To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.
Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost after the birth of his promised son and prophesied of the child as herald of the Messiah to prepare His ways, and the Dayspring from on high who visits through God's tender mercy is Jesus Christ. The light He gives is the knowledge of salvation by the remission of sins, offered to those living in spiritual darkness and gross darkness while facing death, to direct them through Christ into peace and safe paths of happiness. John's assigned trust from childhood was to go before the Lord to enlighten those in that darkness and lead feet into the way of peace, making ready a people prepared to receive and believe in Christ as the Son of God at His coming. Fitness for that work was not automatic, so his parents faithfully moved to a retired place in the country, and God called him to the desert to learn of nature and nature's God instead of the training of the rabbinical schools, in surroundings favorable to simplicity and self-denial away from all-pervading suspicion, unbelief and impurity. Christ still gives that light through His church as His instrument, as His followers catch brightness from His presence and let His righteousness shine on people walking in darkness and facing death, becoming light-bearers to others still in darkness as they reach the highest attainments and put away selfishness.
Setting and Promise
The prophecy belongs to Zacharias of the hill country of Judea, who went up to Jerusalem to minister in the temple in the order of his course and received by lot to burn incense, when a promised son was announced to him. After John's birth Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, his speech that had been taken away was restored, and he prophesied. That prophecy declares the calling of John as prophet of the Highest to go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways and to make ready a people prepared to receive and believe in Christ as the Son of God at His coming. John, the son of a poor priest born in a little village among the hills of Judea, grew and waxed strong in spirit and lived in the wilderness and deserts till the day of his showing unto Israel to do this work.
The child is thus presented as herald of the Messiah, going before the Lord to prepare His ways. That word about the herald was recalled later when John's ministry stirred the people.
The Dayspring from on high who visits is Jesus Christ, coming through the tender mercy of God. Through that mercy the dawn from on high brings light to those sitting in darkness and under the shadow of death and guides feet into the way of peace. As gracious Instructor of those in gross darkness He calls for the highest exaltation. John's prophetic work prepared the way for this visitation and for the Lord who brings it.
The light given is the knowledge of salvation by the remission of sins. It belongs to the gift of salvation and is to be made known so that others may seek and receive it. To sit in darkness and in the shadow of death is to live in spiritual darkness and gross darkness while facing death. To guide feet into the way of peace is to direct those in that condition into peace through Christ. His laws lead into safe paths, and those safe paths are paths of peace and happiness.
John's Mission and Preparation
John's calling was to go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways, and by that preparation to make ready a people prepared to receive and believe in Christ as the Son of God at His coming. That preparation comes through giving the knowledge of salvation by the remission of sins, giving light to those sitting in darkness and the shadow of death, and guiding feet into the way of peace. Through obedience to God's laws people can deserve the same report made of John, growing and waxing strong in spirit with divine strength and power above the level of the brute creation.
His assigned work was to enlighten those in spiritual darkness and under the shadow of death and to lead feet into the way of peace. From childhood he knew and accepted this holy trust, for the angel's words to Zacharias were often repeated to him by his parents and his mission was kept before him. That fitness for God's purpose, to become good and wise with a character in every way fit, was not automatic even though he was a miracle child of old age with a special work from God. It required his parents to cooperate faithfully with God and sacredly fulfill their obligation, moving to a retired place in the country where their son would not be exposed to the temptations of city life or induced to depart from their counsel and instruction, so that by no careless neglect on their part would he fail in that work.
John was the son of a poor priest born in a little village among the hills of Judea, who grew and waxed strong in spirit and lived in the wilderness and deserts till the day of his showing unto Israel to do this work. God called him to the desert to learn of nature and nature's God instead of the training of the rabbinical schools for the priesthood, which would have unfitted him for his work. His wilderness training thus prepared him for his mission as Christ's forerunner. In barren hills, wild ravines, and rocky caves he found surroundings favorable to simplicity and self-denial, free from the clamor of the world, where he could study nature, revelation, and Providence.
The solitude of the desert was a welcome escape from a society where suspicion, unbelief, and impurity were well-nigh all-pervading, because he distrusted his own power to withstand temptation and shrank from constant contact with sin lest he lose the sense of its exceeding sinfulness. This human life of growth may be repeated in every child and youth who resist temptation, cut loose from Satan's slavery, reverence God and themselves as redeemed at infinite price, and cooperate with God in restoring the moral image of God. John's God-given mission was to prepare the way for Christ, but rejecting his warning hardened people against the clearer light Christ brought, so they refused the salvation He offered.
Christ's work as light to those in spiritual darkness opens blind eyes and gives a clearer revelation of God, but that light also tests character and determines response. Those who recognize their need receive help and spiritual sight, while those who claim to see while rejecting Him remain in darkness and are guilty for that blindness.
