Day by Day with Martin Luther

Read: Zechariah 10 Revelation 17:1-18

“We Live in Hope”

“Return to your stronghold, O prisoners of hope; today I declare
that I will restore to you double.” [Zechariah 9:12]

“Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.” [Isaiah 40:2] This is pure grace when our Lord restores double grace in the place of sins which have been taken away, that is, He removes from us both Law and sin … it was not enough that we be freed from sin unless the author of sin also be taken away. That, of course, is the Law, which causes sin to abound, and it makes demands on us and accuses us so that no conscience can ever be joyful. But that redemption is brought about by the blood of the King. In summary, the prophet is doing the following: he describes the way in which that King has arrived at this kingdom of salvation and righteousness. Through the Word we are justified and freed. We are moved from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light by the power of Christ’s blood. Then we live in hope.