Blessed Be the Lord God (Part 1)

Newspapers, magazines, and websites run articles on funny things kids are grateful for every Thanksgiving.

One article I read reported that one little boy was thankful for toilet paper.

Another child was simply grateful for ceiling fans.

Another said, “Cookies. Lots of cookies.”

A little girl said that she is grateful that her brother isn’t a monster.

Another little girl said, “Shoes. Getting new shoes. And for people who make shoes.”

Finally a little boy said he was thankful for snowmen, his dad, and quesadillas.

The things we are thankful for usually fall into two categories: usual and unusual.

categories for our thanksgiving usually fall into two categories: usual and unusual.

The kids in that article are thankful for some unusual things, but we typically mention some usual things like family, food, and our country.

But what should we be thankful for? Well, in a word grace.

[INTERROGATIVE]

But what should we be thankful for? In other words, beyond usual and unusual, what’s the right thing to be thankful for?

[PROPOSITION]

The answer to that question is God’s grace toward us in Jesus Christ. That’s what we should be grateful for far above anything else!

Grace is what is what Zechariah spoke of here at the end of . And grace is what God delivers to us in this passage this morning.

That’s what praise is, thanking God for who he is and what he has done for us.

That grace is what Zechariah thanked God for here at the end of .

That’s what praise is, thanking God for who he is and what he has done for us.

[CONTEXT] God had promised, but Zechariah didn’t believe that God could provide a son for him and his wife, Elizabeth. He was old. She was “advanced in years” and barren. Nevertheless, Zechariah should have believed God and because he didn’t he couldn’t speak or hear during Elizabeth’s pregnancy. When their son was born, Zechariah believed. And after naming him ‘John,’ Zechariah was able to speak once again. As says...

Luke 1:64 ESV

And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God.

[CENTRAL IDEA OF THE TEXT]

In , we see the content of Zechariah’s blessing in Luke 1:64. We see the different ASPECTS of God’s grace in Christ Jesus that Zechariah celebrated with these words.

[TRANSITION STATEMENT]

We want to examine two of those ASPECTS this morning and two others next Sunday morning. In doing so, we want to lift up our own praise, our own blessing, our own thanksgiving to God for his grace toward us in Jesus Christ.

To ‘bless the Lord’ is to praise God. It also includes thanking God and might be best described as celebrating God.

In and David commands his soul to bless God.

[TS] This morning I want us to examine four ASPECTS of God’s grace in this passage...

Luke 1:68–70 ESV

“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,

[Exp] In the Bible, horns (like the horns of an animal) symbolically represent strength. For example, we see “horn” connected to words such as “strength” or “stronghold” in where David praised God, saying...

In the Bible, horns (like the horns of an ox, ram, or bull) symbolically represent strength. For example, we see “horn” connected to words like “strength” or “stronghold” in where David praised God, saying...

2 Samuel 22:2–3 ESV

He said, “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge, my savior; you save me from violence.

Another example is , where David said something very similar...

Psalm 18:2 ESV

The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Now, the particular horn of salvation in the house of David that Zechariah had in mind here is none other than Jesus.

In God promised to give David an heir who would make his house and kingdom sure forever before God; an heir who would establish David’s throne forever.

That’s why Gabriel’s words to Mary about Jesus in are so significant...

Luke 1:32–33 ESV

He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

Jesus is that horn of salvation promised by God, come down as a man from the line of David to visit, redeem, and provide salvation for us just as he spoke of through the prophets long ago.

Jesus did this; he redeemed and saved us by taking our sin upon himself on the cross, dying as the sacrifice for our sins and rising from the dead as the Champion over sin and death. Truly, he is mighty to save all those who trust in him!

Anyone who doubts this doesn’t understand the power of Jesus. They don’t understand this horn of salvation.

Truly, he is mighty to save!

He said that there are lots of misconceptions that people have about running with the bulls.

