A Lamp Unto My Feet Bible Study Website
LUKE 1:39-56
Lesson #04
SONGS OF ELISABETH AND MARY
- Memory verse: Luk 1:47
- Mary received with an attitude of submission to God the promise of her pregnancy from the angel Gabriel.
- When God places before you His will, there is a point of choice that the person must consider.
- How will my life change if I submit to God’s will?
- What will be my cost?
- Notice that Mary did not hesitate in her decision. What did she know that we should know when we make decisions to follow God’s will?
- Mary knew this message was from God.
- Mary knew that her life was in God’s hand. He was in control.
- God has ultimate wisdom, so His will and wisdom is better than man’s wisdom.
- God will always be with you to back you through all the details that arise to confront you as you work out His plan for your life.
- When God places before you His will, there is a point of choice that the person must consider.
- Read Luk 1:39-56 Songs by Elisabeth and Mary
- Why did Mary go to be with Elisabeth?
- While the Bible does not tell us her thinking, we can imagine the problems she was having with people around her in her own community. She was pregnant and had no husband.
- Elisabeth was pregnant and needed help. It was common in those days before modern medicine for family members to help each other in times of need.
- Besides that, God knew what both of these women needed and supplied that need in His perfect timing by directing Mary to visit Elisabeth.
- How do we know this was in the plan of God?
- This scripture tells us that the baby moved inside of Elisabeth and she was filled with the Holy Spirit when she heard Mary’s greeting.
- This is a supernatural miracle of confirmation of the will of God for these two women.
- God moves in the same way in our lives today. When we have a need, we trust Him to supply what we need when we need it.
- By faith we can rest in His care.
- God equally and miraculously supplies our need and then confirms it as He did for Mary.
- How do we know this was in the plan of God?
- Dr. Luke was a poet. He gives us the first songs of Christmas. (42)
- “…Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.” (42)
- This declaration by Elisabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, confirms to us that the virgin birth was in fact miraculous and according to the will of God.
- Mary is blessed for her obedience to God.
- The baby, Jesus, is blessed to accomplish God’s will among men.
- “And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” (43)
- In this verse we see the difference between Elisabeth and her husband Zacharias.
- Zacharias did not have faith to believe the message Gabriel gave him about the birth of their son John the Baptist. For that he became unable to speak,
- Elisabeth had faith and God gave her the words to declare the spiritual reality that Mary was the mother of the Lord even before Mary had an opportunity to tell Elisabeth of her pregnancy.
- From the beginning of human history, the desire of every woman was to be the one to give birth to the promised Messiah.
- Eve had that desire when she gave birth to Cain and said, “I have gotten a man from the Lord.” (Gen 4:1)
- In this verse we see the difference between Elisabeth and her husband Zacharias.
- Why did Mary go to be with Elisabeth?
The Hebrew indicates that she thought she had given birth to “the” man from the Lord.
In other words, she thought Cain would be the promised Messiah to fulfill the prophecy given Adam and Eve in Gen 3:15.
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- After that, every Jewish mother desired to be the one to give birth to the Messiah. Elizabeth recognizes by the wisdom of the Holy Spirit that Mary is the appointed one.
- Elisabeth’s words to Mary are an encouragement to Mary to trust God.
- This is the encouragement Mary needed from an older woman.
- After that, every Jewish mother desired to be the one to give birth to the Messiah. Elizabeth recognizes by the wisdom of the Holy Spirit that Mary is the appointed one.
- Mary’s faith response…Mary’s Song, the Magnificat: (46-56)
- What did Mary understand about the child she would bring into the world?
- “My soul doth magnify the Lord,” (46)
- The submissive attitude of Mary tells us that our plans and desires must submit to the will of God.
- Everything in our lives must make Jesus more prominent and make us less prominent.
- “…my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.” (47)
- Mary recognized that she needed a savior when she says, “my Savior”.
- Mary understood that she carried the long-awaited Messiah.
- The word “Savior” in both Greek and Hebrew indicate the ministry Jesus would have on earth.
