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Luke 1:46-55
The Voice
Luke 1:46-55
The Voice
Mary is deeply moved by these amazing encounters—first with the messenger and then with her cousin, Elizabeth. Mary’s response can’t be contained in normal prose; her noble soul overflows in poetry. And this poetry isn’t simply religious; it has powerful social and political overtones. It speaks of a great reversal—what might be called a social, economic, and political revolution. To people in Mary’s day, there is little question as to what she is talking about. The Jewish people are oppressed by the Roman Empire, and to speak of a King who will demote the powerful and rich and elevate the poor and humble means one thing: God is moving toward setting them free! Soon Zacharias will overflow in poetry of his own.
46 Mary: My soul lifts up the Lord!
47 My spirit celebrates God, my Liberator!
48 For though I’m God’s humble servant,
God has noticed me.
Now and forever,
I will be considered blessed by all generations.
49 For the Mighty One has done great things for me;
holy is God’s name!
50 From generation to generation,
God’s lovingkindness endures
for those who revere Him.
51 God’s arm has accomplished mighty deeds.
The proud in mind and heart,
God has sent away in disarray.
52 The rulers from their high positions of power,
God has brought down low.
And those who were humble and lowly,
God has elevated with dignity.
53 The hungry—God has filled with fine food.
The rich—God has dismissed with nothing in their hands.
54 To Israel, God’s servant,
God has given help,
55 As promised to our ancestors,
remembering Abraham and his descendants in mercy forever.
Luke 1:46-55
New International Version
Luke 1:46-55
New International Version
Mary’s Song(A)
46 And Mary said:
“My soul glorifies the Lord(B)
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,(C)
48 for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.(D)
From now on all generations will call me blessed,(E)
49 for the Mighty One has done great things(F) for me—
holy is his name.(G)
50 His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation.(H)
51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;(I)
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.(J)
52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.(K)
53 He has filled the hungry with good things(L)
but has sent the rich away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful(M)
55 to Abraham and his descendants(N) forever,
just as he promised our ancestors.”
2 Samuel 7:18
The Voice
2 Samuel 7:18
The Voice
18 Then King David was strongly moved and went into the presence of the Eternal.
David: Who am I, O Eternal Lord, and what is my family that You have raised me so high?
2 Samuel 7:18
New International Version
2 Samuel 7:18
New International Version
David’s Prayer(A)
18 Then King David went in and sat before the Lord, and he said:
“Who am I,(B) Sovereign Lord, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?
2 Samuel 7:23-29
The Voice
2 Samuel 7:23-29
The Voice
23 And who is like Your people, Israel? Is there another nation on the earth where God went to redeem them from Egypt and to distinguish Himself with awe-inspiring deeds of power by driving other nations and their false gods out of their path? 24 You chose to take Israel as Your people perpetually; and You, Eternal One, chose to be their God.
25 So yes, Eternal God, take the words You have spoken about me, Your servant, and my family and kingdom, and make them true perpetually. Do what You have promised. 26 Then Your name will be revered forever in the words, “The Eternal One, the Commander of heavenly armies, is the God over Israel,” and the dynasty of Your servant David will be established before You. 27 For You, O Eternal God, the Commander of heavenly armies, the God of Israel, have shown me what You intend, saying, “I will establish your dynasty,” and that is why I have found the courage to pray this prayer in Your presence. 28 O Eternal Lord, You are the True God, and Your words are always true, and You have made this good promise to me, Your servant. 29 So may it please You to continue to bless me, my family, and my kingdom so that my dynasty may be continually before Your sight. For You, O Eternal Lord, have spoken; and with Your blessing, my descendants and kingdom will always be blessed.
2 Samuel 7:23-29
New International Version
2 Samuel 7:23-29
New International Version
23 And who is like your people Israel(A)—the one nation on earth that God went out to redeem as a people for himself, and to make a name(B) for himself, and to perform great and awesome wonders(C) by driving out nations and their gods from before your people, whom you redeemed(D) from Egypt?[a] 24 You have established your people Israel as your very own(E) forever, and you, Lord, have become their God.(F)
25 “And now, Lord God, keep forever the promise(G) you have made concerning your servant and his house. Do as you promised, 26 so that your name(H) will be great forever. Then people will say, ‘The Lord Almighty is God over Israel!’ And the house of your servant David will be established(I) in your sight.
27 “Lord Almighty, God of Israel, you have revealed this to your servant, saying, ‘I will build a house for you.’ So your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to you. 28 Sovereign Lord, you are God! Your covenant is trustworthy,(J) and you have promised these good things to your servant. 29 Now be pleased to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever in your sight; for you, Sovereign Lord, have spoken, and with your blessing(K) the house of your servant will be blessed forever.”
Footnotes
- 2 Samuel 7:23 See Septuagint and 1 Chron. 17:21; Hebrew wonders for your land and before your people, whom you redeemed from Egypt, from the nations and their gods.
Galatians 3:6-14
The Voice
Galatians 3:6-14
The Voice
Paul primarily focuses on the efficacy of the death and resurrection of Jesus as the foundation of the church and of a right relationship with God, but he also correlates this with the presence of the Spirit. If the Spirit is working among the outsiders, it shows that they aren’t really “outsiders” when it comes to membership in the people of God. Paul supports this by showing how the presence of the Spirit is none other than the fulfillment of the promises to Abraham. However, the Spirit only came through Abraham’s descendant, that is, the new covenant with God is mediated by Jesus and the Spirit, not the law.
6 You remember Abraham. Scripture tells us, “Abraham believed God and trusted in His promises, so God counted it to his favor as righteousness.”[a] 7 Know this: people who trust in God are the true sons and daughters of Abraham. 8 For it was foretold to us in the Scriptures that God would set the Gentile nations right by faith when He told Abraham, “I will bless all nations through you.”[b] 9 So those who have faith in Him are blessed along with Abraham, our faithful ancestor.
10 Listen, whoever seeks to be righteous by following certain works of the law actually falls under the law’s curse. I’m giving it to you straight from Scripture because it is as true now as when it was written: “Cursed is everyone who doesn’t live by and do all that is written in the law.”[c] 11 Now it is absolutely clear that no one is made right with God through the law because the prophet Habakkuk told us, “By faith the just will obtain life.”[d] 12 The law is not the same thing as life formed by faith. In fact, you are warned against this when God says, “The one who observes My laws will live by them.”[e] I am trying to tell you that 13 the Anointed One, the Liberating King, has redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us. It was stated in the Scriptures, “Everyone who hangs on a tree is cursed by God.”[f] 14 This is what God had in mind all along: the blessing He gave to Abraham might extend to all nations through the Anointed One, Jesus; and we are the beneficiaries of this promise of the Spirit that comes only through faith.
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Galatians 3:6-14
New International Version
Galatians 3:6-14
New International Version
6 So also Abraham “believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”[a](A)
7 Understand, then, that those who have faith(B) are children of Abraham.(C) 8 Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.”[b](D) 9 So those who rely on faith(E) are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.(F)
10 For all who rely on the works of the law(G) are under a curse,(H) as it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”[c](I) 11 Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God,(J) because “the righteous will live by faith.”[d](K) 12 The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, it says, “The person who does these things will live by them.”[e](L) 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law(M) by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.”[f](N) 14 He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus,(O) so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.(P)
Footnotes
- Galatians 3:6 Gen. 15:6
- Galatians 3:8 Gen. 12:3; 18:18; 22:18
- Galatians 3:10 Deut. 27:26
- Galatians 3:11 Hab. 2:4
- Galatians 3:12 Lev. 18:5
- Galatians 3:13 Deut. 21:23
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