The other morning as I took my little puppy out for a walk, just at daybreak, there on top of the corner fence post, sat a little bird. His feathers, fluffed out against the morning chill; alone, silhouette against the gray sky. [@more@]The reason I spotted him? It was his song. He was welcoming the first light of day with a joyful song. A big black bird left his seat from an old tree across the way, one loud caw as he flew over. But our little friend just puffed out his chest and sang the more.
What a moment to witness – the breaking of dawn.
Just the day before, my husband had stopped in mid-sentence and began to quote the line: “the dayspring on high has come to visit”.
“Where does that come from?” he asked. “It sounds like God is saying something to us.”
"I’ll have to look it up,” I told him, “That does sound cool."
It was in the Bible, the Gospel of Luke, chapter 1, verse 78: “Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high has 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.”
The Amplified Bible says, “Because of and through the heart of tender mercy and loving kindness of our God, a Light from on high will dawn upon us and visit us.”
Wow! Because of God’s heart of tender mercy – a Light from on high will dawn upon us!
These words were being spoken by the priest, Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist, at the time when the family was naming the new baby. Elizabeth said his name was to be John, but the family argued with her and then asked the father what he wanted to name the boy. Well, Zacharias hadn’t spoken since he was given the news that he was having a baby in his older years, much less being able to name him! He was confronted while working in the temple, burning incense before God, an angel appeared, saying, “Don’t be afraid, Zacharias! For I have come to tell you that God has heard your prayer!” What a salutation! That God has heard your prayer!
But Zacharias was afraid and could only think of reasons why this just couldn’t be. So the angel told him that because of his unbelief he would be unable to speak until the promise had been fulfilled. In this case, it was the birth of John. And when the family asked him what the name should be, he wrote upon a tablet, “His name is John.” Then his mouth was opened immediately, his tongue loosed, and he began to praise! He was filled with the Holy Spirit and began to prophesy, saying, “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he has visited and redeemed His people.” He goes on to prophesy the coming of the Christ, and that John was to be a prophet to go before the Lord and prepare the way. He ended the prophecy with the verse about the “dayspring on high”.
You know, it’s like he had just came through a dark night, waiting for the promise that God had assured him would come. And now he was singing in the morning light!
How many times have we gotten weary and bogged down with living; thinking the night would never be over? And even when we hear a word of encouragement, we tend to brush it off. Even when God sends a moment; an angel, to say that He has heard us, don’t be afraid and give up, all we can do is argue and think of why it will never be! But even in the middle of our unbelief – God just says, “Be quiet and see that I am God! What I have promised will come in due season.”
“Heaven’s dawn is about to break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and death’s shadow, and to guide us to the path of peace.” (Luke 1:78b-79 LNT)
How appropriate for this season; the holidays past, winter moving in, but the season when God is reminding us how very close we are to the second-coming of His Son, the coming Messiah. The Day Spring from on High. “Even so, Lord, come quickly!”
Open your hearts – your homes – and let the Light of Heaven come in. Believe and say that Jesus is the Lord come down to bring you to God, that He died for you and that God raised Him from the dead, and then you will be walking in the true light! The Bible says in the book of Romans, chapter 10, verse 11, “Anyone who trusts in him (Jesus) will never be put to shame.”
Visit us, Lord, and bring salvation to us and guide our feet in the way of peace. Amen.
(Song to sing: "Morning has Broken")
(Scriptures to read: Luke 1; Malachi 4:2-3; Ephesians 5:14)
Vickie Hieb, Texas, USA