Luke 1:67-80: a reflection

67His father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying, 68“Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people; 69and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David 70(as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets who have been from of old), 71salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us; 72to show mercy toward our fathers, to remember his holy covenant, 73the oath which he swore to Abraham our father, 74to grant to us that we, being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, should serve him without fear, 75in holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life. 76And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways, 77to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the remission of their sins, 78because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the dawn from on high will visit us, 79to shine on those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death; to guide our feet into the way of peace.” 80The child was growing and becoming strong in spirit, and was in the desert until the day of his public appearance to Israel.

When Zechariah's tongue is loosed at the birth of his son John, he prophesies, and his song rises to a wonderful description of God's mercy breaking into the world like a dawn. Because of the tender mercy of our God, he sings, by which the dawn from on high will visit us, to shine on those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. The coming of salvation is pictured as a dawn breaking on those in darkness, and it flows from the tender mercy of God. Those sitting in darkness and the shadow of death are visited by the dawn from on high, God's mercy breaking upon them like the light of morning. God's tender mercy is the source of this dawn; it is because of his tender mercy that the light comes to those in darkness. The dawn of God's mercy breaks upon those who sit in darkness. God's tender mercy sends the dawn from on high to shine on those in darkness. The tender mercy of God is the source of the dawn that shines on those in darkness. Salvation dawns on the dark from God's tender mercy.

Notice the source and the reach of this dawn: it flows from God's tender mercy, and shines on those in darkness. Zechariah does not attribute the coming of salvation to any merit of the people, but to the tender mercy of God; it is because of his tender mercy that the dawn comes. And the dawn shines precisely on those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, those in the deepest need of light. This is a beautiful picture of how God's salvation comes: not as a reward for the deserving, but as a dawn breaking from his tender mercy upon those in darkness, those who most need it. The light comes to the dark; the mercy comes to those in the shadow of death. God's tender mercy sends the dawn precisely to those who sit in darkness, to shine on them and guide them into peace. This is comfort for those who feel themselves in darkness: that God's tender mercy sends the dawn to shine on exactly such, on those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death. The dawn of God's mercy is for those in darkness, sent by his tender mercy. God's mercy brings light to the darkest places. The dawn shines on those who most need it, from God's tender mercy.

That is worth resting in, for the dawn of God's salvation, flowing from his tender mercy, shines on those who sit in darkness. We can feel ourselves in darkness, in the shadow of death, far from light; but Zechariah sings that the tender mercy of God sends the dawn from on high to shine precisely on those who sit in darkness. God's mercy brings light to the darkest places, to those who most need it. The dawn comes not to the deserving but to those in darkness, from God's tender mercy. When you feel yourself in darkness, remember that God's tender mercy sends the dawn to shine on exactly such as you. Rest in the tender mercy of God, whose dawn from on high shines on those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide their feet into the way of peace, as Zechariah sang that because of the tender mercy of our God the dawn from on high will visit us; for the coming of God's salvation flows not from any merit of ours but from his tender mercy, and it breaks like a dawn precisely upon those in darkness, those in the deepest need of light, so that when we feel ourselves in darkness or the shadow of death we can take heart that God's tender mercy sends the dawn to shine on exactly such as us, bringing light to the darkest places and guiding our feet into the way of peace.

Lord, when Zechariah's tongue is loosed at the birth of his son John, he prophesies, and his song rises to a wonderful description of your mercy breaking into the world like a dawn. Because of the tender mercy of our God, he sings, by which the dawn from on high will visit us, to shine on those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. The coming of salvation is pictured as a dawn breaking on those in darkness, and it flows from your tender mercy. Those sitting in darkness and the shadow of death are visited by the dawn from on high, your mercy breaking upon them like the light of morning. Show me the source and the reach of this dawn: it flows from your tender mercy, and shines on those in darkness. Zechariah does not attribute the coming of salvation to any merit of the people, but to your tender mercy. And the dawn shines precisely on those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, those in the deepest need of light. This is a beautiful picture of how your salvation comes: not as a reward for the deserving, but as a dawn breaking from your tender mercy upon those in darkness. The light comes to the dark; the mercy comes to those in the shadow of death. This is comfort for those who feel themselves in darkness. Let me rest in that, for the dawn of your salvation, flowing from your tender mercy, shines on those who sit in darkness. I can feel myself in darkness, in the shadow of death, far from light; but Zechariah sings that your tender mercy sends the dawn to shine precisely on those who sit in darkness. When I feel myself in darkness, help me remember that your tender mercy sends the dawn to shine on exactly such as me, Lord, bringing light to the darkest places and guiding my feet into the way of peace.