- The word Savior implies the ideas of deliverance, safety, protection, healing, and soundness of life. This definition of “savior” is developed gradually through the Old Testament by means of all the experiences of the Israelites over time.
- Therefore, salvation by a Savior includes everything that a human could need in his body, in his soul, or in his spirit.
- Jesus would be the savior of the world in the past, in the present, and in the future.
- In the past…Planned by God, the Father from the beginning of creation, He is the savior from the foundation of the world. (Eph 1:4)
- In the present…Sent by God at one point in time to reconcile man to God for all time. (1Pet 1:20)
- In the future…Provided by God to be an eternal sacrifice to satisfy God’s requirement of a payment for all the sins of the world. (Heb 9:26)
- Mary’s character and attitude:
- We can see Mary’s attitude and character in these words and verses: (46-56)
- “magnify” (46)…Who gets the glory in what you do?
- “my savior” (47)…She is a sinner just like every human in need of a savior.
- “handmaiden of low estate” (48)…Humility…She is no one special for God to choose her.
- We can see Mary’s attitude and character in these words and verses: (46-56)
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It is God’s choice that made her special and revealed a spirit in her that God could use.
In the same way, God chooses you. Can He mold and use you for His glory?
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- “…hath done to me great things…” (49)…Can God trust you with great things?
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- Verse by verse comments:
- “For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden…” (48)
- Mary’s humility is a testimony of why God chose her.
- God did not choose someone rich with power and prestige.
- God chose a humble maid that He could use for His glory.
- We need to ask ourselves if we have this same attitude as Mary.
- Can God use you for His glory?
- “And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.” (50)
- This verse tells us that God’s appointed time in sending His Son, Jesus Christ, into the world is to display to man God’s mercy. (Joh 3:16)
- God is perfect justice balanced with perfect mercy. However, that mercy is given only to those that fear God and humble themselves before God.
- “He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.” (51)
- This is the fulfillment of the prophecy given by Isaiah in Isa 53.
- Read Isa 53:1-2
- Isaiah 53 is the prophecy of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ who came to bear man’s sin on the cross.
- “As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.” (55)
- The promise of a son that would be the Messiah was given to Abraham.
- Abraham’s name is repeated in the Bible more than anyone from the Old Testament.
- “For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden…” (48)
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Why?
Because Abraham is the father of faith. God requires faith to trust God. (Heb 11:6)
Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of all the Old Testament prophecies of the Messiah first promised in Gen 3:15.
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- Summary:
- Mary’s response gives us a general outline of Jesus and His ministry that would bless all people of all generations. We see in it the following truths:
- Jesus Christ came to be the savior of all mankind. (47)
- All generations will be blessed in Jesus Christ. (48)
- Jesus’ virgin birth is a special miracle of God to provide a savior without sin. (49)
- Jesus came to express His Father’s love and mercy on sinful man. (50)
- His ministry would turn the world right side up, spiritually speaking. He shows us God’s way and not man’s way. (51-52)
- His ministry would meet the deep needs of man, spiritually and physically. (53)
- Jesus came through the Jews to the Jews to bless all mankind. (54)
- Israel was to be God’s example to all people of how to come to God and serve God.
- Israel was to be God’s example to all people of how God would bless a faithful people.
- Mary’s response gives us a general outline of Jesus and His ministry that would bless all people of all generations. We see in it the following truths:
- Summary:
HOMEWORK
Luke 1:57-80
- Aplication of Luk 1:39-56
- If you were in Mary’s position, how would you respond to turning your whole world upside down?
- God calls each of us with this same plan…His will not ours.
- What does your faith need to respond in the same way that Mary responded? Pray and ask God to give you the strength to walk with Him in a way more fully committed.
- Preparation for Luk 1:57-80
- Read Luk1:57-80
- Write the specific details that tell us what the ministry of John the Baptist would accomplish.
- Write the specific details that tell us about Jesus Christ and His ministry.
- Read Luk1:57-80
- Memory verse: Luk 1:76
