visited and redeemed

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,

Luke 1:68-69

Strange that these words of hope can feel so out of place when the calendar is closer to Easter than to Christmas. This song from Zechariah, set in Luke’s gospel just before the birth story of Jesus in a song of rejoicing. It anticipates the wonderful incarnation, the delivery of the baby Who is God’s good news. God has visited His people. The plan of redemption is fully in motion, first with the birth of the prophetic forerunner of the Messiah, John the Baptist. Then we see Jesus born to save His people from their sins.

This is good news of blessing meant to stir our hearts even when the Christmas decorations have long been stored away. Praise the LORD! Let’s always be reminded that salvation has been brought to the earth with Jesus. Zechariah sang about it while that salvation still stirred in the womb of Mary. God was already visiting His people. The horn of salvation was being raised up.

And in that hope, even our darkest days can find peace. Jesus came to bring it. He is still visiting His people, redeeming people to Himself, and bringing salvation to all who believe. There is never a time when that hope is out of place once we appreciate this truth.