There are many kinds of peace: international, national, interpersonal, internal, financial, and peace with God. Consider a time that you felt most at peace inside.
“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us; to show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
Luke 1:68-79
There’s a progression of thought here, but it’s somewhat jumbled. If we put it in order, we can see a beautiful chain of events:
1. God promises salvation from of old (v. 70)
2. The people sit in darkness (v. 79)
3. God remembers his covenant (or oath) to Abraham (v. 73)
4. God has tender mercy on his people (v. 78)
5. God sends a prophet (John) to prepare the way before the Lord (v. 76)
6. God raises up a Savior from the line of David (v. 69)
7. The people experience mercy (v. 72), light or truth (v. 79), redemption (v. 68), salvation from their enemies, (v. 71), forgiveness of sins (v. 77), and peace (v. 79)
8. The people serve God without fear in holiness and righteousness (v. 74-75)
9. Zacharias, filled with the Holy Spirit, blesses the Lord God of Israel (v. 67-68)
10. Luke records this prophecy for our benefit, and of hundreds of future generations.
Reflect
What kinds of peace are included in this passage spoken by John the Baptist’s father, Zacharias? What are the results? What kinds of peace have you experienced as a result of your salvation?
Reflect on how your own personal testimony of salvation mirrors this progression.
Read Psalm 139 and take time to bless and praise God for all the benefits you’ve received through his salvation.
