Yes, Zacharias' prophecy signifies God's promised salvation and redemption for Israel.
According to Les Feldick, Zacharias, filled with the Holy Spirit, spoke God's mind, not his own wishful thinking. The prophecy focuses on Israel, declaring that God has visited and redeemed His people and raised up a horn of salvation in the house of David, fulfilling the covenant made to Abraham.
Luke 1:67-74 — These verses contain Zacharias' prophecy, directly showing its content and focus on God's covenant with Israel.
In Luke chapter 1, verses 67-74, Zacharias, filled with the Holy Spirit, prophesied: 'Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people, And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David; As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began: That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us; To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant; The oath which he sware to our father Abraham, That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear.'
Les Feldick emphasizes that Zacharias' prophecy was not mere patriotic hope but the very expression of God, because Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit. The prophecy is exclusively about Israel, not the Gentiles, as it speaks of 'the Lord God of Israel' and 'the house of his servant David.' It points to the promised kingdom and government that had been foretold by the prophets. Salvation here means deliverance from Israel's physical enemies, such as the Romans, Greeks, and others who hated them, and it is tied directly to the covenant God made with Abraham. This prophecy aligns with God's overall program with Israel, which was about to culminate in the coming of the King and His earthly kingdom.
According to Les Feldick, Zacharias was 'filled with the Holy Spirit' when he spoke, and whenever the Bible says someone was filled with the Spirit, everything they speak is God-directed. Thus, his words are not just wishful thinking but the very expressions of God concerning the nation of Israel.
Les Feldick stresses that the prophecy is exclusively Jewish. Zacharias says 'Blessed be the Lord God of Israel' and 'for us in the house of his servant David.' These phrases confirm the prophecy's focus on Israel alone, not the Gentiles.
Les explains that the salvation mentioned is not from sin but from Israel's enemies. Zacharias says 'that we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us.' At that time, Israel's enemies included the Romans, Greeks, and others who hated the nation.
Zacharias refers to 'the covenant which he sware to our father Abraham.' Les points out that this prophecy is on covenant ground, repeating the promise that God would grant Israel deliverance from their enemies, fulfilling the oath to Abraham.
Les teaches that the prophecy is part of God's prophetic program. It was about to be fulfilled in the coming of the King and the establishment of Israel's kingdom, which still awaits its complete fulfillment when Christ returns to reign.
Why Two Genealogies of Jesus? Matthew vs Luke Explained
and a literal government, yeah, then I'll use the word, it's going to be a political kingdom. It's going to be a viable government. Now, look at Luke chapter 1 and drop down to verse 64. And again, I do this only to save time, because you remember that when Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist, who was a priest working there at the temple, serving, and he had been stricken dumb, if you'll rem…
Zacharias' Understanding of the Prophetic Plan
Les explains that Zacharias understood the prophetic plan: the coming of the King would bring Israel's kingdom, and the prophecy is confined to Israel, mentioning 'us in the house of his servant David.'
Filled with the Holy Spirit
Les emphasizes that Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, so his words are God-directed and not just patriotic expressions.
Why Repentance Was Offered to Israel — Acts 5 Explained
Come back again to Luke chapter 1. Luke chapter 1, and see how appropriately this all fits. My, if only folk could understand that the Scripture is like a fine-tuned watch. And I've used that analogy more than once. It is so meticulously put together. But so many people throw monkey wrenches in it all the time.
Deliverance from Enemies and Covenant Fulfillment
Les highlights that the salvation is from Israel's enemies (Romans, Greeks, etc.) and that the prophecy repeats the covenant made to Abraham.
Israel-Only Focus
Les points out that Zacharias says 'Blessed be the Lord God of Israel' and 'visited and redeemed his people,' showing the prophecy is exclusively for Israel.
Future Kingdom Fulfillment
Les connects the prophecy to the future fulfillment of God's promises, such as Christ receiving the throne of David, which has not yet fully happened.
Why Jesus Told Peter "Feed My Sheep" — John 21 Explained
Now, you see the connection? Once the light would come to the nation of Israel, the two in consort would be the light of the world to the Gentiles. All right, another verse in the Old Testament. Come all the way up to Zechariah. We've only got a couple minutes left again. Now, Zechariah chapter 14. No, chapter 8. Zechariah chapter 8.
Luke 1:67: And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,
This introduces Zacharias' prophecy, noting he was filled with the Holy Spirit.
Luke 1:68: Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,
Shows the prophecy's focus on Israel's redemption.
Luke 1:69: And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;
Indicates the Messiah's descent from David and his role as a saving horn.
Luke 1:71: That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;
Defines the salvation as deliverance from physical enemies.
Luke 1:72: To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant;
Links the prophecy to God's promises to the patriarchs.
Luke 1:73: The oath which he sware to our father Abraham,
Identifies the covenant specifically with Abraham.
According to Les Feldick, this is because the prophecy was exclusively about Israel. The Lord had turned from the Gentile world to the Jew, and this prophecy reflects that focus.
Les Feldick explains that the 'horn of salvation' refers to the Messiah, coming from the house of David, who would bring salvation to Israel.
Les Feldick clarifies that it was about deliverance from physical enemies, not sin. The text says 'saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us.'
Watch the Teaching: Why Two Genealogies of Jesus? Matthew vs Luke Explained