Luke the physician wrote how Mary was visited by the “angel Gabriel” and was told she would have a child who was to be the Lord. Her cousin Elisabeth was also pregnant in her old age, and when Mary visited her, she blessed Mary for being the “mother of her Lord”. Luke shared how Mary responded to Elisabeth's blessing by saying, “My soul does magnify the Lord, And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. For he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty has done to me great things; and holy is his name. And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. He has showed strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He has put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. He has filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he has sent empty away. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy. As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever. And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house. Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son”, and in chapter one and verse fifty-eight Luke shared how, “her neighbors and her cousins heard how the Lord showed great mercy upon her” where we read:
And her neighbors and her cousins heard how the Lord had showed great mercy upon her;
and they rejoiced with her.
The verse reads, “And her neighbors and her cousins heard how the Lord had showed great mercy upon her.” Luke began with the words, “and her neighbors” or “and the people who lived near and around Elisabeth” “and her cousins” which means “and Elisabeth's kinsfolk” “heard” or “where given the faculty for hearing, perceiving, noticing and discerning” “how the Lord had showed” or “that the One to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master, and the title given to God the Messiah demonstrated, magnified and increased” “great mercy” which means “exceedingly conspicuous and magnificent kindness and good will toward the miserable and afflicted”. Luke shared how people around Elisabeth including her “neighbors and kinsfolk” perceived how “the Lord” demonstrated His “magnificent kindness” by bringing forth this child through Elisabeth.
The verse goes on to say, “and they rejoiced with her.” Luke continued with the words, “and they” which means “and Elisabeth's neighbors and kinsfolk” “rejoiced with her” or “congratulated and sympathized with Elisabeth in gladness”. Luke shared how Elisabeth's “neighbors and kinsfolk” “congratulated” her with great “joy”.
When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we see the reaction of those who surrounded Elisabeth as she gave birth to her son. This was a miracle of God, and the “neighbors and cousins” of Elisabeth gave credit to whom credit was due. They “glorified” the Lord, and “celebrated” with Elisabeth. When people understand that God has done a marvelous work of grace and mercy within a person's life, they should “rejoice” with the person, and give glory to God. God is a merciful God who desires to have a personal relationship with every person through His Son Jesus, and when they see Him manifest Himself in others, the best response is to “rejoice” and “glorify” the Lord for the great things He has done.
Next time Luke shares, “on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book
“Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the
marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the
Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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