Carrying Light to Others
Christ gives light to those in darkness through the Christian church as His instrument. His followers catch brightness from His presence and let it shine on those walking in darkness and facing death as co-workers with Him in saving the world, with His righteousness shining through them to a world growing more wicked. That work was to begin in Jerusalem by bearing witness in the city of His humiliation, lifting Him up before those who had resisted His mercy and love and denied and crucified Him so that God's wondrous power would be revealed there, and then to carry the truth to all nations. Because of this work the members of His body must reach the highest attainments in mental, physical, and spiritual soundness, putting away all selfishness and everything that confuses and distracts from the work and bringing self-culture into their lives. The light of Christ reflected through faithful servants reveals the hope of salvation, and those who receive its healing light can become light-bearers to others still in darkness and under the shadow of death who need light to find the way of peace.
Studying the precious truths of God's word can bring those sitting in darkness and under the shadow of death to rejoice in the glory of Christ, the Light of life. That entrance into light comes by studying God's word rather than by seeking truth in infidel writings. The sacred work of presenting that truth to those in spiritual darkness and under the shadow of death calls for the highest intellectual and spiritual powers so it can be properly represented. The message of present truth that gives this light is to be carried by Spirit-led workers, including humble people, the uneducated, and children, so that those in spiritual darkness may be guided toward peace. The light of life is to be carried to people in nearby towns and villages who do not know the truth, and sharing it is missionary work that can deepen the workers' experience and sympathy.
Bringing to those sitting in darkness what has been learned from Scripture and publications is bringing them light and the knowledge of salvation. Those sitting in darkness are those who need the word of warning, and missionaries are needed to bring it to them. Spiritual light is spread through widely circulated books and pamphlets that can reach families sitting in the darkness of error. God's servants carry that light by leading weary souls to the compassionate Redeemer. Christ is the true Light who brings hope to those in darkness and under the shadow of death, comforting His followers, dispelling spiritual darkness, and guiding toward peace, so that those who behold Him are changed into His likeness and show others the way from moral darkness into God's marvelous light, with His disciples as lights through whom heavenly truth is communicated to those lacking knowledge of the way of life and salvation to guide them toward the way of peace.
Those who receive and value God's gift of salvation experience Jesus' daily refreshment, protection, and love and are guided in the way of peace. This leading of feet in the path of peace depends on letting Him lead and choosing faithfulness and unselfishness rather than selfishness. He directs the doubting and hesitant toward peace and leads seekers after righteousness and wholeness along the Christian life, where peace and blessing are found through surrender of self and trust in His saving grace and keeping power. God's tender mercy brings light to those in darkness and guides toward peace, shown in kindness to the unthankful and evil, and that mercy is the pattern for treating others mercifully.
Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost after the birth of his promised son and prophesied of the child as herald of the Messiah to prepare His ways, and the Dayspring from on high who visits through God's tender mercy is Jesus Christ. The light He gives is the knowledge of salvation by the remission of sins, offered to those living in spiritual darkness and gross darkness while facing death, to direct them through Christ into peace and safe paths of happiness. John's assigned trust from childhood was to go before the Lord to enlighten those in that darkness and lead feet into the way of peace, making ready a people prepared to receive and believe in Christ as the Son of God at His coming. Fitness for that work was not automatic, so his parents faithfully moved to a retired place in the country, and God called him to the desert to learn of nature and nature's God instead of the training of the rabbinical schools, in surroundings favorable to simplicity and self-denial away from all-pervading suspicion, unbelief and impurity. Christ still gives that light through His church as His instrument, as His followers catch brightness from His presence and let His righteousness shine on people walking in darkness and facing death, becoming light-bearers to others still in darkness as they reach the highest attainments and put away selfishness.
Setting and Promise
The prophecy belongs to Zacharias of the hill country of Judea, who went up to Jerusalem to minister in the temple in the order of his course and received by lot to burn incense, when a promised son was announced to him. After John's birth Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, his speech that had been taken away was restored, and he prophesied. That prophecy declares the calling of John as prophet of the Highest to go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways and to make ready a people prepared to receive and believe in Christ as the Son of God at His coming. John, the son of a poor priest born in a little village among the hills of Judea, grew and waxed strong in spirit and lived in the wilderness and deserts till the day of his showing unto Israel to do this work.
The child is thus presented as herald of the Messiah, going before the Lord to prepare His ways. That word about the herald was recalled later when John's ministry stirred the people.
The Dayspring from on high who visits is Jesus Christ, coming through the tender mercy of God. Through that mercy the dawn from on high brings light to those sitting in darkness and under the shadow of death and guides feet into the way of peace. As gracious Instructor of those in gross darkness He calls for the highest exaltation. John's prophetic work prepared the way for this visitation and for the Lord who brings it.
The light given is the knowledge of salvation by the remission of sins. It belongs to the gift of salvation and is to be made known so that others may seek and receive it. To sit in darkness and in the shadow of death is to live in spiritual darkness and gross darkness while facing death. To guide feet into the way of peace is to direct those in that condition into peace through Christ. His laws lead into safe paths, and those safe paths are paths of peace and happiness.
