WITH the news of Elizabeth's child, Mary goes to her without the mention of Joseph. If they were betrothed Joseph might not be along. The trip was dangerous, as robbers were well known to be along the way. Maybe this is why Luke says--Mary arose and went with haste to the hill country, 1.39.
Zacharias and Elizabeth are there in the house. When Mary enters, the baby in Elizabeth's womb leaps. Elizabeth is then filled with the Holy Spirit. Luke writes this as if the Holy Spirit in Mary was so great it filled the house and Elizabeth like an overflow, as in Ezekiel 10.3,4. Elizabeth cries with a loud voice--an ecstasy--a livid leap of the soul to bless Mary, just as Gabriel had blessed Mary in 1.28.
Mary is not the first woman to be said to be 'blessed among women'. In Judges 5.24 Jael is called blessed--most blessed is she of women in the tent. This is because Jael killed an enemy of Israel, Judge 4.17-21. I assume that Jael is most blessed of women in the tent means in the OT covenant. Mary was not in a tent but a manger.
Elizabeth seems to know by the Holy Spirit which is filling her house that Mary's child is the Lord, 1.43. Not only that, but through Elizabeth the Holy Spirit says from Elizabeth to Mary--Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord. This is believing by the Word of God.
Now comes Mary's magnificat. It is poetry in the style of an OT prophet like Isaiah. It begins with what God has done for Mary and ends with what God will do through Israel as Abraham's offspring.
Luke 1.46-49 mention the Spirit of God and Mary, when she uses a personal pronoun for herself: My soul magnifies the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God, all generations will count me blessed, the Mighty One has done great things for me... These verses are Mary's song of gratitude and humility of heart.
Then in 1.50 Mary says God will do the same for everyone who fears Him.
And in 1.51 Mary says God the Son (His arm) will bring down those who are proud in the thoughts of their heart, Deuteronomy 10.16. The Jew has expressions like thoughts of their hearts because the Hebrew language had no word for brain or mind. Calling God the Son as the right arm is a common expression in the OT, as in Isaiah 59.16.
Then in 1.52-55 Mary expands the thought to rulers, to the humble of heart, to Israel His servant, to the fathers, to Abraham and his offspring.
This magnificat is quite Jewish in tone and mood. Verses 46-49 could easily be a psalm. It could only be in the context of a covenant with God that Mary knew she was blessed; after all only the God of Israel pours out blessings upon the soul. Her soul exalts the Lord, something a Jewish soul could do; her soul magnifies the Lord, something associated with the devotion of a priest in the tabernacle or the temple of Solomon. Her spirit rejoices that God is her savior, implying she knew she needed a savior, as in Psalm 35.9, 9.14.
After telling Elizabeth of her soul's embrace of God, she then tells what God has done, as if it were already accomplished, in verses 48-55. He has regard for Mary, He--has done great things for me...1.49. Then in v. 51 and following Mary tells of what the Lord has done for Israel. Notice the past perfect tense, as if these things were known and accomplished. He comes as judge who has brought down the rulers, scattered the proud, sent away the rich empty-handed.
For Israel He has given help, He has filled the hungry, He has shown mercy to Abraham's offspring.
We can notice that bringing down the rulers and the proud is an aspect of His holiness, His justice, His rule as perfect king.
Mary spent three months there with Elizabeth and Zacharias. They must've had many conversations in the day when the men were out working. They shared meals, did the washing together, felt their babies move, and slept under the same stars God made in the beginning. Mary returned home.
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
WHEN Zechariah was at home, Elizabeth becomes pregnant...again at the proper time. She is ecstatic but keeps these things to herself. It is the private joy which comes from waiting on God, and waiting many years. This might reminds us of Rachel's conceiving a child in Genesis 30.23. We notice God's favor then took away her shame from--among men, 1.25. That was probably meant to represent the entire community around Zechariah and Elizabeth. Everyone saw her slim, working as the women did and then the day came when they saw her great with child, beaming, smiling widely because finally God has shown His favor over her.
