“I will again make instruction shine forth like the dawn, and I will make it clear from far away.”

“Make it clear from far away.”  Indeed, while still in the womb the Word caused those in the womb to stir for joy (Luke 1.44).  While still in the cave, shepherds were drawn to him from out in the fields (Luke 1.12), the very angels were drawn from out of the heavens and broke into sudden praise (Luke 1.13), and rulers came great distances to behold him (Matthew 2.2).

“I will again make instruction shine forth like the dawn.”

Indeed, “for those who sat in the shadow of death, light has dawned” (Matthew 4.16).  For the Word left his womb and entered his cave.  From the cave he came forth to shatter the darkness, and to teach us (Matthew 4.23; Mark 6.6b) with a message so extraordinary that he was amazed when he encountered unbelief (Mark 6.6a).  But teach us he did, for he was sent for this purpose (Luke 4.43).  “May we too proclaim the mighty acts of him who called us out of darkness into his marvelous light” (1 Peter 2.9).  For “although we have not seen him, we love him; and even though we do not see him now, we believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, for we are receiving the outcome of our faith, the salvation of our souls” (1 Peter 1.8-9).

The Word is “a revealing light to the Gentiles” (Luke 2.32) “to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace” (Luke 1.79).

We will do well then “to be attentive to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in our hearts” (2 Peter 1.19).