Two Christmas Songs

Below Sunday morning re-examined Gabriel's announcement to Mary Lou.

She was chosen to become the mother of the Messiah. Today were going to examine the immediate aftermath of that announcement, the events that come next and are highly significant which involve Mary's visit to Elizabeth, who was a close relative of hers and the mother of John the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ John or Lisa forerunner himself having been prophesied in the Old Testament Scriptures that there would be such a forerunner, who would come and prepare the way for the coming of the Lord. So there's a close relationship between the child that Elizabeth is bearing and the child that Mary is now carrying so Mary visits Elizabeth and both of them break forth into songs of praise. That's were going to look at today to Christmas songs.

Elizabeth's song of praise and Mary's song of praise and humble faith.

We shall look first at the occasion to brought them together, and secondly, Elizabeth's song and thirdly, at Mary's song, but the occasion which brought them together. The details that allow them to be in proximity in the same place at the same time to bring forth these words that are preserved for us by the Holy Spirit of God in the gospel of Luke. What was it that brought these two women together and we have first of all, an account of Mary's journey in verses 39 and 40 and then secondly couple of details about Mary's arrival in verses 40 and 41 and then the account closes with a brief description of Mary's departure. In verse 56 Mary's journey. We are told, took place in those days. Verse 39.

Mary arose in those days and went to the hill country with case to the city of Judah.

In those days refers to the days of Gabriel's announcement as I said, this follows immediately upon the record of that Annunciation as it's often called of Gabriel to Mary and in those days when that took place then what we are looking at today took place very shortly afterwards.

In fact, in regard to Mary's departure. We are told that she arose and went with case a rapid response to what it taken place. When Gabriel came to visit her an immediate desire and immediate apparently understanding that God wanted her to go into visit. Elizabeth even though the record. Luke does not tell us the Gabriel commanded that he didn't tell her you go visit Elizabeth. He did bring up the fact Elizabeth's with was with child miraculous child miraculous for her circumstances and Mary evidently understood that to mean I want you to go and to make connection with with Elizabeth and to learn from her and to be encouraged by what I have done for Elizabeth and so Mary picking up almost on on the hint that Gabriel gave acted quickly and made a hasty departure to go to be with Elizabeth but the destination where Elizabeth was to be found was not close to where Mary was in in Nazareth of Galilee. Not at all. The destination we are told, was a city of Judah. Mary arose with taste. One of the hill country to a city of Judah and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. The city of Judah unnamed so any any location, any identification of this location has to be speculation and along with some commentator dictators are going to make a speculative guest but that's only a guess, but if you had to pick out a city in the hill country of Judea which is south of Jerusalem. You would probably focus upon hand-drawn because according to Joshua 2111. That was one of the cities that was given to the Levites and all the tribes of Israel. They were instructed to pick out certain cities in their territory and to give those cities to the Levites of the Levites did not receive a tribal inheritance would nevertheless be given towns to live in places where they could live and have gardens and so they would be scattered all throughout the nation of Israel because not only were the Levites there to serve in the temple and they came and did that, according to the schedule but also they were to be instructors of God's word to the people of Israel and for them to do that effectively, they needed to live throughout the territories where the tribes were. And so we know that hand-drawn was one of those Levitical cities, and it's very possible we might even say likely that Zacharias being a priest being a Levite and his wife Elizabeth lived in the town of Brought but we do know for sure that was in the hill country south of Jerusalem. That means, therefore, that it was between 80 and 100 miles from Nazareth from Nazareth in Galilee to the north to Jerusalem is 80 miles. This is south of their if it was Bethlehem which I doubt because that such a prominent town.

I think that would've been mentioned that's where Mary whereon Jesus of course ended up being born budgeted Bethlehem, it would be 5 miles south of Jerusalem, therefore 85 miles from from Nazareth was hand-drawn.

It was 100 miles south of Nazareth and so what we do know is it was a long journey by foot. That's a long ways to go but Mary did not hesitate and she went that 8200 miles to arrive at the home of Zacharias so that she could spend time with Elizabeth know this much already about Mary's journey.

Give some implications. I think we ought to at least touch lightly upon number one. It tells us something about Mary's relationship with Elizabeth that they were not only relatives but they must've been close enough relatives that Mary felt perfectly comfortable to travel to her house and probably arrived unannounced. She didn't have a cell phone and stayed three months I take it that that's a pretty close relationship can't prove it but it would seem to be the case number two and more interesting to me intriguing. In fact, is the implication that this has for what I would call Mary's independent from all the account from all the details of the given to us. Mary apparently traveled alone. A young woman traveling alone hundred miles tells us something about the safe conditions in that part of the world at that time, we wouldn't allow a young teenage girl to travel 100 miles by herself in the United States of America today are not likely would certainly not on foot.