The proper time was coming, more intense with every day. Israel's reproach would soon be lifted. As the people waited for Zechariah to come out of the temple, so Israel is waiting for God to come from His throne, into their midst. He is about to do so.
We notice that Luke mentions the sixth month in 1.26. This is to locate the time Gabriel came, in the manner of remembering events in Genesis 8.4,13 and other places in the OT narrative. Days and years are associated with secular history; the genealogy of Israel is assocated with Israel's covenant with God.
With that in mind, Luke recites the family history of Joseph, 1.27. Now is the acceptable time, for God has sent Gabriel. Isaiah had prophecied that a virgin would conceive a child in Isaiah 7.14, 9.6. Actually the prediction of a son who will be born to a virgin may even go back to Genesis 3.15. There the Lord God tells the serpent there will be--enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed. Women don't have a seed, so why does the passage mention the seed of the woman? Because the father of Jesus is the Holy Spirit, who is not human, not a man who would have a seed. So the seed metaphorically comes from Mary. In truth, the life of Jesus was the most predestined life ever lived.
And Gabriel praises Mary. For centuries Israel praised God in the psalms, in their worship, in the prophets and poetry. Now, Gabriel from God praises Mary. He says--The Lord is with you. It can be translated--The Lord be with you.
Mary does not speak. Instead she takes the angel's words into her heart, pondering them. This is in contrast to Zechariah's skeptical outburst in 1.18. He spoke out, she takes in.
Again Gabriel says to Mary that she has found favor with God. This is also said of Noah in Genesis 6.8. This time Gabriel elaborates, he gives Mary more to hear. The angel is gradually taking Mary into God's plans, one step at a time. We notice that Mary is favored by God as a virgin, while Elizabeth was ashamed being without child. God's view is not the same as that of the neighbors. In 1 Samuel 16.7 the Lord said to Samuel--man looks at the outward appearance but the Lord looks at the heart.
Mary has found favor. Then Gabriel says she will conceive, she will bear a son, she will name Hiim Jesus. He will be great, He will be called Son of the Most High God, He will be given the throne of David. Then Gabriel summarizes what Jesus willl do when he says--His kingdom will have no end, 1.33. Step by step, Gabriel has told Mary what Jesus will do, how to understand her son, and what this means for the world.
This is how she and Joseph are to understand Jesus, their yet-to-be son. He will be a boy, and yet more than any human boy ever was. These are the things Mary ponders in her heart. At this point, she then questions Gabriel--How can this be, since I am a virgin?
Gabriel takes her question as meaning, How will this birth even happen to me? Evidently she spoke in humility rather than doubt. Gabriel then tells her the Holy Spirit will come upon her, the power of God will overshadow her. This may mean the Holy Spirit will open her womb so that the power of the Most High God will cascade into her. This is God Himself, who will come. For this reason, the child will be called, the Son of God (Luke 4.41, 8.28, 9.35, 10.6, 22).
Then the angel begins his exit. He says even Elizabeth--who was called barren--is pregnant, so that--nothing will be impossible with God, 1.37. Mary then accepts everything Gabriel has said--be it done to me according to your word. She asks for no sign, although having Gabriel the archangel stand there in the room might be sign enough. She says, as Gabriel has said these things, they must be true. Gabriel then departed.
The proper time was coming, more intense with every day. Israel's reproach would soon be lifted. As the people waited for Zechariah to come out of the temple, so Israel is waiting for God to come from His throne, into their midst. He is about to do so.
We notice that Luke mentions the sixth month in 1.26. This is to locate the time Gabriel came, in the manner of remembering events in Genesis 8.4,13 and other places in the OT narrative. Days and years are associated with secular history; the genealogy of Israel is assocated with Israel's covenant with God.
