BLESSED be the Shem of Yahweh FOREVER – 17

Subject: Zechariah blesses Yahweh God of Israel

‘Blessing the Name of God' is also a major theme in the NT.

"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people." Luke 1:68 


These words were spoken by Zechariah when his son, John (the Baptist) was circumcised on the 8th day. As soon as Zechariah was able to speak, he praised God (Luke 1:64). He was filled with the Spirit of God and started prophesying in Luke 1:68 beginning with these words: Blessed be the Lord God of Israel …


In the NT, "Lord" can refer to Yahweh God, Jesus or to a human master. Most of the time "Lord" refers to Jesus. In Luke 1, Jesus has not yet been born, so the word “Lord” definitely refers to Yahweh God. 

“Blessed be Yahweh, God of Israel….” We have seen in the last 16 articles that men of God in OT constantly used this exact phrase to worship the One True God of Israel. God's Name is exalted through praise.


Zechariah is blessing Yahweh God of Israel, for God is visiting His people to redeem them through the Messiah. John the Baptist is to be the prophet of the Highest to go before the face of the “Lord” to prepare his ways (Luke 1:76). “Lord” here refers to Yahweh as this is a quotation from Isaiah 40:3, “Prepare the way of Yahweh”.


In the Greek NT, when "κύριος" Lord is used in quoting the OT, most of the time, the Hebrew has the text "יהוה" Yahweh. Therefore, we can read "Yahweh" in place of the word "Lord" in those occurrences.


Truly Yahweh God is praised and blessed. God is truly merciful in fulfilling His promise to raise up a horn of salvation in the person of Christ with John as the forerunner.