Christmas Day! - Jesus

Yea, Lord, we greet thee, born this happy morning!
Jesus, to thee be all glory given.
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing.
O, come, let us adore him.
Christ, the Lord.


Is there such a thing as the 29th day of Advent? I don't think so. I think Christmas Day is a season in and of itself? Anyway, today is Christmas, and the last day of my attempt at being a regularly scheduled blogger :) Here's a nice verse to give us closure:




Matthew 1:21 - "She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus ["the LORD saves"], for he will save his people from their sins.”

Advent Day 28 - Manifested

So, I know you'll be reading through Luke 2 today :) Read these passages in addition:

Hebrews 1

1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

Romans 3

21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. 

John 1: 14 - And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 

Advent Day 26 - Come and Worship

Isaiah 60

1 Arise, shine, for your light has come,

   and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.

2 For behold, darkness shall cover the earth,

   and thick darkness the peoples;

but the LORD will arise upon you,

   and his glory will be seen upon you.

3 And nations shall come to your light,

   and kings to the brightness of your rising. 

Matthew 2

1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, "Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him."

Sages, leave your contemplations,
Brighter visions beam afar,
Seek the great Desire of Nations;
Ye have seen his natal star;
Come and worship,

Worship Christ the new-born King. 

(from "Angels from the Realms of Glory")

Long lay the world in sin and error pining, till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope -- the weary soul rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees, hear the angel voices!

Led by the light of faith serenely beaming, with glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming, here came the wise men from Orient land.
The King of kings lay thus in lowly manger,
In all our trials born to be our Friend!
He knows our need—to our weakness is no stranger.
Behold your King; before Him lowly bend!

(from "O Holy Night")

Advent Day 25 - Recognition

Luke 2

25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, 28 he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,

 29 "Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace,

    according to your word;

30 for my eyes have seen your salvation

 31 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,

32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,

   and for glory to your people Israel."

 33 And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, "Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed 35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed."

 36 And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, 37 and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. 38 And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.


Saints, before the altar bending,
Watching long in hope and fear,
Suddenly the Lord descending
In His temple shall appear;
Come and worship, 
Worship Christ the new-born King.


Sinners, wrung with true repentance,
Doom'd for guilt to endless pains,
Justice now revokes the sentence,
Mercy calls you--break your chains;
Come and worship,
Worship Christ the new-born King.
(from "Angels From the Realms of Glory," 1854)

Advent Day 24 - Proclamation

Luke 2

8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. 10 And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger." 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

 14 "Glory to God in the highest,

    and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!"

 15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us." 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

 21 And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

It came upon the midnight clear,
that glorious song of old,
from angels bending near the earth,
to touch their harps of gold:
"Peace on the earth, good will to all,
from heaven's all-gracious King!"
The world in solemn stillness lay
to hear the angels sing.

Yet with the woes of sin and strife
the world has suffered long;
beneath the angel strain have rolled
two thousand years of wrong;
and warring humankind hears not 
the love song which they bring.
O hush the noise and cease your strife,
and hear the angels sing.

For, lo! the days are hastening on,
by prophets seen of old,
when with the ever-circling years
shall come the time foretold,
When the new heav'n and earth shall own
The Prince of Peace their King, 
and the whole world send back the song
which now the angels sing.

Advent Day 23 - Manger

Luke 2

1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. 

Micah 5

2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,

   who are too little to be among the clans of Judah,

from you shall come forth for me

   one who is to be ruler in Israel,

whose coming forth is from of old,

   from ancient days. 

"Do you want to see the humility of God? Look in the manger and see him lying there. Surely this is our God. Seeing an infant, I wonder how this could be the one who says, 'Do not I fill heaven and earth?' I see a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes. Is this the one who is clothed in the beautiful glory of unapproachable light?

"Listen! He is crying. Is this the one who thunders in the heaven making the angels lower their wings? Yes, but he has emptied himself in order to fill us."

         

    -Guerric of Igny 

Advent Day 22 - In the fullness of time

Isaiah 9

6 For to us a child is born,

   to us a son is given;

and the government shall be upon his shoulder,

   and his name shall be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

7 Of the increase of his government and of peace

    there will be no end,

on the throne of David and over his kingdom,

   to establish it and to uphold it

with justice and with righteousness

   from this time forth and forevermore.

The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.  

Galatians 4

4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.

"Hark, the Herald Angels Sing"

Hark! the herald-angels sing

Glory to the new-born King;

Peace on earth, and mercy mild,

God and sinners reconciled!

Joyful, all ye nations, rise,

Join the triumph of the skies;

With the angelic host proclaim

Christ is born in Bethlehem.

Hark! the herald-angels sing

Glory to the new-born King.

Christ, by highest heaven adored,

Christ, the Everlasting Lord,

Late in time behold Him come,

Offspring of the Virgin's womb:

Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;

Hail the Incarnate Deity,

Pleased as Man with men to dwell,

Jesus our Immanuel.

