Songs of Praise at Christmas!

After the birth of John the Baptist, his father Zacharias, was enabled to speak again.  His first words were of praise to a mighty God and of the glories of salvation.  So often our first words in the day, or first words when meeting a friend, or first words when hubby comes in the door are those of grumbling, complaining, and discontent.  What a rebuke and an example!

Luke 2:68-79

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,

In holiness and righteousness before him,

all the days of our life.

And thou, child, {John the Baptist} shalt be called the prophet of the Highest:

for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;

To give knowledge of salvation unto his people

by remission of their sins,

Through the tender mercy of our God;

whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,

To give light to them that sit in darkness

and in the shadow of death,

to guide our feet into the way of peace.