The Scripture for Sunday - The Song of Zechariah: A Song of Praise

Some of our best memories of Christmas involve singing some of our favorite songs and carols. Whether they’re secular or sacred, they remind us of the reason for the season and the sheer joy that’s possible during this very special time of year. And so, with that in mind, we’re going to spend some time talking about the "Great Songs of Christmas” but not necessarily the ones we associate with this holiday. Instead, we’ll look at some of the advent songs from the Bible, passages that had meaning then and can have meaning right now. During four weeks, we’ll consider the following:

• December 1 - The Song of Zechariah: A Song of Praise
• December 8 - The Song of Mary: A Song of Trust
• December 22 - The Song of the Angels: A Song of Joy
• December 29 - The Song of Simeon: A Song of Hope

During the service on Sunday, December 1, we'll use Luke 1:67-79 to better understand the song of Zechariah: a song of praise. Below is the passage in three different translations. You can stream the service by going to the Sligo Presbyterian Church YouTube Channel on Sundays at 10:00 a.m. (EDT).  You can hear a podcast of the service at the Sligo Presbyterian Church YouTube Channel or the Sligo Presbyterian Spotify Page.

Luke 1:67-79 [Contemporary English Version]

Zechariah Praises the Lord

67 The Holy Spirit came upon Zechariah, and he began to speak:

68 Praise the Lord,

    the God of Israel!

He has come

    to save his people.

69 Our God has given us

    a mighty Savior[a]

from the family

    of David his servant.

70 Long ago the Lord promised

by the words

    of his holy prophets

71 to save us from our enemies

and from everyone

    who hates us.

72 God said he would be kind

to our people and keep

    his sacred promise.

73 He told our ancestor Abraham

74 that he would rescue us

    from our enemies.

Then we could serve him

    without fear,

75 by being holy and good

    as long as we live.

76 You, my son, will be called

    the prophet of God Most High.

You will go ahead of the Lord

to get everything ready

    for him.

77 You will tell his people

    that they can be saved

when their sins

    are forgiven.

78 God's love and kindness

    will shine upon us

like the sun that rises

    in the sky.[b]

79 On us who live

in the dark shadow

    of death

this light will shine

to guide us

    into a life of peace.

Footnotes

[a] 1.69 a mighty Savior: The Greek text has “a horn of salvation.” In the Scriptures animal horns are often a symbol of great strength.

[b] 1.78 like the sun that rises in the sky: Or “like the Messiah coming from heaven.”.

Luke 1:67-79 [New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition]

Zechariah’s Prophecy

67 Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:

68 “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,

    for he has looked favorably on[a] his people and redeemed them.

69 He has raised up a mighty savior[b] for us

    in the house of his child David,

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

71     that we would be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us.

72 Thus he has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors

    and has remembered his holy covenant,

73 the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham,

to grant us 74 that we, being rescued from the hands of our enemies,

might serve him without fear, 75 in holiness and righteousness

    in his presence all our days.

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 his people knowledge of salvation

    by the forgiveness of their sins.

78 Because of the tender mercy of our God,

    the dawn from on high will break[c] upon[d] us,

79 to shine upon those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,

    to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

Footnotes

[a] 1.68 Or has visited

[b] 1.69 Gk a horn of salvation

[c] 1.78 Other ancient authorities read has broken

[d] 1.78 Gk will visit

Luke 1:67-79 [Amplified Bible]

Zacharias’ Prophecy

67 Now Zacharias his father was filled with the Holy Spirit and empowered by Him, and he prophesied, saying,

68 “Blessed (praised, glorified) be the Lord, the God of Israel,

Because He has visited us and brought redemption to His people,

69 And He has raised up a [a]horn of salvation [a mighty and valiant Savior] for us

In the house of David His servant—

70 Just as He promised by the mouth of His holy prophets from the most ancient times—

71 Salvation from our enemies,

And from the hand of all who hate us;

72 To show mercy [as He promised] to our fathers,

And to remember His holy covenant [the promised blessing],

73 The oath which He swore to Abraham our father,

74 To grant us that we, being rescued from the hand of our enemies,

Might serve Him without fear,

75 In holiness [being set apart] and righteousness [being upright] before Him all our days.

76 “And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High;

For you will go on before the Lord (the Messiah) to prepare His ways;

77 To give His people the knowledge of salvation

By the forgiveness of their sins,

78 Because of the tender mercy of our God,

With which the Sunrise (the Messiah) from on high will dawn and visit us,

79 To shine upon those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,

To guide our feet [in a straight line] into the way of peace and serenity.”

Footnotes

[a] Luke 1:69 In the OT a symbol of strength.