Hark! the herald-angels sing

Glory to the new-born King.

Hail, the heaven-born Prince of Peace!

Hail, the Sun of Righteousness!

Light and life to all He brings.

Risen with healing in His wings,

 Mild he lays his glory by,

born that man no more may die  

born to raise us from the earth, 

born to give us second birth.

Hark! the herald-angels sing

Glory to the new-born King.

Advent Day 20 - Jesus, Our Intercessor

Isaiah 59

16 He saw that there was no man,

   and wondered that there was no one to intercede;

then his own arm brought him salvation,

   and his righteousness upheld him.

Isaiah 53

12 Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many,

    and he shall divide the spoil with the strong,

because he poured out his soul to death

   and was numbered with the transgressors;

yet he bore the sin of many,

   and makes intercession for the transgressors.

John 17:9, 16-17, 20-21

9 I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. . . They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. . . 20 "I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

Hebrews 7

25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

Romans 8

34 Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised— who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 

Advent Day 19 - A Joyful Response

Joyful, all ye nations, rise; join the triumph of the skies!

Isaiah 9

2 The people who walked in darkness

   have seen a great light;

those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,

   on them has light shined.

3 You have multiplied the nation;

   you have increased its joy;

they rejoice before you

   as with joy at the harvest,

   as they are glad when they divide the spoil.

Matt 2:10 - When [the wise men] saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 

John 1

4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

1 Peter 2

9But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

Romans 5

2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 

Psalm 71

23 My lips will shout for joy,

   when I sing praises to you;

   my soul also, which you have redeemed.

24 And my tongue will talk of your righteous help all the day long

Psalm 97

11 Light is sown for the righteous,

   and joy for the upright in heart.

12 Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous,

   and give thanks to his holy name! 

Advent Day 18 - Jesus, Son of David

Isaiah 11

1There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse,

   and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.

2And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him,

   the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,

   the Spirit of counsel and might,

   the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.

John Piper says this about it:

"Jesse was King David’s father. And David was the greatest king of Israel, so that the Messiah that Israel hoped for was often called “the son of David”—he would be one like David, only greater than David."

. . . .

"Jesus is the Messiah, the son of David, the root of Jesse, but oh, so much more than the mere Son of David! Do you recall how the book of Romans begins? 'Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, 2 which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, 3 concerning his Son [that is, the Son of God], who was descended from David according to the flesh.'" 

It continues, "and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, 5 through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations."

Jeremiah 23

 5 "Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. 6 In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: 'The LORD is our righteousness.'

Revelation 22

16 "I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star."

Romans 15

8 For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, 9 and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, "Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name."

 10 And again it is said, "Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people."

 11 And again, "Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples extol him."

 12 And again Isaiah says, "The root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles;

in him will the Gentiles hope."

 13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

Piper, again:

"'Hope in what?' - hope in Jesus Christ. The emphasis falls on Christ as the ground of all our hope. Bank your hope on him. Not yourself, not your intelligence, not your health, not your money, not your job, not your reputation. None of these can sustain your hope. They can collapse in a moment. God means for our hope to be firm and unshakable and so he put underneath it his own Son. In him will the Gentiles hope. At every turn in your life say, 'Jesus, you are my hope.' You are my hope for my salvation, you are my hope for my marriage, you are my hope for my children, you are my hope for my ministry, you are my hope that I will live and die well. 'In him will the Gentiles hope.'"

Jesus is our perfect king. He is extraordinarily wise, he is able and mighty, and he is absolutely loyal to the LORD God. He is our righteousness, and that should give us hope.

(John Piper quotations came from his sermon from Dec. 11, 2005 posted on his website, desiringgod.org)

Advent Day 17 - Jesus, A Prophet Like Moses

Prophecy:

Deuteronomy 18:17-18

And the LORD said to [Moses],"They are right in what they have spoken. I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. "

--Moses spoke God's word to the people of Israel.

Exodus 24:3 - Moses came and told the people all the Lord’s words and all the decisions. All the people answered together, “We are willing to do  all the words that the Lord has said,”

--Moses administered the blood of the Covenant.

Exodus 24:8 - So Moses took the blood and splashed it on the people and said, “This is the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words.”

--Moses interceded for God's people.

Exodus 32:30-32 -  The next day Moses said to the people, “You have committed a very serious sin, but now I will go up to the Lord – perhaps I can make atonement on behalf of your sin.” So Moses returned to the Lord and said, “Alas, this people has committed a very serious sin, and they have made for themselves gods of gold. But now, if you will forgive their sin…, but if not, wipe me out from your book that you have written."

Exodus 33:11,13-15

Thus the LORD used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend.

Moses said to the LORD . . . . If I have found favor in your sight, please show me now your ways, that I may know you in order to find favor in your sight. Consider too that this nation is your people." And he said, "My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." And he said to him, "If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here.

