Scripture

“Because of our God’s merciful compassion, the Dawn from on high will visit us to shine on those who live in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

Luke 1:78-79

Muse

Our passage comes at the end of Zechariah’s song. As a backdrop, Zechariah was turned mute following his disbelief in hearing he and his wife, Elizabeth, would have a son. After nine months of silence, the first words he speaks/sings is a song recounting the greatness of God. Similarly, after a 400-year silence between God and his people Israel, the first words spoken are a message of hope that God has not forgotten His people nor His promises of sending a Messiah.

What must it have been like to not hear from God for those four centuries? We have our bibles, church, and connection group as ways of hearing from God, not to mention the Holy Spirit himself. The Jews had the Old Testament with promises of a Messiah. Their temple, the center of Jewish society, had been destroyed and rebuilt. At the time this passage takes place, Israel was under the rule of Rome, one of the conquering empires that spread the Jewish people across the known world. Perhaps, with these events, hope seemed lost and maybe the Jewish people felt forgotten or abandoned.

Friend, they weren’t forgotten or abandoned. What we all forget so often is that God doesn’t work on our timeline. Notice Zechariah’s words, “the Dawn from on high.” Other versions have “sunrise,” “dayspring,” and “rising sun.” He’s comparing the coming Messiah to a morning sunrise that will remove the night of sin and the darkness, despair, brokenness, and death it brings. Just like turning on your phone’s flashlight in the middle of the night, God bursts into the darkness by sending Jesus.

The Moody Bible Commentary notes that this passage summarizes “the ministry of the coming One in terms of salvation, forgiveness, mercy, guidance, and peace.” Through Jesus’ death, we were granted salvation and the forgiveness of sins. These acts culminate in Christ’s death and resurrection. We see through Jesus’ earthly ministry that he mercifully heals those that come to him—for example, giving the blind sight. How amazing is it that the first thing the blind see is the face of their Savior. We see Jesus providing guidance to his disciples and crowds on how to live (for example, the Sermon on the Mount. See Matthew 5-7). While Jesus’ words caused conflict for some, for others, they found the peace their souls had been looking for.

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Our World

The holiday season is perhaps when we feel the lack of hope most keenly. Movies show us the resolution of problems and the healing of broken relationships. However, living on the day to day is not a movie. We see the festivities, the lights, the music, and the parties, but perhaps your heart is breaking over a recent diagnosis of a loved one, or you’re the one struggling with health issues. Maybe your family is broken, or you’re struggling to make ends meet. Maybe your sin is suffocating you once again, just when you thought you had achieved victory. Maybe you’re struggling with not feeling seen or heard, an outsider struggling to belong.

Friend, I want you to know: you are seen. You are heard. God sees your broken heart and your silent tears. He hears your questions and prayers. Your circumstances don’t scare God nor are they too big for Him to bear. Your circumstances, whatever they may be, are the consequences and ripple effects of sin. Friend, this is the very reason Jesus came: to reverse the effects of sin, to make the broken whole, and to give us access to God. If you’ve not repented of your sins and turned to Jesus, what’s holding you back? Your past is already known to Him. You can’t hide it from Him. Christian, have you given your brokenness over so you can be healed and have peace?

• What form has darkness taken in your life right now? Sin? Depression? Anger? Relational Brokenness?
  
• How might Jesus be guiding you into the way of peace?
  
• Is “peace” something that we choose/accept, or something that we wait on with hope? Or both?
  

Prayer

Father, thank you for sending your Son to bring hope and peace. Thank you for working in ways we don’t always see. Help us to find our source of hope and peace in you. We wait on you “more than watchmen for the morning.” Give us the faith that you afflict us in love, and that you have never given us more than we can handle. You are not arbitrary in what you allow to befall us. We choose to believe your goodness and sovereignty,

Amen.