While this is all kinds of occasions I mentioned to you last week that according to betrothal customs Jewish young ladies were often betrothed as early as 13 years of age and so therefore many have speculated that Mary was as young as 13, but I don't think so. I can't prove it can't prove one way or the other but I don't think so because of things like this that her parents really let a 13 year old girl make 100 mile journey alone by foot. I doubt it.

They give every indication of being very mature, very solid, very godly parents.

I doubt that. So I don't think she was 13. I think she probably was not even as young as 15, though again this is all just speculation on my part, I think it would be more likely that she would lease been an older teenager, 16, 17 and there's nothing in the Scripture that even tells us that she had to be a teenager that she was the custom of the day, but it does tell us that she was unusually well seems to us unusually independent. Maybe that was customary for young women in that day. It doesn't seem likely. Here she goes walks 100 miles from Nazareth to the home of Zacharias. Furthermore, this is a little bit about Mary's physical condition. She walked 100 miles. How many of you are. After that, I don't think I would be may be in the two decades ago. I don't know. I don't think I would be 100 miles.

That would've taken at least four days walking all day every day depending on how quickly one walked and how many breaks when needed to take, but this certainly says something about the condition of Mary.

She was in good shape as were most of the people in that day because the common mode of transportation for nearly everybody was walking some of puzzled why the Bible doesn't have a little bit more to say, instructing us about the importance of physical exercise for our for our good health and the obvious answer is because in that day everybody walked everywhere they walked miles nearly every day.

Nobody need to tell them to exercise they did that was just that we just built into their lives.

We don't have lives that like that for most of us were more sedentary, so it would be a bad idea. The Bible does tell us that bodily exercise profits a little compared to eternal things which are far more profitable, but it does proffered a little and taking care of our physical bodies is important. God gave them to us and we have them here to use for his service so just a word to the wise, but Mary was in physical good physical health but more than anything. The seems to tell us something about Mary's godliness.

Her eager obedience just just dropping a hint by Gabriel that she ought to go check in with Elizabeth and she's gone is daunting, as the journey must've been. She packs quickly and lightly. After all, she's good to carry whatever she takes she's gone. What's most most important to her are things of spiritual pursuits. She wants to go to Elizabeth because they need to talk about what's going on what God is doing what God is doing in Mary's life would God is doing in Elizabeth's life God is doing in the world that interest Mary more than anything else. This is the evidence of it Mary's journey.

Secondly, we notice Mary's arrival in verses 40 and 41 and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth.

And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary that the babe leaped in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

Mary greeted Elizabeth. Again, we don't have details. Some have speculated that the greeting included Mary telling Elizabeth that what Gabriel and said to him, rather, to hurt, and so forth. And that's why Elizabeth seem to have that knowledge comes out in her song, and in a few moments, but there's no indication of that adjuster. She greeted her, which I would take to mean the common way of greeting one another in that day the various words that were commonly spoken and what you might say when you came to visit someone. Mary seems to be rather retiring and reticent. She doesn't she doesn't share a lot of information.

She tends to keep things in and hide them in her heart and meditate upon them. That's the kind of description we have of Mary. She didn't even tell Joseph what was going on so I really don't think it's likely that she opened when Elizabeth opened the door and said why Mary, what brings you here. She said I'm with child think so. I think she just said hi and Elizabeth are cousin Elizabeth River.

She is would it be all right if I come and visit for a little while. Elizabeth said by all means, when she came in. We read in verse 41 the John the child who was three months along in Elizabeth's womb responded to the arrival of Mary were told that in verse 41, were told that again the words of Elizabeth, but it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary that the babe leaped in her womb.

