Dayspring #1

Friday, April 23, 2021

“Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace” (Luke 1:78,79 KJV).

What is this “dayspring?”

After John the Baptist’s birth, his father Zacharias preached a lengthy sermon in Luke chapter 1. Let us read it in full: “[67] And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying, [68] Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people, [69] And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David; [70] As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began: [71] That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us; [72] To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant; [73] The oath which he sware to our father Abraham, [74] That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, [75] In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.

“[76] And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; [77] To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins, [78] Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, [79] To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” As the Holy Ghost led him, Zacharias declared the various Messianic prophecies of the Old Testament were coming to pass. Christ Jesus had already been conceived in Mary’s womb, and was to be born in roughly six months. John the Baptist would play an exceptional role, introducing Israel to her Messiah.

With the arrival of God’s “anointed,” the “dayspring from on high” would visit the Jewish people. Exactly what is this “dayspring,” and how will it affect Israel? Let us study the Scriptures to find out….

Bible Q&A #830: “What is the ‘bound’ of Hosea 5:10?”