For one, he says that many people try to develop a strategy. Some plan to run on the left side of the street, others plan to run on the right, but the bulls don’t care, so Peter says the only strategy is to run for your life!

Another misconception is that Pamplona only uses old bulls with dulled horns. Peter says that’s not true. The bulls used are 4-years-old, at the height of the speed, strength, and angry pride.

These bulls will kill you without conscience. He says every year people underestimate the bulls and pay for it with lacerations, broken bones, concussions, and fractured skulls.

But probably the most idiotic misconception is that some runners think they’ll have time to take a selfie as they run for their lives. This has apparently become such a problem that officials have tried to make sure that no runner carries a phone or camera onto the course, but people still do. Peter says those who attempt to take a selfie underestimate the power behind those razor sharp horns. These animals weight 1,200 lbs or more. They all run 35 mph on average.

Peter says every year people underestimate the bulls and pay for it with lacerations, broken bones, concussions, and fractured skulls.

Now, after hearing this, you and I wouldn’t be so dumb, would we? If we were running with those beasts, we wouldn’t pause for a selfie. We wouldn’t doubt the sharpness of their horns. There’d be no question; we’d run as fast we could from them because we’ve heard how strong those bulls are.

But here in we’ve heard about how strong Jesus is as the horn of salvation; how he is mighty to save! The question is, will we run to him?

[Illus/App] Peter Milligan is the author of a book titled Bulls before Breakfast, which is about running with the bulls in Pamplona, Spain. As of 2015, Peter had run with the bulls 63 times.

He said that there are lots of misconceptions that people have about running with the bulls.

For one, he says that many people try to develop a strategy. Some plan to run on the left side of the street, others plan to run on the right, but the bulls don’t care, so Peter says the only strategy is to run for your life!

Another misconception is that Pamplona only uses old bulls with dulled horns. Peter says that’s not true. The bulls used are 4-years-old, at the height of the speed, strength, and angry pride.

These bulls will kill you without conscience. He says every year people underestimate the bulls and pay for it with lacerations, broken bones, concussions, and fractured skulls.

But probably the most idiotic misconception is that some runners think they’ll have time to take a selfie as they run for their lives. This has apparently become such a problem that officials have tried to make sure that no runner carries a phone or camera onto the course, but people still do. Peter says those who attempt to take a selfie underestimate the power behind those razor sharp horns. These animals weight 1,200 lbs or more. They all run 35 mph on average.

Peter says every year people underestimate the bulls and pay for it with lacerations, broken bones, concussions, and fractured skulls.

Now, after hearing this, you and I wouldn’t be so dumb, would we? If we were running with those beasts, we wouldn’t pause for a selfie. We wouldn’t doubt the sharpness of their horns. There’d be no question; we’d run as fast we could from them because we’ve heard how strong those bulls are.

But here in we’ve heard about how strong Jesus is as the horn of salvation; how he is mighty to save! The question here, however, is not, “Will we run from him?” but is rather, will we run to him?

In the OT, sacrifices were made on an altar in the Temple of God. The corners of that altar protruded up and were called “horns” (; , ). They were covered in blood during a sacrifice and were considered places of refuge. The strength of God working through the atoning blood of the sacrifice would protect those accused of wrongdoing.

In , for example, Adonijah tried to succeed David as king of Israel. When David’s son, Solomon, rightfully took the throne, Adonijah ran to the altar and took hold of the horns of the altar seeking refuge. When Solomon heard about it, he said that if Adonijah paid homage to him as king, then he would live. Adonijah did and was sent home.

In , for example, Adonijah tried to succeed David as king of Israel. When David’s son, Solomon, rightfully took the throne, Adonijah ran to the altar and took hold of the horns seeking refuge. When Solomon heard about it, he said that if Adonijah paid homage to him as king, then he would live. Adonijah did and was sent home.

