Luke 1:68 “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed His people”
This is a declaration, a praise statement. Happy is God because He has visited and redeemed His people! Who said this? Zechariah, John the Baptist’s father said this. Obviously, he was an Israelite, plus he had personal stakes in the game: His son was to “make straight the way for the Lord” according to Matthew 3:3. Obviously, he would praise God, but why should I? Why can we also say “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed His people”?
I ain’t Jewish
Israel was the nation that God chose to show the rest of the world how He wants humans to behave. Not because they were so obedient, or so faithful, or so good - Not at all! Many times they weren't even grateful, never-mind exemplary!
But that is just it. He chooses to use the error-prone to showcase His faithfulness. It's not that they were so awesome that they were the chosen people, it's because their fallibility makes them an excellent canvas for God to show just how able and good He is. God is the Lord of Israel, He chose them, set them apart to show the world His awesomeness. So why can we praise God with Zachariah’s words?
Because Jesus was born. God visited His people, the Jews, by sending His Son to be born as a Jewish baby. Secondly, Jesus is their (and our) Redeemer. It is an old word that means to save or to rescue. In Titus 2:14 God says Jesus "…gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for his own possession…"
But you don’t have to be
Enter us. God isn’t talking to Jewish people in that verse. He is talking to everyone. Although Jesus was born as an Israelite, He was the promised blessing to all of us in Genesis 12 given to Abraham. And if we believe this, if we have placed our faith in Jesus, we are "a people for his own possession". We are His peeps!
Because of Jesus Christ
Proudly plagiarise Zechariah: Praise the Lord, because Jesus Christ, God’s own Son, was born into the Israelite family, and true to His promise from way back in Genesis, He made a way for everyone to be saved and He rescued you! And while you are at it, share this good news with one of your peeps.