Luke 1:79

“To give light to them that sit in darkness, etc.] God's elect among the Jews, who were not only in a state of unregeneracy, which is a state of darkness, ignorance, and unbelief; but in the darkness of the legal dispensation, and at this time under more than ordinary darkness and ignorance; having lost the knowledge of the righteousness of God, and of the spirituality of his law, the true sense of the Scriptures, and right notions of the Messiah; being led by blind guides, the Scribes and Pharisees; and, were as it were also, in the shadow of death; in a state seemingly irrecoverable, when Christ, the great light arose, and shone upon them; and communicated spiritual light, life, and heat…”

“(Compare Isa 9:2; Mat 4:13-17). "That St. Luke, of all the Evangelists, should have obtained and recorded these inspired utterances of Zacharias and Mary--is in accordance with his character and habits, as indicated in Luk 1:1-4" [WEBSTER and WILKINSON].”

“To give light ... - See the notes at Matthew 4:16. To guide our feet ... - The figure in these verses is taken from travelers, who, being overtaken by night, know not what to do, and who wait patiently for the morning light, that they may know which way to go. So man wandered. So he became benighted. So he sat in the shadow of death. So he knew not which way to go until the Sun of righteousness arose, and then the light shone brightly on his way, and the road was open to the promised land of rest - to heaven. This song of Zechariah is exceedingly beautiful. It expresses with elegance the great points of the plan of redemption, and the mercy of God in providing that plan. That mercy is…”

“give: Luk 2:32; Isa 9:2, Isa 42:7, Isa 42:16, Isa 49:6, Isa 49:9, Isa 60:1-3; Mat 4:16; Joh 1:9, Joh 8:12, Joh 9:5; Joh 12:46; Act 26:18; Eph 5:8; Th1 5:4, Th1 5:5; Jo1 1:5-7 and: Job 3:5, Job 10:22; Psa 23:4, Psa 44:19, Psa 107:10, Psa 107:14; Jer 2:6 to guide: Psa 25:8-10, Psa 25:12, Psa 85:10-13; Pro 3:17, Pro 8:20; Isa 48:17, Isa 48:22, Isa 57:19-21, Isa 59:8; Jer 6:16; Mat 11:28, Mat 11:29; Rom 3:17 Luke 1:80”