John Calvin Commentary Luke 1:69

"And hath raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of his servant David" — Luke 1:69 (ASV)

He has raised up the horn of salvation.⁷¹ That is, saving power: for when the throne of David was cast down and the people scattered, the hope of salvation had, to all appearances, perished. Zechariah alludes to the predictions of the prophets, which foretell that a sudden revival would take place when the state of affairs had become melancholy and desperate. This mode of expression is borrowed from the passage:

“There will I make the horn of David to bud: I have ordained a lamp for mine anointed” (Psalms 132:17).

But if it is only in Christ that God has put forth his power to save us, we are not at liberty to depart from that method if we desire to obtain salvation from God. Let it also be observed that this horn brings salvation to believers, but terror to the ungodly, whom it scatters, or bruises and lays prostrate.

Of his servant David. He is so called not only because, like any of the godly, he worshipped God, but also for this other reason: that he was his chosen servant to rule and save his people, and thus to represent, along with his successors, the person and office of Christ. Though there remained among the Jews, at that time, no trace of a kingdom, Zechariah, resting on the promises of God, does not hesitate to call David the servant of God, in whom God gave an example of the salvation that was to come.⁷²

Now that the throne of Christ is erected among us, so that from there he may govern us, it follows that he is actually appointed to us as the author of salvation.

⁷¹ “C'est a dire, une vertu et puissance pleine de salut.” — “That is, a power and might full of salvation.” — “That is, a power and might full of salvation

⁷² “Specimen futurae salutis;” — “;” — “pource que Dieu l'avoit dresse pour figure et tesmoignage du salut a venir;” — “because God had set him up for a figure and proof of the salvation to come.”;” — “because God had set him up for a figure and proof of the salvation to come.”