Luke 1:67 -68
His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied: “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come and has redeemed his people.

Zechariah praised God with his first words after months of silence. In a song that is often called the “Benedictus” after the first words in the Latin translation of this passage.

All the Old Testament prophecies were coming true; no wonder Zechariah praised the Lord, the God of Israel.

Like Mary, Zechariah spoke of the coming redemption of Israel as though it were occurring at the very moment: God has come and has redeemed his people. Indeed, the Messiah was already on the way; although very few people knew it. In Zechariah’s song is a reminder Jesus came as the fulfillment of all God’s purposes and promises in the Old Testament.

The words “has come” are a key to this passage. In the Old Testament, these words usually indicate God seeing His people and coming to deal with them; either in grace or in judgment, such as in Israel’s escape from Egypt.

The Lord would come, in the flesh, but, tragically, few would recognize Him when he arrived. The words “has redeemed” literally mean “accomplished redemption.” Psalm 111:9 states, “He provided redemption for his people; he ordained his covenant forever; holy and awesome is his name.” In the Old Testament, “redemption” pictured the rescue by God of the Israelites from Egypt and later their return from captivity in Babylon.

“Redemption” means recovery of something or someone upon payment of a ransom. The climate of Israel in the first century was once more a “captivity,” for the Jews were subject to the Romans.

The Jews were looking for a political Messiah to “redeem” them once again. But Messiah’s redemption would be different from current expectations. Jesus would bring redemption from sin.

What deliverance are we looking for in the 21st century?

Why are so many of our hopes economic or political?

Why is it so hard to see “Spiritual Reality?”