Another example from 1 Kings, however, shows the limited strength of the horns of the altar. In , a man named Joab had run to the horns of the altar because he was also afraid of Solomon because he supported Adonijah in his attempt to replace David as king of Israel. The horns of the altar, however, would not save Joab. In , God said...

Another example from 1 Kings, however, shows the limited strength of the horns of the altar. In , a man named Joab had run to the horns of the altar because he too was afraid of Solomon, because he supported Adonijah in his attempt to replace David as king of Israel. The horns of the altar, however, would not save Joab. In , God said...

Exodus 21:12–14 ESV

“Whoever strikes a man so that he dies shall be put to death. But if he did not lie in wait for him, but God let him fall into his hand, then I will appoint for you a place to which he may flee. But if a man willfully attacks another to kill him by cunning, you shall take him from my altar, that he may die.

Exodus 21:12–14 ESV

“Whoever strikes a man so that he dies shall be put to death. But if he did not lie in wait for him, but God let him fall into his hand, then I will appoint for you a place to which he may flee. But if a man willfully attacks another to kill him by cunning, you shall take him from my altar, that he may die.

Exodus 21:14 ESV

But if a man willfully attacks another to kill him by cunning, you shall take him from my altar, that he may die.

Joab had violated . He struck down Abner, the commander of the army of Israel, and Amasa, the commander of the army of Judah (), with cunning. Thus, he was pulled from the altar and killed ().

Joab had violated . He struck down Abner, the commander of the army of Israel, and Amasa, the commander of the army of Judah (). Thus, he was pulled from the altar and killed ().

The horns of the altar pointed forward to the horn of salvation we have in Jesus Christ, but he is much more mighty to save. His atoning sacrifice never fails to save those who take hold of it - even when those who take hold of it are guilty of breaking God’s law as we all are. The strength of Jesus never fails!

It was the strength of Jesus that enabled him to lay down his life as the sacrifice for our sins. Just as the ram that would be sacrificed in Isaac’s place was caught in a thicket by its horns (), so it was the strength of Jesus that held him on the cross and won for us so great a salvation!

Pastor and author, R. Kent Hughes said it like this...

Preaching the Word: Luke, Vol. 1—That You May Know the Truth Praise for Fulfillment of the Davidic Covenant (vv. 68–71)

this mighty “horn of salvation” is able “to save completely those who come to God through him” (Hebrews 7:25). Whoever we are, whatever we have done, no matter how heinous our sin—whether it is murder, infidelity, perversion, betrayal, embezzlement, lying, jealousy, hateful gossip, or whatever—Christ, the “horn of salvation,” can save us completely and eternally.

[Illus]

[App]

[TS] We should be thankful for God’s strength!

Luke 1:71–75 ESV

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.

Luke 1:

[Exp] Having thanked God for fulfilling his promise to David, Zechariah now turns to thank God for fulfilling his promise (i.e., his covenant) to Abraham.

In God said to Abraham...

Genesis 12:1–3 ESV

Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

I think one particular restatement of this promise especially demonstrates God’s mercy.

In Genesis 15:5-

God reiterated that promise in and Abraham believed the Lord and the Lord counted it to Abraham as righteousness (). That night God ratified his covenant with Abraham, causing him to fall into a deep sleep and appearing as a smoking fire pot and blazing torch. God alone passed between the pieces of the animals that had been sacrificed (Gen. 15:17), signifying that God’s promise to Abraham was unconditional and that God would be torn apart like those animal pieces if he failed to keep his covenant promise to Abraham.

However, there was still yet a greater affirmation of God’s promise to Abraham in . God had commanded to sacrifice the Isaac, the son he loved, the son through whom God promised to fulfill his promise to Abraham. However, hesitant he might have been, Abraham obeyed God and would have gone through with the sacrifice except God stopped Abraham’s raised hand before he could plunge the knife into his son. After he stopped Abraham, God said to him...

