Blogging Thru the Gospels - Day 004 - The Anthem of Elisabeth - Luke 1:39–45

     Except for the section about the birth of John the Baptist, the last half of Luke 1 is mostly "musical". Three anthems dominate the last half of Luke 1. They are the anthems or songs of Elisabeth, Mary, and Zacharias. All three have special names. Elisabeth’s anthem is called the “Beatitude.” Mary’s is called the “Magnificat” and Zacharias’ anthem is called the “Benedictus.” The contents of each anthem has determined its name.

1. The Prompter of the Anthem (Luke 1:39–41)

     Elisabeth’s anthem was inspired by a series of three significant and unexpected events which came to Elisabeth.

Fellowship with Mary.

“Mary … entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth” (Luke 1:39,40).

     The arrival of Mary, a kinsman of Elisabeth, (the word “cousin” [Luke 1:36] is translated from a word which simply means “kinsman”) began the inspiration for Elisabeth’s anthem.

• First, the rigor for the fellowship. “Went into the hill country … into a city of Juda” (Luke 1:39). Mary’s trip to see Elisabeth covered as much as 80 miles. She came all the way from Nazareth of Galilee to the province of Judea (“Juda”) and to the town of Hebron (likely home of Zacharias and Elisabeth).
• Second, the rapidity for the fellowship. “Went into the hill country with haste” (Luke 1:39). Mary was excited by what the angel had told her about herself and about Elisabeth. That would account for her rapidity.
• Third, the reason for the fellowship. Mary and Elisabeth shared Divine blessings the world would not understand. They would have mutual understanding of God working miracles in them, and the fellowship would be delightful.

 The Flutter in the Womb.

“When Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb” (Luke 1:41).

     The word translated “leaped” is stronger than the normal flutter of the fetus in the womb. This was a supernatural reaction.

The Filling with the Holy Spirit.

“Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost” (Luke 1:41).

     This enabled Elisabeth to understand Mary’s situation and to prophesy in her anthem.

The Parts of the Anthem (Luke 1:42–45)

     Elisabeth’s anthem, which is the shortest of the three anthems in Luke 1, is divided into two parts. They speak of the blessings which came to Elisabeth and the three blessings which she prophesied for others. The repetition of “blessed” in this anthem has given it the name of “Beatitude.”

1. The blessings for Elisabeth.

     The blessings Elisabeth cites are twofold. She does not mention the filling of the Spirit as she may not have been altogether conscious of that action. Her anthem revealed it, but she may not have been well aware of it.

• First, the arrival of Mary.

“Whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” (Luke 1:43).

     The filling of the Spirit revealed that Mary was “the mother of my Lord.” Elisabeth takes a very humble position in regard to this special blessing.

• Second, the activity of the babe.

“As soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy” (Luke 1:44).

     The word translated “leaped” involved leaping for joy. The coming of Christ brings great joy.

2. The blessings for others.

     Elisabeth speaks three blessings for others.

• First, the blessing for the female.

“Blessed art thou among women” (Luke 1:42).

     Elisabeth, like the angel, spoke it right. It was not blessed above women but “among” women.

• Second, the blessing for the fruit.

(Luke 1:42).

“Blessed is the fruit of thy womb”

     This is honor for Christ, Who is the “fruit” in Mary’s womb.

• Third, the blessing for the faith.

“Blessed is she that believed, for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord” (Luke 1:45).

     There is no blessing for unbelief, but unbelief brings judgment. Faith in the word of God will always be vindicated by the “performance” of the predictions of the Word. Mary’s faith is Gospel faith, for she believed what God said about His Son. What we believe about God’s Son, Jesus Christ, determines our eternal destiny.

The Anthem of Mary - Luke 1:46–56

     After Elisabeth spoke her anthem, Mary then spoke her anthem. What marvelous words were spoken by these two women upon their meeting one another on this occasion. John the Baptist and Jesus were something about which to be excited.

1. The Comparisons of the Anthem (Luke 1:47–54)

     Mary’s anthem had many things in it which also were in Hannah’s prayer of praise when she brought Samuel to “the house of the LORD in Shiloh” (I Samuel 1:24). This says Mary was well acquainted with Scripture. We note some significant comparisons of Mary’s anthem with Hannah’s prayer of praise.