With that in mind, Luke recites the family history of Joseph, 1.27. Now is the acceptable time, for God has sent Gabriel. Isaiah had prophecied that a virgin would conceive a child in Isaiah 7.14, 9.6. Actually the prediction of a son who will be born to a virgin may even go back to Genesis 3.15. There the Lord God tells the serpent there will be--enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed. Women don't have a seed, so why does the passage mention the seed of the woman? Because the father of Jesus is the Holy Spirit, who is not human, not a man who would have a seed. So the seed metaphorically comes from Mary. In truth, the life of Jesus was the most predestined life ever lived.
And Gabriel praises Mary. For centuries Israel praised God in the psalms, in their worship, in the prophets and poetry. Now, Gabriel from God praises Mary. He says--The Lord is with you. It can be translated--The Lord be with you.
Mary does not speak. Instead she takes the angel's words into her heart, pondering them. This is in contrast to Zechariah's skeptical outburst in 1.18. He spoke out, she takes in.
Again Gabriel says to Mary that she has found favor with God. This is also said of Noah in Genesis 6.8. This time Gabriel elaborates, he gives Mary more to hear. The angel is gradually taking Mary into God's plans, one step at a time. We notice that Mary is favored by God as a virgin, while Elizabeth was ashamed being without child. God's view is not the same as that of the neighbors. In 1 Samuel 16.7 the Lord said to Samuel--man looks at the outward appearance but the Lord looks at the heart.
Mary has found favor. Then Gabriel says she will conceive, she will bear a son, she will name Hiim Jesus. He will be great, He will be called Son of the Most High God, He will be given the throne of David. Then Gabriel summarizes what Jesus willl do when he says--His kingdom will have no end, 1.33. Step by step, Gabriel has told Mary what Jesus will do, how to understand her son, and what this means for the world.
This is how she and Joseph are to understand Jesus, their yet-to-be son. He will be a boy, and yet more than any human boy ever was. These are the things Mary ponders in her heart. At this point, she then questions Gabriel--How can this be, since I am a virgin?
Gabriel takes her question as meaning, How will this birth even happen to me? Evidently she spoke in humility rather than doubt. Gabriel then tells her the Holy Spirit will come upon her, the power of God will overshadow her. This may mean the Holy Spirit will open her womb so that the power of the Most High God will cascade into her. This is God Himself, who will come. For this reason, the child will be called, the Son of God (Luke 4.41, 8.28, 9.35, 10.6, 22).
Then the angel begins his exit. He says even Elizabeth--who was called barren--is pregnant, so that--nothing will be impossible with God, 1.37. Mary then accepts everything Gabriel has said--be it done to me according to your word. She asks for no sign, although having Gabriel the archangel stand there in the room might be sign enough. She says, as Gabriel has said these things, they must be true. Gabriel then departed.
Thursday, September 26, 2013
I've decided to begin a new blog on the Biblical gospel of Luke. This will be simply narration and meditation, not scholarly or critical.
COMMENTARY ON LUKE'S GOSPEL
WHEN LUKE WROTE HIS GOSPEL, he wrote that--many have undertaken to compile an account of the things accomplished among us. How did they know what they wrote? Luke further says eyewitnesses--and servants of the Word handed them down to us. Luke further says he will write these events down--in consecutive order. This would be the Greek manner of writing history, not the Jewish style of compiling an account.
Evidently other accounts grouped the miracles together, the teaching together, the parables together in the Jewish maanner, by which they could be read and remembered in the synogogue or temple or house meeting.
1
LUKE begins by using the reign of King Herod, whose reign everyone would know. It is reminiscent of the day and year formula in Genesis 8.4. In the reign of this king, this priest Zecharias of the family of Abijah had a wife, Elizabeth. Her family is named as the daughter of Aaron, whose name would have great standing in Israel. However, Elizabeth was barren.
The word barren has a severe picture in it, that of a deserted land, a city lost in ruins, an abandoned place where nothing grows. In 2 Kings 2.19 the King James translation says of Jericho--the water is bad and the land is barren. The NASB uses the word, unfruitful, as if the land were never to be anything but barren. However most uses of barren refer to a woman's capacity to bear children. For instance, Genesis 11.30--for Sarah is barren; she had no child.
