What is the meaning of Luke 1:68? Blessed be the Lord • To bless the Lord is to speak well of Him, to proclaim His unmatched worth. Psalm 103:1 urges, “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name!” • Zechariah, John the Baptist’s father, opens his prophetic song with this declaration, just as David did in 1 Chronicles 29:10. Praise is always the proper starting point when recognizing God’s work. • Ephesians 1:3 echoes the same impulse: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing.” The worship goes in two directions—upward in adoration, downward in overflowing grace to us. the God of Israel • By calling Him “the God of Israel,” Zechariah anchors God’s identity in His covenant faithfulness. Exodus 3:15 records the LORD’s own self-designation: “This is My name forever, and this is how I am to be remembered in every generation.” • The title reminds listeners that the promises given to Abraham (Genesis 12:2-3), affirmed to Isaac and Jacob, and rehearsed throughout Israel’s history remain intact. • Jeremiah 31:1 reassures, “At that time, declares the LORD, I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they will be My people.” Zechariah sees those ancient words springing to life in his newborn son’s era. because He has visited • “Visited” speaks of personal intervention. Ruth 1:6 recounts how “the LORD had visited His people by providing them bread.” Now, in a far greater sense, God steps into human history in the coming Messiah. • Luke 7:16 records the crowd’s awe after Jesus raised a widow’s son: “A great prophet has appeared among us! God has visited His people!” The same verb ties the birth narratives to Jesus’ public ministry. • This visit is no mere inspection; it is a rescue mission. Psalm 8:4 marvels, “What is man that You are mindful of him, the son of man that You visit him?” The Lord’s nearness is always purposeful. and redeemed His people • Redemption means paying the price to set captives free. God foretold this deliverance in Exodus 6:6: “I will redeem you with an outstretched arm.” • In the unfolding gospel, that outstretched arm is the crucified and risen Christ. Titus 2:14 explains Jesus “gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness.” • Practical facets of this redemption: – Liberation from sin’s slavery (John 8:36). – Transfer from darkness to light (Colossians 1:13-14). – Adoption into God’s family (Galatians 4:4-5). • Isaiah 52:9 encouraged Zion to sing because “the LORD has comforted His people; He has redeemed Jerusalem.” Zechariah now announces the comfort has arrived. summary Luke 1:68 bursts with confident praise: God, utterly faithful to His covenant with Israel, has stepped into time, personally visiting and powerfully redeeming His people through the coming Messiah. Praise flows first, because the Lord’s intervention is certain; identity is clarified, anchoring the promise in Israel’s story; visitation underscores His nearness; redemption celebrates the completed purchase of freedom. Zechariah’s song invites every believer to join in blessing the Lord who keeps His word and rescues His own. |
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