Luke 1:67-80
Another hymn of praise demands our attention in these verses. We have read the thanksgiving of Mary, the mother of our Lord. Let us now read the thanksgiving of Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist. We have heard what praises the first advent of Christ drew from the Virgin of the house of David. Let us now hear what praise it draws from an aged priest.
We should notice, firstly, the deep thankfulness of a Jewish believer’s heart in the prospect of Messiah’s appearing. Praise is the first word that falls from the mouth of Zacharias as soon as his dumbness is removed, and his speech restored. He begins with the same expression with which Paul begins several of his epistles: “Blessed be the Lord.”