Just as only God could create the universe out of nothing, so only God can give a child to a barren women. Although Elizabeth is barren, she is sanctified of the Lord along with her husband Zechariah. They were righteous, blameless in all of God's commandments. This means more than just doing the religious thing; this means understanding what the commandments and requirements of the Lord mean. This is also said of Job, of Noah and Abraham but almost no one else.
Zechariah was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary, in order to perform the priestly duties specified in 1 Chronicles 24.19. Evidently the people admired Zechariah so much they stood in prayer outside the sanctuary until he was finished. These were devout people doing their duty. While they prayed, an angel appeared to Zechariah.
Fear gripped Zechariah, as he knew who the angel was. The angel has to tell Zechariah to--not be afraid Zechariah, for your petition has been heard and your wife Elizabeth will hear you a son and you will give him the name of John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 1. 13,14. This will be no ordinary son.
Evidently Elizabeth and Zechariah have been waiting. Notice that their petition is in the singular, as if they gaive it up to God once and then believed He would answer it. The angel's description of John means his life was entirely predestined for God. He will be the forerunner before Christ in the spirit and power of Elijah, he will turn fathers back to their children, he will prepare the way for the Lord.
But Zechariah says--How shall I know this for certain? Now this is not entirely skeptical; in the Old Testament signs were given when God does great things. But here in the New Testament, God's Word is enough. Zechariah must learn this. So the angel silences Zechariah for a time. Notice that Gabriel says he comes from the presence of God; he says he has been sent to speak to Zechariah, to bring good news. All of this emphacises the Word of God. It must be believed in the kingdom of God.
Gabriel then says his words will be--fulfilled in the proper time, 1.20. The idea that God's actions will occur on the earth at the proper time is one of the underlying themes of the NT. Jesus will be born at the right time; events in His life will occur when God ordains them; all of the actors in His salvation drama will take their places and say their words in the proper time.
Just to provide a small example of the proper time, when Zechariah came out of the temple, he could not speak. He makes gestures and signs to the people of what happened between him and Gabriel, and when his days of service were fulfilled he returned home--at the proper time.
COMMENTARY ON LUKE'S GOSPEL
WHEN LUKE WROTE HIS GOSPEL, he wrote that--many have undertaken to compile an account of the things accomplished among us. How did they know what they wrote? Luke further says eyewitnesses--and servants of the Word handed them down to us. Luke further says he will write these events down--in consecutive order. This would be the Greek manner of writing history, not the Jewish style of compiling an account.
Evidently other accounts grouped the miracles together, the teaching together, the parables together in the Jewish maanner, by which they could be read and remembered in the synogogue or temple or house meeting.
1
LUKE begins by using the reign of King Herod, whose reign everyone would know. It is reminiscent of the day and year formula in Genesis 8.4. In the reign of this king, this priest Zecharias of the family of Abijah had a wife, Elizabeth. Her family is named as the daughter of Aaron, whose name would have great standing in Israel. However, Elizabeth was barren.
The word barren has a severe picture in it, that of a deserted land, a city lost in ruins, an abandoned place where nothing grows. In 2 Kings 2.19 the King James translation says of Jericho--the water is bad and the land is barren. The NASB uses the word, unfruitful, as if the land were never to be anything but barren. However most uses of barren refer to a woman's capacity to bear children. For instance, Genesis 11.30--for Sarah is barren; she had no child.
Just as only God could create the universe out of nothing, so only God can give a child to a barren women. Although Elizabeth is barren, she is sanctified of the Lord along with her husband Zechariah. They were righteous, blameless in all of God's commandments. This means more than just doing the religious thing; this means understanding what the commandments and requirements of the Lord mean. This is also said of Job, of Noah and Abraham but almost no one else.
