2026 Pentecost Devotions I
Thursday, June 25
Luke 1:67-80
67 Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:
68 “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
for he has looked favorably on his people and redeemed them.
69 He has raised up a mighty savior for us
in the house of his child David,
70 as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,
71 that we would be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us.
72 Thus he has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors
and has remembered his holy covenant,
73 the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham,
to grant us 74 that we, being rescued from the hands of our enemies,
might serve him without fear, 75 in holiness and righteousness
in his presence all our days.
76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High,
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
77 to give his people knowledge of salvation
by the forgiveness of their sins.
78 Because of the tender mercy of our God,
the dawn from on high will break upon us,
79 to shine upon those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
80 The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day he appeared publicly to Israel.
“… “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, …”
Zechariah’s Song, also called the Benedictus in liturgical churches, is typically sung for Morning Prayer because of its hope-filled and promise-laden lyrics. It is a reminder of God’s gift of redemption and salvation. It recounts the ways God assisted the people of Israel in the past and how, based on those actions, God’s blessings will continue with people today.
Sometimes, the disarray in the world and nation can leave you frightened and confused. Hatred manifesting in cruelty, prejudice masquerading as justice, and avarice marketed as normalcy all create a sense of hopelessness and despair. Instead of communities embraced by care and compassion, many are struggling just to survive. For many, it seems the light of life has dimmed.
That’s why hearing again the song of Zechariah is as critical today as it was back then. While not exactly the same, the situation for the people of Israel in the first century was eerily similar to our circumstances today. Hopelessness and despair abounded. Yet, into the midst of such difficulties Zechariah sings of God’s blessings, God’s abundance, God’s redemption, and God’s love. Rooted in hope and promise, the song reminds us that God is with us, God is for us, and God has not abandoned us.
Prayer: Blessed be the God of Israel, who has come to set us free. Amen.