Fulfillment:

--Jesus spoke God's word to the people of Israel.

 John 7:16 - "My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me."

 John 8:28 - "When you have lifted up the son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me."

 John 12:49 - "For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment -- what to say and what to speak."

--Jesus administered the blood of the New Covenant.

Luke 22:19-20 - Then he took bread, and after giving thanks he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And in the same way he took the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood."

--Jesus interceded for God's people.

John 17:9,11,15-17 - "I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. . . . Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. . . . I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth." 

Hebrews 3:1-6

Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess. He was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses was faithful in all God’s house. Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself. For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything. Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s house, testifying to what would be said in the future. But Christ is faithful as a son over God’s house. And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast. 

Advent Day 16 - Jesus, the Shepherd

Prophecy:
Isaiah 40

10 Behold, the Lord GOD comes with might,

   and his arm rules for him;

behold, his reward is with him,

   and his recompense before him.

11 He will tend his flock like a shepherd;

    he will gather the lambs in his arms;

he will carry them in his bosom,

   and gently lead those that are with young.

Ezekiel 34

23 And I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd. 

Micah 5

4And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD,

   in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God.

And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great

   to the ends of the earth.

5And he shall be their peace. 

Fulfillment:

John 10

11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.

Hebrews 13

20 Now may the God of peace who by the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead the great shepherd of the sheep,  our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 equip you with every good thing to do his will, working in us  what is pleasing before him through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever.  Amen.

Advent Day 12 - Zechariah's Prophecy

Luke 1

57 Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. 58 And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. 59 And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father, 60 but his mother answered, "No; he shall be called John." 61 And they said to her, "None of your relatives is called by this name." 62 And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called. 63 And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, "His name is John." And they all wondered. 64 And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. 65 And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea, 66 and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, "What then will this child be?" For the hand of the Lord was with him.

 67 And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying,

 68 "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,

   for he has visited and redeemed his people

69 and has raised up a horn of salvation for us

    in the house of his servant David,

70 as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, 71 that we should be saved from our enemies

   and from the hand of all who hate us;

72 to show the mercy promised to our fathers

   and to remember his holy covenant,

73 the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us

 74 that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies,

might serve him without fear,

 75 in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.

76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;

   for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,

77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people

    in the forgiveness of their sins,

78 because of the tender mercy of our God,

   whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high

79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,

   to guide our feet into the way of peace." 

Isaiah 40

1 Comfort, comfort my people,

   says your God. 

2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,

   and call out to her

that her warfare is ended,

   that her iniquity is pardoned,

that she has received from the LORD’s hand

   double for all her sins.

 3 A voice cries: "In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD;

    make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

4 Every valley shall be lifted up,

   and every mountain and hill be made low;

the uneven ground shall become level,

   and the rough places a plain.

5 And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed,

   and all flesh shall see it together,

    for the mouth of the LORD has spoken."

John 1

4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.

Isaiah 42

16 I will turn the darkness before them into light,

    the rough places into level ground.

These are the things I do,

   and I do not forsake them. 

Advent Day 11 - Mary's Prophecy

Luke 1

39 In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, 40 and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, 42 and she exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?44 For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord."

 46 And Mary said,

    "My soul magnifies the Lord,

 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

48 for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.

   For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;

49 for he who is mighty has done great things for me,

   and holy is his name.

50 And his mercy is for those who fear him

   from generation to generation.

51 He has shown strength with his arm;

    he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;

52 he has brought down the mighty from their thrones

    and exalted those of humble estate;

53 he has filled the hungry with good things,

   and the rich he has sent away empty.

54 He has helped his servant Israel,

    in remembrance of his mercy,

55 as he spoke to our fathers,

    to Abraham and to his offspring forever."

 56 And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home.

Check out all the attributes Mary used to describe God in her song. I think it's neat to think about where she learned all those attributes of God. You know she had to be familiar with Scripture, and it makes me wonder if any particular scriptures came to her mind as she was praising God.


Savior ("God my Savior")
Isaiah 43:2,3 - When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.


Mighty ("he who is mighty has done great things for me")
Psalm 77:14 - You are the God who works wonders; you have made known your might among the peoples.


Holy ("holy is his name")
Leviticus 19:2 - You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy.


Merciful ("his mercy is for those who fear him")
Exodus 34:6 - The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness . . .

Exodus 3:7 - Then the LORD said, "I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings, 8 and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey 

Judge ("he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty." )


Psalm 75:4,7 - Say to the boastful, 'Do not boast,' and to the wicked, 'Do not lift up your horn . . . for it is God who executes judgment, putting down one and lifting up another

Also, this is cool to think about: Mary says, "He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever." What was the mercy that he spoke to their fathers? It was his covenant with them. And what was his covenant? Genesis 12:3 - "In you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." That was ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Messiah, the son-to-be that had just been announced to Mary! :)

My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!