The song of Zechariah may be divided thus:

v68–70, thanks to God for the coming of the Messiah;

v71–75, the purpose of the Messiah’s coming;

v76, 77, the mission of John;

v78, 79, a further picture of the Messiah’s coming.

Trace in the song of Zechariah the successive stages in the unfolding of God’s plan of salvation through the Old Testament and up to the coming of the Messiah.

How does it reveal the unity of the Old and New Testaments?

What, according to this song, is the purpose of salvation?

Is this your experience?

Notes:

v69. ‘A horn of salvation’: i.e., one who is strong to save. The horn of an animal was a

common symbol of strength; cf. Ps. 18:2.

v80. ‘The desert’: the desolate region around the Jordan and the Dead Sea.

撒迦利亚的赞歌可以这样分段：

68-70节，是为弥赛亚的降临称颂上帝；

71-75节，是弥赛亚降临的目的；

76-77节，是约翰的使命；

78-79节，是弥赛亚降临的进一步之生动的描写。

在撒迦利亚的赞歌中，试追溯上帝如何在从旧约到弥赛亚的

来临的这个连续的舞台上，展开祂的救赎计划。

它如何显示了旧约与新约的统一性？

根据这篇赞歌，救赎的目的是什么？符合你自己的经验吗？

注：

69节。「拯救的角」是指一位大有能力的救赎者。动物的角是力量的象征。

比较诗18：2.

80节。「旷野」：是指介于约旦和死海一带的荒僻区域。

Reflections and Prayer 反思祷告