The Day-Spring From on High
Minister: | Rev. Ronald Van Overloop |
Date: | 12/24/2017 PM |
Text: | Luke 1:78,79 |
Psalters: | 9, 21, 373, Song of Zachariah |
- What it is.
- “Day-spring” is “the rising” or “east,” so it refers to the sun as it rises, the dawn.
- The sun as it comes over the horizon in the morning can be very bright orange or golden.
- Zachariah seems to have Malachi 4:2 in mind here; he referenced Malachi 3:1 in verses 17 and 76.
- Jesus comes as the sun, giving light, warmth, and life.
- That the dayspring is “from on high” indicates Jesus’ source.
- The Day-spring comes equipped with “the tender mercy of our God.”
- The Day-spring has “visited us.”
- “Day-spring” is “the rising” or “east,” so it refers to the sun as it rises, the dawn.
- For whom does He arise and to visit? Those “that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.”
- “Darkness” is not the darkness of night, but the absence of any light.
- When one “sits” in darkness, then they are unable to move out of it; they are paralyzed by the great darkness.
- To sit in spiritual darkness is to be caught in the darkness of spiritual amorality.
- The Day-spring visits those who are conscious that they sit in darkness (the sick who know they need a physician).
- “Darkness” is not the darkness of night, but the absence of any light.
- The purpose of the Dayspring rising and visiting is two-fold.
- First, to “give light,” that is to appear or reveal (Isa. 9:1,2).
- Second, the light He brings “guide our feet into the way of peace.”
- Those who had been sitting are now standing and walking, for they can see.
- The way of peace is beautiful harmony instead of confusion and war.
- God guides our feet in peace by disentangling us from the quagmire of sin and despondency and shows us perfect peace.