descent of the offspring of David, and therefore he will not come and crush my head.

And so the Old Testament and Malikai chapter four, verse six, it has gotten so bad.

God's prophet ends the story of the Old Testament with a threat of judgment.

What God's people need most is a message of hope. But instead, God's prophets remain silent. And for 400 years, silence will pass. And God does not speak to his people through the prophets, He is utterly deathly silent.

And then we come to the opening chapters of Luke's Gospel.

And at this point in God's redemptive, unfolding story of redemption, an unfolding story of redemption at this point, there's not been a king on the Davidic throne for over 500 years, says Nebuchadnezzar had destroyed the temple and 586 BC.

God's people in the opening chapters of Luke's Gospel are still in exile.

They are still under the Roman rule, waiting and hope for God to fulfill his ancient promise to send the offspring of Abraham, the offspring of David, who will visit his people and salvation and judgment. And so this is the context by which you understand better the depth of hopeful expectation and joy that Zachariah was experiencing when he was announced this Goodman, this good news was announced to him.

He is overcome with praise to the God of Israel, because he has fulfilled his ancient promises to Abraham and David, in a miraculous way. He's done it through a virgin birth.

I think you might be shouting at that point as well.

He has raised up a horn of salvation, a horn of salvation. That's just a symbol of power.

He has been faithful to fulfill his promise to David he's raised up Jesus, this powerful horn of salvation, who through his life and substitutionary death on the cross will eventually come, Luke shows us at the end of his gospel, and crush the serpent's head on the cross

and be buried and rise again in victory on the third day and save His people from their sins. This is the great salvation that has come from the house of David and saccharine knew it.

Zachariah pictures Jesus is the one who is now going to conquer Satan and crush his head. conquer all of our allies conquer our sin, conquer death, conquer the grave, conquer hell conquer all the hosts of evil look, he says conquer everyone who hates God's people.

Do you ever wonder why you have opposition? Well, people don't like God's people.

But the Lord has visited his people. And so Zachariah is the emphasizing God's fulfillment of the Abrahamic Covenant, the Davidic Covenant, he has accomplished the salvation look very quickly. Look at what he says in the song.

This is very important. Look at verse 72. He says salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all who hate us to show mercy toward our fathers and to remember his holy covenant. This is how God has done it. He has remembered his holy covenant. What does it mean for God to remember his holy covenant? Well, it doesn't mean that he's forgotten anything because he's omniscient, right.

This phrase, remember his holy covenants found all over the Old Testament, for example, Genesis 915, God spoke to Noah and says, I will remember my covenant God, remember the Noahide covenant. And Exodus chapter six, verse five, God says to Moses, he says, I have heard the groanings of the sons of Israel, and he says, I have remembered my covenant, the covenant He made with Abraham. So over and over throughout the Scriptures, God says he's remembering His covenant, he remembers his covenant for the sake of His people. What does that mean? It just simply means it keeps his promise.

the faithfulness of God. The, as you see in Psalm 100, is we're called to worship. Why do we worship the Lord for the Lord is good, he overflows of generosity, His steadfast love His covenant faithfulness. He's made a promise and he keeps it forever.

He's faithful, He can be trusted. He's faithful to fulfill what he has graciously promise

was to do listen for us.

He is faithful to his calm his covenant. He takes his oath to himself, and he fulfills on our behalf.

And so Zachariah is rejoicing in the God of Israel, because our salvation, his salvation, all God's people, salvation is secured by the promise of God.

This is what the Old Testament saints fed their faith on.

They live by faith in the Lord's promise. Zechariah he is, at this point, given this prophecy, Jesus still had not been born.

So you see, he's looking forward in hope.

This astonishing thing here is that God has fulfilled his promises to Abraham and David, and the womb of an obscure Jewish virgin.

And then look at verses 74 and 75. Very quickly, what is the purpose of this salvation?

He praises the God of Israel.

And he says, blessed to be the Lord God of Israel. Why? Because he has remembered his oath he has kept his promise. And then look at verses 74 and 75, to grant us that we've been delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear

that we might serve Him and holiness and righteousness before him all our days. That's what we pray every week in the liturgy that we pray that we could serve you without fear and holy walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days. That's where the prayer comes from, and our liturgy,

the song of Zechariah.

Do you know what the strongest motivation is for serving God

says covenant faithfulness to you,

says mercy. It's exactly what the song is. Zechariah says. Zachariah says God is faithful. He has remembered his holy covenant. He has kept his promise. He can be counted on he's filled with loyal love. He has steadfast love, he overflows with goodness to us. Therefore we can serve him without fear.

And we can serve him look in holiness and righteousness. Do you know it was Star your life up to living in holiness and righteousness more than anything else?

It's the good news of the gospel.

There is a direct correlation between God's steadfast love remembering his holy covenant, his faithfulness to you and genuine motivation to live and work for Christ.

We don't we don't serve God out of fear.

Fear is a really bad motivator.

Joy.

trust in the God is faithful to you. that'll motivate you to serve God in holiness and righteousness all your days.