Zechariah was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary, in order to perform the priestly duties specified in 1 Chronicles 24.19. Evidently the people admired Zechariah so much they stood in prayer outside the sanctuary until he was finished. These were devout people doing their duty. While they prayed, an angel appeared to Zechariah.
Fear gripped Zechariah, as he knew who the angel was. The angel has to tell Zechariah to--not be afraid Zechariah, for your petition has been heard and your wife Elizabeth will hear you a son and you will give him the name of John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 1. 13,14. This will be no ordinary son.
Evidently Elizabeth and Zechariah have been waiting. Notice that their petition is in the singular, as if they gaive it up to God once and then believed He would answer it. The angel's description of John means his life was entirely predestined for God. He will be the forerunner before Christ in the spirit and power of Elijah, he will turn fathers back to their children, he will prepare the way for the Lord.
But Zechariah says--How shall I know this for certain? Now this is not entirely skeptical; in the Old Testament signs were given when God does great things. But here in the New Testament, God's Word is enough. Zechariah must learn this. So the angel silences Zechariah for a time. Notice that Gabriel says he comes from the presence of God; he says he has been sent to speak to Zechariah, to bring good news. All of this emphacises the Word of God. It must be believed in the kingdom of God.
Gabriel then says his words will be--fulfilled in the proper time, 1.20. The idea that God's actions will occur on the earth at the proper time is one of the underlying themes of the NT. Jesus will be born at the right time; events in His life will occur when God ordains them; all of the actors in His salvation drama will take their places and say their words in the proper time.
Just to provide a small example of the proper time, when Zechariah came out of the temple, he could not speak. He makes gestures and signs to the people of what happened between him and Gabriel, and when his days of service were fulfilled he returned home--at the proper time.
Saturday, July 20, 2013
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
COMING TOGETHER--85 Good Stuff
It is Tuesday. Yesterday I went over to the retirement village to say hello to Mom and find out if she is adjusting. They tell me she is really getting into events and has an older female buddy.
This is just what I wanted. I can put her off my mind, except for paying bills. We move all of her stuff into her new apt. on Saturday. It's going to be an ordeal, but only once.
Phil--my brother--and I are getting this done together with more harmony than we've ever had. I really like that. I cannot do this by myself and I don't want to.
All these damn change of addresses! I hate this part of moving; this is why I am more into my email address than a physical address.
Mom has so much unnecessary stuff. She has 8 or 10 bottles of the same stuff like vanilla extract, or hand lotion or plastic bowls. I've had to throw out about 50 pounds of stuff she has never used, probably never seen. She had dust everywhere in her bathroom.
Getting out of that apartment was good for her; it was a source of old memories and depression and dust and laying around. The new village keeps her moving and busy and doing things. This is good.
It is Tuesday. Yesterday I went over to the retirement village to say hello to Mom and find out if she is adjusting. They tell me she is really getting into events and has an older female buddy.
This is just what I wanted. I can put her off my mind, except for paying bills. We move all of her stuff into her new apt. on Saturday. It's going to be an ordeal, but only once.
Phil--my brother--and I are getting this done together with more harmony than we've ever had. I really like that. I cannot do this by myself and I don't want to.
All these damn change of addresses! I hate this part of moving; this is why I am more into my email address than a physical address.
Mom has so much unnecessary stuff. She has 8 or 10 bottles of the same stuff like vanilla extract, or hand lotion or plastic bowls. I've had to throw out about 50 pounds of stuff she has never used, probably never seen. She had dust everywhere in her bathroom.
Getting out of that apartment was good for her; it was a source of old memories and depression and dust and laying around. The new village keeps her moving and busy and doing things. This is good.
Thursday, July 4, 2013
Arguments and Settlements
COMING TOGETHER--84
Mom spend the night at the care facility, by herself. She watched a movie, then slept until 10am when I woke her up with a knock on her door.
We went out to eat, paid her previous apartment off, and went back to her care facility. She won't get involved with the activities there, so I will have to go there less and less.
