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Zechariah's Benedictus

Illustration of Zechariah's Benedictus

His speech restored at the birth of his son John, the priest Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied in song. The Benedictus - 'Blessed be the Lord God of Israel' - blesses God for visiting and redeeming his people, raising up a horn of salvation in David's house, and for the child who would go before the Lord to prepare his way. It hails the dawn of salvation breaking over a waiting people.

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Strongest connections in Scripture

Key Passages

Blessed Be the Lord God of Israel

Luke 1:68-79

Zechariah blesses God for the coming redemption and the dayspring from on high that visits his people.

B68lessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,

69 And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David; 70 As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began: 71 That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us; 72 To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant; 73 The oath which he sware to our father Abraham, 74 That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, 75 In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life. 76 And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; 77 To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins, 78 Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, 79 To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Did You Know?

1

'Benedictus' is Latin for 'Blessed' - its opening word.

2

Zechariah sang it the moment his speech was restored at John's birth.

3

He had been struck mute for nine months for doubting the angel.

4

It hails the coming 'dayspring from on high' - the dawn of salvation.