Genesis 22:16–18 ESV

and said, “By myself I have sworn, declares the Lord, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies, and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.”

That’s the oath that Zechariah refers to in ; the one by which God promised save his people from their enemies that they might serve him without fear; in holiness and righteousness all their days.

But notice the word “mercy” in v. 72. God did all that he did through his Son, Jesus, to show the mercy that he promised to Abraham and his son and grandson, Isaac and Jacob.

Why did God make his covenant with Abraham? To show his mercy.

Why did God reiterate that covenant with Isaac? To show his mercy.

Why did God do the same with Jacob? To show his mercy.

Why did God provide a resounding “yes” to all his promises in his Son, Jesus Christ? Because of his mercy!

[Illus/App] Not too long ago it was my turn to preach at the Mobile Baptist Association’s ministers meeting. However, before I did, the association sent out an email to the other ministers with general information about me along with a picture of Cheryl, the kids, and I that they stole from our church website.

When I got to the meeting, Leon (the guy in charge of the meeting) came up to me and said, “Brother, that’s a great picture of your family in that email! I tell you what, you sure out did yourself with that wife of yours! I mean, you married up!”

I get that all the time. People say things like, “She’s out of your league! I can’t believe she stooped to your level! Something must be wrong with her eyesight!”

I, of course, wholeheartedly agree with those people as I did with Leon at the ministers meeting. I always agree because it just wouldn’t be true for me to say, “Well, you know what? She’s lucky to have ME!”

agrees with those who praise his wife because it just wouldn’t work for a husband to say, “Well, you know what? She’s lucky to have ME!”

But there are a lot of so-called Christians who walk around with that very sentiment in their heart when it comes to God. They believe that God is very lucky to have them.

That was the attitude of the Pharisee, the religious leader, in Jesus’s parable about the pharisee and the tax collector.

It was the religious leader who said in ...

Luke 18:11–12 ESV

The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’

, “God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast

In other words, although the Pharisee was saying ‘thank you,’ he was really telling God, “You’re lucky to have ME!”

But when we truly come to God and catch a glimpse of his unconditional, merciful grace, our prayer is a simple one, “Lord, have mercy on me a sinner!”

That was the prayer that the tax collector prayed in Jesus’s parable as he beat his chest, “Lord, have mercy on me a sinner!” ().

The man who went down justified, in Jesus’s parable, was the one who recognized his need for God’s mercy.

In the language of , it’s God’s mercy that saves from our enemies - the enemies of sin and death!

save

It’s God’s mercy that saves us from the hand of all that hate us - Satan and the world that follows him!

It’s God’s mercy that enables us to serve God without fear; to serve him in holiness and righteousness before him all our days!

[TS] We should be thankful for God’s mercy!

Luke 1:76–77 ESV

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,

[Exp]

[Illus]

[App]

[TS] We should be thankful for God’s plan!

Luke 1:78–79 ESV

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.”

[Exp]

[Illus]

[App]

[TS] We should be thankful for God’s light!

That’ll get us started this week - this Thanksgiving week - as we thank God for his strength and mercy; his strength and mercy on display in covenants with David and Abraham and kept for our eternal good in Jesus Christ.

on display in promises made to David and Abraham and kept for our eternal good in Jesus Christ.

That’s what Zechariah started with here at the end of as he blessed God.

Are you blessing God today? Not for the usual things or even the unusual things. But are you thanking God for what you should be thanking God for? His grace toward you in Christ Jesus!

He is mighty to save.

He can deliver you from the enemies of sin and death.

And he will do so, if you repent of your sin, and call on Jesus to save you.

The Holy Spirit moves Zechariah to bless God for Jesus (vv. 68-70).

The Holy Spirit moves Zechariah to bless God for deliverance (vv. 71-75).

The Holy Spirit moves Zechariah to bless God for John (vv. 76-77).

The Holy Spirit moves Zechariah to bless God for salvation (vv. 78-79).