Luke 1:69-71
“He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David (as he said through his holy prophets of long ago), salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us.”

Zechariah praised God because he has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David. Again, Zechariah was speaking in the past tense about an event still future, although in the near future. The Messiah was already being “raised up,” for God had begun to set His plan into motion.

The “horn” was a common Old Testament metaphor for strength and power (2 Samuel 22:3; Psalms 18:2; 89:24; 132:17; Ezekiel 29:21). Deuteronomy 33:17 refers to the powerful horns of an ox. Psalm 75:4-5 refers to a warrior with a horned helmet.

Thus, the “horn” is often a military metaphor for God’s intervening to deliver. This will be a powerful Savior.

“The house of . . . David” refers to the ancestral line of David, through whom the Messiah was to come, as God had said through his holy prophets. All this would occur as part of God’s plan, prophesied long ago. Zechariah was revealing the ancient prophecies were beginning to be fulfilled.

The words “salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us” clearly indicate what was happening in that society. Zechariah prophesied the Messiah would bring deliverance.

The Jews were eagerly awaiting the Messiah, but they thought He would come to save them from the powerful Roman Empire. They were ready for a military Savior, but not for a peaceful Messiah who would conquer sin.

Zechariah’s words would come true, but in a different manner than most expected. Thirty years later, when Jesus began His public ministry, He would be misunderstood and rejected for not being the mighty warrior for whom the Jews had been hoping.

Here we have another reminder God rarely does things the way we expect!

Why are we, it seems, so often expecting God to do it our way?