So that's the first part of the song He is praising God for His fulfillment of sending Jesus who fulfills the Abrahamic and Davidic covenants. Let's quickly look at the second part is very simple.

In verses 76 through 79, Zachariah focuses on his son John, and he explains the purpose of his sons coming. And specifically, what he's going to do in these verses is he praises the God of Israel for his son's mission as the forerunner to the Messiah.

He has his speech restored, and so he confirms the identity and mission of his son. And the important point to note about these verses that we look at them in a very simple very quick.

This is an important point to note about these verses about what he's been saying about his son about.

He's not concerned about his son.

The verses don't focus on John the Baptist, the verses exalt and praise about the great work of grace that God will accomplish through the coming of Jesus that John will point everybody to.

So even here when he focuses on John in his mission, it's really about Jesus in His salvation.

So look, look very quickly. Look at verse 76. Zachariah explains the identity of John. He says a new child would be called the Prophet of the most Hi, John would be a prophet. John is the last and Luke chapter seven, verse 28. He's the greatest Old Testament prophet.

His birth is the fulfillment of Valor, Kai's prophecy about the coming of Elijah the prophet, and Malikai chapter four, verses five and six. Remember God's people at this point, they are in exile.

They are under foreign rule. They're strangers in the land of promise, as they've gotten out of the Babylonian captivity, they are in darkness and in despair.

And Malikai the Prophet says to them, Behold, I'm going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord. He will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children.

run in the hearts of the children to their fathers so that I will not come and smite the land with a curse.

Well guess where that's fulfilled? Luke chapter one verses 16 and 17.

The angel of the Lord announces the fulfillment of Malikai prophecy to Zachariah. And he says to Zachariah, your son Zachariah, who is currently in your wife's womb, He will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord, their God.

Verse 17, it is he who will go as a foreigner before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to the children and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord that was John's, that was be who John would, that is who John would be, he would be a prophet.

And then second, he'll be a prophet of the Most High. Where does this come from? Where does this title come from chapter one, verse 32.

And chapter one, verse 32, the angel Gabriel says to Mary concerning her son,

he will be great, it won't be called the Son of the Most High.

Jesus will be the Son of the Most High John the Baptist will be the Prophet of the Most High.

And so this title occurs all throughout the Old Testament, but you know, where we first find it, we first find it in Genesis chapter 14, where it is where listen Melchizedek, who is a king and priest and one person

identifies Yahoo, a the God of Israel, as listen as God Most High.

And the angel Gabriel is announcing to Mary and confirming through John the Baptists in his ministry, that the baby and Mary's womb is your way God Most High.

This title stresses the majesty and sovereignty of God that is enveloped in a mother's womb.

In short, Zachariah is says that his son John is going to be a prophet of God.

Who is in Mary's womb.

He's an amazing prophet is he not?

And then look at his mission, haven't explained his identity. And verses 76 and 77. He explains John's mission is very simple. He says, For you will be the Prophet of the Most High and you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways to give his people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, the Prophet of the Most High is the forerunner of the Messiah, He is preparing the way for people to receive the Son of the Most High.

And as we learned from the song of Elizabeth, chapter one, verse 15, what was John already doing as a six month old fetus? He is already pointing as the Prophet of the most high to the Son of the Most High from his mother's womb.

He is sent by the Lord to give God's people the knowledge of salvation, what through the forgiveness of their sins.

Listen to Isaiah chapter 43, verse 25.

It says the yogic way, the Lord blots out our transgressions for his own sake and remembers our sins no more.

That's being attributed to Jesus here. And that's what John was pointing people to.

John's mission was to give people the knowledge that God blots out our transgressions, that he does not remember our transgressions anymore.

To remember our sins no more is just simply a way the Bible talks about absolute forgiveness.

And Hebrews chapter eight, verse 12, the author is quoting the promise of the new covenant and Jeremiah 3134.

And God promises in Jeremiah 3134, I will forgive their wickedness, and I will remember their sins no more.

The psalmist in Psalm 130, verses three to four says, If you Lord should mark iniquities, oh Lord, who could stand

but there is forgiveness with you. That you may be feared, maybe referenced.

You know, it's a terrifying thought if God were to keep a record of my sins,

isn't it?

Do you meet people I've met who told me they were that were raised with this idea that when they stand before God on the Judgement Day, there's gonna be like a movie screen their whole life is gonna pass through it, and they're just gonna stand there and terror. How does ridiculous

hustling

out what's gonna happen?

You're gonna be vindicated and joy on that day.

Why? Because if God kept a record of our sins, we couldn't stand before Him in judgment.

But the psalmist says, He does not keep a record of our sins. Why? Because there is forgiveness with you.

He doesn't, what does it mean? He doesn't keep a record of our sins, He doesn't remember our sins. He doesn't hold our sins against us.

He doesn't keep a record of our sins and hold them against us. He forgives them.

This is good news that God doesn't remember our sins. He doesn't remember our sins. Zechariah says what does he remember? He remembers his promise to save us from our sins. He remembers his holy covenant.

He remembers his promise. He doesn't remember our sin.

