Zechariah's Canticle

"Zechariah, filled with holy spirit, sang this canticle,  

'Blessed be the LORD GOD of Israel,

for HE has come and redeemed HIS people.

HE has raised up for us a victorious Savior

in the house of David HIS servant,

as HE promised through HIS prophets of old,

salvation from our enemies

and from the hand of our foes.

HE has shown mercy to our fathers

and remembered HIS holy covenant,

the oath HE swore to Abraham, our father,

to deliver us from the enemy,

that we might serve HIM fearlessly

as a holy and righteous people all the days of our lives.

And you, my child,

shall be called prophet of the Most High,

for you shall go before the LORD

to prepare the way for HIM

and enable HIS people to know of their salvation

when HE comes to forgive their sins.

This is the work of the mercy of our GOD,

who comes from on high as a rising sun

shining on those who live in darkness

and in the shadow of death,

and guiding our feet into the way of peace'.

As the child grew up, he was seen to be strong in the Spirit; and he lived in the desert until the day when he appeared openly in Israel." - Luke 1:67-80 

(The child lived in the desert, that is the desert of Judea by the Dead Sea, where some large communities of which the well-known Qumran community had settled.  These communitie, called the Essenes, devoted themselves to prayer and meditation on Scripture.  And took part in the education of children.)

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