I just started reading the Gospel of Luke for my devotion time not too long ago, and it is a book I’ve read quite a few times. As I was reading through the first chapter I was moved by Zacharia’s prophecy following the birth of his son, John the Baptist.
I don’t think I’d ever realised how beautiful a description of God it is. How He showed mercy toward his people, how He remembers His covenant, how He offers us salvation and forgiveness “that we…might serve Him without fear, In holiness and righteousness before Him all our days.”
But what humbled me the most were verses 78-79. In the moment I read them I understood again the wonderful love of our God.
78 Because of the tender mercy of our God,
With which the Sunrise from on high will visit us,
79 TO SHINE UPON THOSE WHO SIT IN DARKNESS AND THE SHADOW OF DEATH,
To guide our feet into the way of peace.”
Think about God’s tender mercy that caused Him to send His Son into this earth. I love the imagery of the sunrise here because it shines upon the whole earth. That the sun would stretch its beams into the darkness of this world, so we may be led to peace. It does not favor one land or people, but spins its way around the globe. And people now squint into the horizon of new life and find a Savior. A Savior sent because of the tender mercy of our God.