How shall we describe God? With what words should we extol His mighty works? At the birth of John the Baptist, his father Zechariah said, “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come and has redeemed his people. He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David” (Luke 1:68-69 NIV)
Of all the attributes of God, Zechariah chose to highlight the fact that God is our Redeemer and Savior. Perhaps Zechariah had Psalm 18 in mind where King David wrote, “The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” (Psalm 18:2 NIV)
The Jewish people used the word “horn” as a metaphor for power. When Zechariah said that God “has raised up a horn of salvation for us” he meant that God would use His incomparable power in order to save us. There is no power which can prevent God from saving us.
How did God do it? The Apostle Paul writes, “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:6-8 NIV)
God used His power to rescue and save us who had no power to save ourselves from the consequences of sin. And, God’s power is still available to the followers of Christ so that we can live godly lives. How great is that power? “…That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms,” (Ephesians 1:19-20 NIV)
Someday, the power which saves us from spiritual death will save us from physical death. The same power which raised Christ from the dead will raise His followers as well. “…The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body…” (1 Corinthians 15:42-44 NIV)
Like Zechariah, let us praise God for the “horn of salvation” He has raised for us!