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. Mary was told her cousin Elisabeth was also pregnant in her old age. After Elisabeth blessed Mary, “Mary said, 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”, and in chapter one and verse fifty-five of his book Luke shared how Mary says, “he has helped his servant Israel” where we read:
As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.
The verse reads, “As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, ...” Luke began with the words, “As he spake” or “in like manner that God uttered, declared and proclaimed” “to our fathers” which means “to Mary and her country's progenitors or ancestors”, “to Abraham” or “to Abraham which means father of a multitude and was” the son of Terah and the founder of the Jewish nation. Luke shared how God “helped” Israel in the same manner that He “made declarations” to Mary and her fellow countrymen. He also made promises to “Abraham” who was the “father” of the nation of Israel.
The verse continues “... and to his seed for ever.” Luke added the words, “and to his seed” which means “and to Abraham's children, offspring and progeny” “forever” or “from the unbroken age, perpetuity of time and eternity”. Luke shared how God promised His “mercy” not only to “Abraham”, but also to his descendants for all eternity.
When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we see how Mary referred to the way God promised His “mercy” to her ancestors and “Abraham” who was the “father of Israel”. This vow of God to share His “mercy” would not only extend to “Abraham” himself, but also to all his descendants forever. God's desire is to have a perpetual relationship with every person who will yield their life to His Son Jesus, and those who are wise will not only recognize the “mercy” of God, but also yield themselves to Him to receive His blessing forever and ever.
Next time Luke shares how, “Mary abode with her about three months”, 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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