Daily devotional · December 19
The Dawn From on High
“Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied: “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has visited and redeemed His people. He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David, as He spoke through His holy prophets, those of ages past, salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us, to show mercy to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant, the oath He swore to our father Abraham, to grant us deliverance from hostile hands, that we may serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our lives. And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for Him, to give to His people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the Dawn will visit us from on high, to shine on those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.””
Zechariah spent months unable to speak after doubting the angel's message. When his voice returns, his first words are praise. He blesses the Lord for visiting and redeeming His people, and he speaks to his newborn son, who will prepare the way. The song ends with an image of sunrise: the dawn from on high will break upon those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, guiding our feet into the way of peace. Silence had become Zechariah's teacher. Sometimes seasons of not knowing what to say make our later words richer. Notice also that his song begins with God's faithfulness, not his own experience. Today, practice a short silence before speaking: before a meeting, a meal or a message, take one slow breath and ask what would be helpful and kind. And if a season of silence, doubt or grief is your story, remember that dawn is not canceled by the length of the night.
Prayer
Lord, guide my feet into peace. Let my words rise from stillness and praise. Amen.