“The Benedictus, Part Two” | November 6, 2022

I.       “The Prophet”
Luke 1:67-75; 65-66 
Luke 1:76; Lk 7:26-27; 20:6; Matt 11:9; 14:5; Lk 1:17, 32
Luke 3:4; Matt 3:3
Malachi 3:1; Is 40:1-3
Mark 1:1-6; Ps 23:4; Eph 2:1

II.       “The Promise”
Luke 1:77-78a; Ro 3:23; 10:8-11; Mk 1:4; Matt 26:26-28
Isaiah 60:1-3


III.      “The Sonrise of Peace”
Luke 1:78b-79; Col 3:12 (Gk.)
Malachi 4:1-2; Eph 5:14; 2Pe 1:19; Lk 24:49 
Matthew 4:15-16; (Is 9:2); [Ac 26:18]
John 8:12; Psalm 107:1-16; Is 42:7; Ro 3:10-18
See Luke 2:14; 1Jn 1:9
Luke 1:80; 2:40; Mat 3:1; 11:7-10

Greek Word Study:
Prophet: ‘prophetes’: from ‘prophemi’ (to tell beforehand): - a prophet, a foreteller of future events, also an interpreter. In NT, ‘prophetes’ corresponds to the person who in the OT spoke under divine influence and inspiration. This included the foretelling of future events and the exhorting, reproving and threatening of individuals or nations as the ambassador of God and as the interpreter of His will to Men. Hence, the prophet spoke not his own thoughts but what he received from God, retaining however, his own consciousness and self-possession. Spoken specifically of John the Baptist (Lk 1:76)
Before: ‘enopion’: in the face of (literal or figurative): - before +between, in front (in the presence, sight) of. From ‘en’ (in) and ‘optanomai’: to gaze (i.e. with wide-open eyes, as at something remarkable) (Lk 1:76)
Prepare1 his2 ways3: ‘hetoimazo1 autos2 hodos3’: ‘hetoimazo’: - to prepare; (get, make) ready1.  ‘autos2’: his2. And ways3: ‘hodos3’ a road, (by implication) a progress, (the route); (figuratively) a mode or means3: path, road, (high-) way3. (Lk 1:76) [Ancient Custom for Monarch Travel]
To Give: ‘didomi’: to give (used in a very wide application) [Thayers: in this use, to give something to someone, to give over to one’s care; something to be administered; denoting something to be done by him to whom it is said to be given, to cause him to repent (Lk 1:77)
Salvation: ‘soteria’: derived from ‘soter,’ as noun meaning rescue or safety (physically or morally): - salvation, save, strength. Noun from ‘soter,’ a savior, deliverer. Safety, deliverance, preservation from danger or destruction. In a Christian sense, soteria is deliverance from sin and its spiritual consequences and admission to Eternal Life w/Blessedness in the Kingdom of Christ (Lk 1:77)
Forgiveness: ‘aphesis’: From ‘aphiemi’ (freedom), (Figuratively) pardon: forgiveness, liberty. Noun from ‘aphiemi’ (to cause to stand away) to release one’s sins from the sinner. Dismission, i.e. deliverance from service, captivity, etc. Also, remission, i.e. forgiveness, pardon of sins. (Lk 1:77)
Tender1 mercy2: ‘splagchnon1 eleos2’: ‘splagchnon’: probably strengthened from the ‘splen’ (spleen); an intestine (plural); (figuratively) pity or sympathy1: - affection, bowels, heart, +tender mercy. ‘Eleos2’: compassion: - Divine mercy2, active pity. [Mercy from the Bowels of God] (Lk 1:78)
Sunrise: ‘anatole’: a rising of light, i.e. dawn (figuratively) (by implication) the east: east, rise (-ing), sunrise. [The Dawn of Redemption] (Lk 1:78)
Visit: ‘episkeptomai’: verb form of ‘episkopos’ (overseer): (from “to inspect”) i.e. (by implication) to select; (by extension) to go see, relieve: - Care for, pick out, visit. From ‘epi’ (upon) and ‘skeptomai’ (n.f. to look). To look at something: To look upon with mercy, favor, kind regard. (Lk 1:78)
Give Light: ‘epiphaino’: from ‘epi’ (upon) and ‘phaino’ (to shine). To shine upon, i.e. become (literal) visible, or (figuratively) known: appear, give light. To cause to appear upon or appear to, to show before, to exhibit. In NT to show oneself upon or to, i.e. to appear upon or to. Spoken of Light: to shine upon (Lk 1:79) Metaphorically, to be conscious, to be known and manifest. [The Tender Mercy of God is manifest in Jesus, the Sun of Righteousness] 
Darkness: ‘skotos’: from base of ‘skia’ (shadow), i.e. obscurity: - darkness. Spoken figuratively of moral darkness, the absence of spiritual light and truth, inc. the idea of sinfulness and consequent calamity. (Lk 1:79)
Shadow of Death: ‘skia thanatos’: ‘skia’ (shadow) [of] Death: ‘thanatos’ from ‘thnesko’ (to die): - deadly peril, death, mortal pestilence. The extinction of life. In NT, this word is applied to convey the idea of physical death as aggravated by Eternal Condemnation; as opposed to Life in Christ, Joyful Resurrection, and Eternal Life in the kingdom of God, won by Christ. (Lk 1:79)