In verse 44 list process for indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy and then beyond that, we are told that Elizabeth was filled with the spirit, the Holy Spirit came upon her in the fashion of coming upon profits in the Old Testament days upon others who had special work to do as assigned by God in order to enable them to do their work. So Elizabeth was filled with the spirit in order to understand the significance of number one the movements of the baby in her womb number two to prophesy about Mary and her child which is going to do now. I say the Holy Spirit had to to inform Elizabeth as to the meaning of this movement of the baby in her womb because even though we are told why the baby responded responded because of the presence of Mary the fact that the child in their Elizabeth's womb new that this was the presence of Christ but Elizabeth wouldn't have any way of knowing that Mary told her that she was expecting the Christ child, which again I doubt but Elizabeth wouldn't have any way of knowing of of interpreting accurately the meaning of this movement in the womb. It's not miraculous for babies to jump and move when they're in the mother's womb. When there there six months along some of you have probably had the same experience I have had with Marty was expecting a child and she say quick, put your hand here and feel the babies moving that I don't say will glory to God.

There's something special going on in the in the realm of heaven. That means that God has anointed someone for a special purpose. I interpreted that way at all. I just would say sounds feels like a healthy child. Praise the Lord and so took the filling of the Holy Spirit for Elizabeth to understand what the meaning of this was the child in her womb jumping for joy. And then also to be able to prophesy about Mary and her child.

So that's number one. Mary journey number two Mary's arrival then just will jump to the end Mary's departure. In verse 56 to get all of the details of this visit out of the way and we read a Mary remained with her about three months and return to her house after a three month visit pretty significant. That's a long time to have a houseguest is that there's no indication that this was a problem after a three month visit. Then Mary departed. Apparently just almost up almost immediately prior to the birth of John. You take the six months that Elizabeth was along in her pregnancy in the three months that Mary stayed in the home that brings us to nine months. But before John was born. We have a record of the birth here and what took place there but before John was born Mary said it's time for me to go home now the question is why.

Why did she leave before the birth of John, after having spent three months with Elizabeth. Prior to this birth and in anticipation of the birth again were not told why anything would be speculation. The two things to come to my mind number one.

Elizabeth may have said I would prefer that you depart now and that would be explanation enough but number two, probably because Mary understood that the birth of John was going to be a community celebration and they were going to be streams of people coming into the house is indeed their work and Mary and her situation didn't want to be part of all of that. Could I call it hullabaloo was going to take place and so being the quiet retiring young woman that she was.

She excused herself and she went home. But one thing this tells us is that when Mary arrived, Elizabeth's house, presumably in a matter of five or six days at most. After the announcement of Gabriel. She was already with child was initially the conception already taken place. Elizabeth understood by the Holy Spirit that Mary was carrying not, would become pregnant with what was already carrying the Christ child and John the Baptist understood that and fact I would say this is John's first activity as in his office as the forerunner of Christ we can see what he did. Later he got the nation ready he preached to call people to repentance and then when Jesus came walking along by the Jordan River.

John dutifully pointed him out said, behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. This is the one of whom I spoke the latchet of whose sandals.

I'm not worthy to untie departed people to the Messiah. Well, he's doing that already.

The mother of Jesus comes into the house and John says here years. Here is here you Mary returns to her home in Nazareth to notice her home in Nazareth, not Joseph's. They are betrothed not yet married is another piece of the story is going to be filled in before they can come together and Lord willing, will deal with that next Sunday morning, the Angels announcement to Joseph to get him prepared for his responsibility. Mary goes back to her home.

We know nothing about it. The thing about her parents. Nothing about her family except she has every evidence of a godly upbringing. We come now to Elizabeth's song and I want to touch upon it quickly. In verses 42 through 45. But let me tell you a couple things about it. Number one. It is a poem but it's not as well constructed as Mary's. Mary's is a masterpiece of poetry. We sing it we listen to it often not very often that during the Advent season.

You'll hear anybody reciting or making reference to Elizabeth's song which you will hear many references to Mary's song contract even has its own name. Mary's Magnificat is most know, but Elizabeth's song is not as well constructed as Mary's, but it is nevertheless a song and now you need to understand that the word song does not necessarily mean something that you sing. That's what we think of but and that would be the first definition of my Webster's dictionary, but the second definition is just a political composition that's called assault. The songs that we sing our poems that had been set to music but a poem, even if it's not set to music is properly called assault. So, I'm talking about Elizabeth's song. I'm not saying necessarily anybody saying it when I'm talking about Mary's song true that now people do sing it, it wasn't signed at the time when it was rendered. One further thing about Elizabeth's song and that is were told it was spoken with a loud voice. Let me read it verse 42 then she spoke out with a loud voice and said blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb. But why is this grant to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me for indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.

Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord. She spoke out with a loud voice that particularly noted here, in contrast to Mary doesn't say Mary spoke with a loud voice, we read next and Mary said not shouted literally that's what worked for Elizabeth speaking with a loud voice is in the Greek language. Elizabeth shouted Mary said.