Why do you think Zachariah is just exploding and prays to God? Listen, because of Christ's satisfaction because of his birth, Zechariah, saying, God no longer remembers our sin. He no longer listen, remembers our sinful nature with which we have to struggle with every day of our life. How many of you struggle with your sinful nature every day? And how many of you think are tempted to think perhaps God's holding that went against me this time? No, He forgives them. He doesn't keep a record of them for Christ's sake, who was born in Mary's womb. This is Zacharias prays to God.

He doesn't hold our sinful nature against us with which we have to struggle our entire life. He graciously reckons to us the righteousness of Christ so that we will never come into condemnation ever again.

This is his praise. And this was the reason John the Baptist was sent to announce this good news and to point people to that good news that was coming.

This was John's mission. This is the enduring point of the law. It is to lead you to Christ. Paul says in Romans 11, at the end of God's law is what? Christ?

What was John the Baptist, he was preaching the law. So what would be at the end of John's preaching? Jesus?

Listen to how Zachariah concludes his song on this, this note of great hope.

Why does God forgive our sins? He tells us because God is merciful. Look at verses 78 and 79. He concludes his song on a note of great hope. He forgives our sin because of the tender mercy of our gun.

If you like to write in your Bible and you like to highlight or whatever, just highlight that phrase, the tender mercy of our God.

Why does he forgive our sins? Because he's full of mercy. And what His mercy he's remembered his holy covenant, it is just faithfulness to you to always keep his promise.

It is His steadfast and loyal love his commitment to his covenant promise. Zachariah praises the Lord God of Israel for His mercy. He is faithful to keep his promise. He says Listen, God's tender mercy how's it revealed to us? Look, what he says in the song

is revealed to us in the sunrise from on high.

who is in darkness?

Who is in despair?

Who is in a horrible position at this point, God's people and what did they need? They needed a sunrise.

And what is Jesus called the Messiah. He's called the sunrise.

The sunrise from on high the Most High God you're aware of the Old Testament who forgives sin. Zachariah is simply referring to Molokai for two. We're Molokai prophesize the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in its wings and you don't want when it does, you will go forth and skip about like calves from the stall. Now that hasn't happened yet and Paramount church. I know some churches like to skip and dance around the aisles Be careful but

look,

righteousness will rise with healing in His wings and you will go forth and skip about like Castle install. In other words, you can be filled with joy.

God's people are sitting in the darkness and death of their sin and Zacharias looking forward and hope that

to sunrise from Ojai will come and shine into their darkness and give mercy and salvation to his people.

What a wonderful song of hope isn't that?

How do we know this? Because Matthew chapter four, verse 16, right? He quotes Isaiah nine two and he says this, the people who are sitting in darkness saw great light, and those who are sitting in the land and shadow of death upon them a light dawn.

And the mission of John the Baptist has to proclaim that the coming visitation of Jesus God has visited us he has accomplished redemption is coming in the womb of Mary.

And this baby and Mary's womb will shine in the darkness of our sin and misery. And look what he will do guide our feet into the way of peace.

Listen to the Apostle Paul as we finish.

He says and you've already heard it this morning, therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Zechariah saw his a song of hope and salvation.

He is announcing good news. And you know what the good news he's announcing. And this last verse, the war is over.

The Alien Nation in divine displeasure toward you because of your sin.

The sunrise from on high, remove it now.

He is going to visit you and he's going to shine on you with mercy. Shine into the darkness and depraved state of your sin and forgive it all.

Because he doesn't remember your sin. He remembers his holy covenant with Abraham and David, faithful.

You will have peace with God because of the tender mercy of God revealed in the sunrise the Most High God who is visiting his people to guide you into the peace of God.

What a song of hope is not a great song. Now you see and why the church for centuries and centuries and centuries have sung the Benedictus.

Why is the part of their liturgy, this hopeful message of Zechariah song that God's mercy His steadfast love is perfectly revealed to us in his son, his son will deliver us from our darkness, our state of condemnation, and he will bring us for ever and turn eternal state of forgiveness and favor with God.

You know, Zachariah song, as it ends is already anticipating the song we're going to look at next week. The song of the angels

because the song of the angels say Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased. How can you be pleased with those who are not pleasing? Because the sunrise from on highest common led you to peace?

You're now a peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, therefore you're pleasing to Him, those on whom God's sovereign delight rests.

And so the apostle Paul, as we finished he concludes with this we have great hope. And the apostle Paul, this is why he writes these words therefore, had been justified by faith.

We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we now stand.

And we exalt and hope of the glory of God. Amen. Amen. Let's pray. Father, we thank you.

That's your are faithful to us.

We thank you that you have remembered your holy covenant with Abraham and with David.

And because of that you give to us and mercy and forgiveness of our sins which we desperately need.

We thank you that you remember your promise to save us and you don't remember our sin that condemns us.

What a joy that is.

Fill our hearts by the power of your Holy Spirit to rejoice in the hope of the message that has given to us in this glorious song of praise.

And let us like Zechariah say Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who has visited us and accomplished redemption for us. We pray this in the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.


Transcribed by https://otter.ai