The Dayspring

To give knowledge of salvation to His people By the remission of their sins, Through the tender mercy of our God, With which the Dayspring from on high has visited us; To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, To guide our feet into the way of peace." – Luke 1.77-79

‘With which the Dayspring from on high as visited us…’

What is this ‘Dayspring?’ It is not a word we use much anymore. I love the word though. I wish we still used it.

It really is a descriptive word. It is a poetic word for dawn, or daybreak. It is that instant when the sun springs over the horizon and illuminates the sky bursting forth in all its radiance. I love walking at that time of day. It is almost mystical to see the sun break forth and dispel the darkness. Instantly the path is clearer and you feel like there is fresh new hope for the new day.

This is the perfect word to describe what Jesus did when he came from on high to visit us. He brought the gospel light of hope to a dark and dying world.

He visited us to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death. He gives light to guard our paths.

‘It’s a troublesome world, all the people who are in it, are troubled with troubles almost every minute.’ (Dr Seuss, ‘Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are?) Those troubles make the way dark and difficult to navigate. It is like walking a trail in the dark. We can’t see what is causing us to stumble.

But the Dayspring has visited us to light our path. We need no long stumble in the darkness of sin. The Light of the World is Jesus. 

Where would we be today without our Dayspring?