Philip will be there tomorrow. I've told her I won't come around. She cried; I told her to grow up. I told her she had not right to chain me down to her life, she had no right to enslave me. I have a right to my own life.
She says she doesn't care about Philip. I believe they will argue about the paintings and possessions. What she said was insulting to him, but I've always known my mother did not care about her children as much as she did her own life. She may make some sort of demand about leaving but I won't have her living with me.
She's going to have to fit in there, whether she wants to or not.
I've asked God to go before me when I see her on Thursday.
+++
Now it is Wednesday morning, about 4am. I have prayed for Mom and Phil's time together. I hope to God she is sleeping now. I hope this works out, because I don't want to go back to being her care giver. I'm her son, not her care giver.
We had a confrontation yesterday. I told her I wasn't her slave, that she had no right to take my life away from me. I told her I was not taking her away from Signature Pointe. I told her to make my Dad proud of her. I don't know how much of an effect that had on her, I suppose I will find that out after Phil leaves her today.
Mom spend the night at the care facility, by herself. She watched a movie, then slept until 10am when I woke her up with a knock on her door.
We went out to eat, paid her previous apartment off, and went back to her care facility. She won't get involved with the activities there, so I will have to go there less and less.
Philip will be there tomorrow. I've told her I won't come around. She cried; I told her to grow up. I told her she had not right to chain me down to her life, she had no right to enslave me. I have a right to my own life.
She says she doesn't care about Philip. I believe they will argue about the paintings and possessions. What she said was insulting to him, but I've always known my mother did not care about her children as much as she did her own life. She may make some sort of demand about leaving but I won't have her living with me.
She's going to have to fit in there, whether she wants to or not.
I've asked God to go before me when I see her on Thursday.
+++
Now it is Wednesday morning, about 4am. I have prayed for Mom and Phil's time together. I hope to God she is sleeping now. I hope this works out, because I don't want to go back to being her care giver. I'm her son, not her care giver.
We had a confrontation yesterday. I told her I wasn't her slave, that she had no right to take my life away from me. I told her I was not taking her away from Signature Pointe. I told her to make my Dad proud of her. I don't know how much of an effect that had on her, I suppose I will find that out after Phil leaves her today.
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
Coming Together -83
COMING TOGETHER-83
What a day this has been. I am exhausted. I am worn out with dealing with my mother's ways, with this move to a retirement facility. I am worn out with all the driving, with putting up with my mother's emotions, her delays, her reluctance and bad memory and fears, things she forgets, the things she doesn't want to do, the things she will not do.
I should have done this months ago, but no one in the family had gone through this before.
Now that Mom is in a nice retirement facility, I am homeless. I will have to find an apartment soon, and one that's pretty cheap.
My brother wants to come over to inspect things. He believes he needs to give his approval. He thinks he can do better than me; we'll go ahead, Phil, do better. You can do it all if you want.
I am not a health care professional, I can't take care of her 100% of the time, I can 40% of the time but living with Mom and trying to work has ruined my life, it has worn me down.
I have change of address stuff to do, more things to move, more chores with all of this.
What a day this has been. I am exhausted. I am worn out with dealing with my mother's ways, with this move to a retirement facility. I am worn out with all the driving, with putting up with my mother's emotions, her delays, her reluctance and bad memory and fears, things she forgets, the things she doesn't want to do, the things she will not do.
I should have done this months ago, but no one in the family had gone through this before.
Now that Mom is in a nice retirement facility, I am homeless. I will have to find an apartment soon, and one that's pretty cheap.
My brother wants to come over to inspect things. He believes he needs to give his approval. He thinks he can do better than me; we'll go ahead, Phil, do better. You can do it all if you want.
I am not a health care professional, I can't take care of her 100% of the time, I can 40% of the time but living with Mom and trying to work has ruined my life, it has worn me down.
I have change of address stuff to do, more things to move, more chores with all of this.
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