• The rejoicing in God. Mary said, “My spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior” (Luke 1:47). Hannah said, “My heart rejoiceth in the LORD” (I Samuel 2:1).
• The honoring from God. Mary said, “He hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden … from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed” (Luke 1:48). Hannah said, “My mouth is enlarged over mine enemies” (I Samuel 2:1).
• The honoring of God. Mary honored God in two specific ways. First, the purity of God. Mary said of God, “Holy is his name” (Luke 1:49). Hannah said, “There is none holy as the LORD” (I Samuel 2:2). Second, the power of God. Mary said in her anthem, “He hath showed strength with his arm … put down the mighty” (Luke 1:51,52). Hannah said, “The bows of the mighty men are broken [by God]” (I Samuel 2:4).
• The rebuking of the proud. Mary said, “He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts” (Luke 1:51). Hannah said, “Talk no more so exceeding proudly” (I Samuel 2:3).
• The defeating of the mighty. Mary said, “He hath put down the mighty” (Luke 1:52). Hannah said, “The bows of the mighty men are broken” (I Samuel 2:4).
• The lifting of the humble. Mary said in her anthem, “Exalted them of low degree” (Luke 1:52). Hannah said, “He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill” (I Samuel 2:8).
• The filling of the hungry. Mary said, “He hath filled the hungry with good things” (Luke 1:53). Hannah said, “They that were hungry ceased [to be hungry]” (I Samuel 2:5).
• The emptying of the rich. Mary said, “The rich he hath sent empty away” (Luke 1:53). Hannah said, “The Lord maketh poor” (I Samuel 2:7).
• The preserving of God’s own. Mary said, “He hath holpen [helped] his servant Israel” (Luke 1:54). Hannah said, “He will keep the feet of his saints” (I Samuel 2:9).

2. The Components of the Anthem (Luke 1:46–55)

     Mary’s anthem is called the “Magnificat” because it magnifies the Lord. “My soul doth magnify the Lord” (Luke 1:46). The name of Mary’s anthem, “Magnificat,” comes from this sentence. Many magnify God only by their lips. When your soul honors God, your whole being honors God. Her anthem does indeed magnify God by stating many Divine attributes in a praising way. We note a number of the attributes Mary mentions about God which magnify Him.

• The joy from God. “My spirit hath rejoiced in God” (Luke 1:47). The world rejoices in the things of the flesh, but faith rejoices in God. No one gives pleasure like God. “At thy right hand are pleasures for evermore” (Psalm 16:11). The pleasures of the world are empty, void, and vain compared to the pleasures that come from God. Yet most people forsake God to seek after the pleasures of the world (II Timothy 3:4). 
• The salvation from God. “God my Savior” (Luke 1:47). The salvation of man’s soul comes from God through Jesus Christ. Any other way will not save.
• The blessing from God. “All generations shall call me blessed” (Luke 1:48). Mary suffered greatly in being the vessel through which Christ came into the world. But the blessings far exceeded any suffering. God’s blessings more than compensate for any loss we experience to gain His blessings.
• The enabling from God. “He … hath done to me great things” (Luke 1:49). An understatement to be sure. When God calls, God will enable. The enabling of Mary was a tremendous miracle. Be encouraged that God will enable you to do what He has called you to do.
• The holiness of God. “Holy is his name” (Luke 1:49). The fundamental attribute of God is holiness. Mary had some good theology in her anthem.
• The mercy of God. “His mercy is on them that fear him” (Luke 1:50). The fear of God and the mercy of God are inseparably related. When we fear God we run to Christ for mercy. There is not much fear of God in the world today.
• The power of God. “He hath showed strength with his arm” (Luke 1:51). This is a figure of speech. Men often roll up their sleeves to show the muscle in their arm to show their power. No one has more power than God.
• The judgment of God. “He hath scattered the proud … put down the mighty from their seats” (Luke 1:51,52). God will judge the arrogant who despise Him. Many politicians and earthly rulers have bitten the dust in humiliation because they rebelled against God.
• The justice of God. “He hath … exalted them of low degree” (Luke 1:52). He exalts the lowly not because they are lowly but because they have character. Character is generally despised in the world, and those with character are given a back seat in the world, but God is just. He exalts character.
• The filling by God. “He hath filled the hungry with good things” (Luke 1:53). This attribute in related to the fourth beatitude in the Sermon on the Mount which says, “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness; for they shall be filled” (Matthew 5:6). You must desire God’s blessings or you will not be filled with God’s blessings.
• The rejection by God. “The rich he hath sent empty away” (Luke 1:53). This reminds us of the experience Jesus had with the rich man (Mark 10:17–22). It is not the wealth that God rejects but the fact that men want their riches more than God.
• The faithfulness of God. “He hath holpen [helped] his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy; as he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and his seed forever” (Luke 1:54,55). God is faithful to His promises for Israel. He sent them a Messiah as promised, but Israel rejected Him the first time He came to earth. However, God will send Him back a second time, and Israel will receive Him. God was faithful, but Israel was not.

3. The Companionship After the Anthem (Luke 1:56) 

“Mary abode with her [Elisabeth] about three months, and returned to her own house” (Luke 1:56).

   Mary wisely left the home of Elisabeth and Zacharias at this time so she would not be in the way when John was born - he would be born shortly after Mary left. (She came in the sixth month and stayed about three months meaning Elisabeth was about ready to give birth to John). Also Mary needed to get back to Nazareth before her own pregnancy advanced so far it would be difficult to travel.