Read Luke 1:67-80

Prophecy Fulfillment

For centuries, the Jews awaited the arrival of the Messiah. Zacharias, the father of John the Baptizer, praised God that the time of the Messiah had finally come. He made specific reference to a number of prophecies of old.

Zacharias proclaimed, “Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed His people” (Luke 1:68). The idea behind “visiting” is not limited to spending time with another, but carries with it the connotation of taking care of another. These thoughts can be traced back to a number of prophecies. “And the coast shall be for the remnant of the house of Judah; they shall feed thereupon: in the houses of Ashkelon shall they lie down in the evening; for the Lord their God shall visit them, and turn away their captivity” (Zephaniah 2:7 KJV). David also referred to this concept of God “visiting” His creation: “What is man that You are mindful of him? And the son of man that You visit him?” (Psalm 8:4, cf. Hebrews 2:6).

Zacharias also referred to “a horn of salvation” (Luke 1:69), indicating great strength. The image of the powerful “horn” was used by Ezekiel, who called Him “the horn of the house of Israel” (Ezekiel 29:21), and by the psalmists, who used the phrases “the horn of David” (Psalm 132:17) and “the horn of His people” (Psalm 148:14).

Further, Zacharias recognized that the Messiah would come from the line of David, using the phrase, “in the house of His servant David” (Luke 1:69). The Old Testament is full of such prophecies. “On that day I will raise up the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down, and repair its damages; I will raise up its ruins and rebuild it as in the days of old” (Amos 9:11).

God, in His infinite wisdom, inspired men of old to declare what He planned to do and how He planned to save man. As we read through the gospel accounts and the rest of the New Testament, we see that plan unfolding. We are blessed to live in a time that we have the full revelation of God at our fingertips. God strengthens our faith through His Word as we read both the promises in the Old Testament and the fulfillment of those promises in the New.