Luke the physician wrote how, “Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he has visited and redeemed his people, And has raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David. As he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began. That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us. To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant. The oath which he swore to our father Abraham, That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear. In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life. To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins, Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high has visited us, ...”, and in chapter one and verse seventy-nine of his book Luke shared Zacharias continued to prophesy how God's mercy was sent “to give light to them that sit in darkness” where we read:
To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace.
The verse reads, “To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, ...” Luke began with the words, “to give light to them” or “to provide, grant, bestow, furnish and supply a way to clearly know, show, appear and become visible to people” “that sit in darkness” which means “who are seated, fixed and established in shadiness, obscurity, ungodliness and immorality along with their consequent misery in hell” “and in the shadow of death” or “and within the shade, sketch, outline and adumbration pertaining to the separation of the soul and body by which the life on earth is ended”. Luke shared how God's “tender mercy” through which His “dayspring from on high has visited us” enabled people who were “seated and fixed” in “ungodliness and immorality” and leading them toward the “shade of the miserable state of the wicked dead in hell”.
The verse continues, “... to guide our feet into the way of peace.” Luke added the words, “to guide our feet” which means “to straighten, guide and direct Zacharias and Israel's steps” “into the way of peace” or “into the course of thinking, feeling concerning calm, harmony, concord and tranquility”. Luke shared how the “dayspring” was sent to “lead” Zacharias and the people of Israel into “calm and tranquility”.
When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we see more of the benefits from God sending the “dayspring” which is His Son Jesus into the world. People who are “established in darkness” and bound for “death” and separation from God for all eternity now have an opportunity to know God's “Savior and Lord” Jesus Christ. Jesus came into the world to “deliver” people from “darkness” and lead them into the “light” of His gospel. Those who examine these things will find God merciful, kind and gracious as He extends His “salvation” plan to all mankind.
Next time Luke shares how Zacharias shares how John“grew, and waxed strong in spirit”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book
“Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the
marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the
Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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