John's Mission and Preparation
John's calling was to go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways, and by that preparation to make ready a people prepared to receive and believe in Christ as the Son of God at His coming. That preparation comes through giving the knowledge of salvation by the remission of sins, giving light to those sitting in darkness and the shadow of death, and guiding feet into the way of peace. Through obedience to God's laws people can deserve the same report made of John, growing and waxing strong in spirit with divine strength and power above the level of the brute creation.
His assigned work was to enlighten those in spiritual darkness and under the shadow of death and to lead feet into the way of peace. From childhood he knew and accepted this holy trust, for the angel's words to Zacharias were often repeated to him by his parents and his mission was kept before him. That fitness for God's purpose, to become good and wise with a character in every way fit, was not automatic even though he was a miracle child of old age with a special work from God. It required his parents to cooperate faithfully with God and sacredly fulfill their obligation, moving to a retired place in the country where their son would not be exposed to the temptations of city life or induced to depart from their counsel and instruction, so that by no careless neglect on their part would he fail in that work.
John was the son of a poor priest born in a little village among the hills of Judea, who grew and waxed strong in spirit and lived in the wilderness and deserts till the day of his showing unto Israel to do this work. God called him to the desert to learn of nature and nature's God instead of the training of the rabbinical schools for the priesthood, which would have unfitted him for his work. His wilderness training thus prepared him for his mission as Christ's forerunner. In barren hills, wild ravines, and rocky caves he found surroundings favorable to simplicity and self-denial, free from the clamor of the world, where he could study nature, revelation, and Providence.
The solitude of the desert was a welcome escape from a society where suspicion, unbelief, and impurity were well-nigh all-pervading, because he distrusted his own power to withstand temptation and shrank from constant contact with sin lest he lose the sense of its exceeding sinfulness. This human life of growth may be repeated in every child and youth who resist temptation, cut loose from Satan's slavery, reverence God and themselves as redeemed at infinite price, and cooperate with God in restoring the moral image of God. John's God-given mission was to prepare the way for Christ, but rejecting his warning hardened people against the clearer light Christ brought, so they refused the salvation He offered.
Christ's work as light to those in spiritual darkness opens blind eyes and gives a clearer revelation of God, but that light also tests character and determines response. Those who recognize their need receive help and spiritual sight, while those who claim to see while rejecting Him remain in darkness and are guilty for that blindness.
Carrying Light to Others
Christ gives light to those in darkness through the Christian church as His instrument. His followers catch brightness from His presence and let it shine on those walking in darkness and facing death as co-workers with Him in saving the world, with His righteousness shining through them to a world growing more wicked. That work was to begin in Jerusalem by bearing witness in the city of His humiliation, lifting Him up before those who had resisted His mercy and love and denied and crucified Him so that God's wondrous power would be revealed there, and then to carry the truth to all nations. Because of this work the members of His body must reach the highest attainments in mental, physical, and spiritual soundness, putting away all selfishness and everything that confuses and distracts from the work and bringing self-culture into their lives. The light of Christ reflected through faithful servants reveals the hope of salvation, and those who receive its healing light can become light-bearers to others still in darkness and under the shadow of death who need light to find the way of peace.
Studying the precious truths of God's word can bring those sitting in darkness and under the shadow of death to rejoice in the glory of Christ, the Light of life. That entrance into light comes by studying God's word rather than by seeking truth in infidel writings. The sacred work of presenting that truth to those in spiritual darkness and under the shadow of death calls for the highest intellectual and spiritual powers so it can be properly represented. The message of present truth that gives this light is to be carried by Spirit-led workers, including humble people, the uneducated, and children, so that those in spiritual darkness may be guided toward peace. The light of life is to be carried to people in nearby towns and villages who do not know the truth, and sharing it is missionary work that can deepen the workers' experience and sympathy.
Bringing to those sitting in darkness what has been learned from Scripture and publications is bringing them light and the knowledge of salvation. Those sitting in darkness are those who need the word of warning, and missionaries are needed to bring it to them. Spiritual light is spread through widely circulated books and pamphlets that can reach families sitting in the darkness of error. God's servants carry that light by leading weary souls to the compassionate Redeemer. Christ is the true Light who brings hope to those in darkness and under the shadow of death, comforting His followers, dispelling spiritual darkness, and guiding toward peace, so that those who behold Him are changed into His likeness and show others the way from moral darkness into God's marvelous light, with His disciples as lights through whom heavenly truth is communicated to those lacking knowledge of the way of life and salvation to guide them toward the way of peace.
Those who receive and value God's gift of salvation experience Jesus' daily refreshment, protection, and love and are guided in the way of peace. This leading of feet in the path of peace depends on letting Him lead and choosing faithfulness and unselfishness rather than selfishness. He directs the doubting and hesitant toward peace and leads seekers after righteousness and wholeness along the Christian life, where peace and blessing are found through surrender of self and trust in His saving grace and keeping power. God's tender mercy brings light to those in darkness and guides toward peace, shown in kindness to the unthankful and evil, and that mercy is the pattern for treating others mercifully.