Elizabeth spoke with a loud voice Mary spoke with a soft voice and a calm demeanor. There's a difference here. The question is why did Elizabeth speak with a loud voice, and some think it's because she was under the power of prophetic impulse Holy Spirit filter in this caused her to speak with a loud voice, and some people have the idea that that's one of the evidences of the filling of the Holy Spirit is that you speak loud but Mary was also filled with the Holy Spirit that spoke soft, so that wouldn't quite explain it what it and I just chalk it up probably to the difference in personality. Elizabeth probably was a more edible boisterous personality.

We know Mary was a woman of quiet demeanor.

Elizabeth apparently was of a different personality. But now we move to Elizabeth's song and there are four things in all tell you what they are never look at them briefly. Number one Elizabeth on honors Mary number two Elizabeth honors Mary's child number three Elizabeth honors her own child number four Elizabeth honors Mary's faith Elizabeth honors Mary blessed are you among women blessed the Greek word you log game and is where we get our word eulogy and edits most basic meaning it means to be well spoken up. That's what eulogy is in the funeral it is to say a few kind words about the person that they may be well spoken of by the eulogy now and rises above that level to mean something more, you who are highly favored, you who are highly honored and when it is God that is during the blessing, it even rises higher than that their special divine favor involved in the blessing, but at its basic level, it simply means to be well spoken of, but what Elizabeth is saying is, Blessed are you among women, not as summer pointed out accurately and, importantly, not above women. Blessed are you among women, but it still means you are the most blessed of all women he doesn't place Mary in a category different in nature or kind from other women. As has been erroneously asserted about her. She is not sinless. She did not have an immaculate. She does not have grace that she can bestow upon others, but all of that error laid aside.

She is the most blessed of all women in the world before or since her presence in the world for this one simple reason. She has been chosen to become the mother of the Christ child, who will course grow up and die on the cross and there's only one Christ is only one Messiah so they can only be one mother of the Messiah and she's chosen for that honor, and no one else can share that honor with her blessed indeed. Are you among women, Elizabeth honors Mary.

Secondly, Elizabeth honors Mary's child because she goes on to say, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. Mary's already with child. Blessed is the fruit of your womb well spoken of is the fruit of your womb. Yes, most blessed is the fruit of your womb most highly favored, and again, this blessing rises higher and higher as we learn more and more about who this one is because the child that Mary is carrying is the most blessed one who has ever been born into this world, and Elizabeth indicates that when she says this in verse 43.

Why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me. The mother of my Lord.

She recognized that the child in Mary's womb was her Lord and that's a synonym for saying she recognized that the child in Mary's womb was her God was Almighty God. How blessed the mind that the mother of my Lord God Almighty should come to me and Elizabeth is amazed that such gracious favor she feels favored that the mother of the Lord should come and visit her, even though the that mother is a younger relative, a niece or a much younger cousin or something in that category was clearly more blessed than Elizabeth herself was highly blessed but there does not seem to be the slightest hint of resentment or jealousy, no envy whatsoever just amazement that the mother of my Lord, come to me Elizabeth honors Mary's child. Thirdly, Elizabeth honors her own child was 44 indeed, a citizen voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. John leaped for joy when Mary arrived in the Holy Spirit enabled Elizabeth to understand the meaning of that. This is already pointed out, therefore, serves as John's first act as the Messiah's forerunner and Elizabeth points this out her own child is now acting in his capacity as the forerunner of the Messiah. And so in this way she honors her own child in question is is this response in the womb of the baby John, and evidence of his own filling by the Holy Spirit, and I would tend to answer that question, yes I think so. How else do you explain this child recognizing Christ and communicating that that announcement the course of Zacharias and Elizabeth were told in verse 15 of chapter 1 of John for he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink.

He also will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb that raises a law question and I can't answer them. So I'm move on.

Let's just leave it at that.

The Holy Spirit is very much a work in the lives of all of these people.

So Elizabeth honors her own child and then number four Elizabeth honors Mary's faith. Verse 45.

Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord blessed is Mary's faith well spoken of his Mary's faith highly favored is Mary's faith because her faith was unquestioning. There was no doubting when Gabriel told her that she would conceive the Christ child. She did ask to explain how this would happen. Since she didn't have a sexual relationship with a man and Gabriel told her, but there is not the first evidence of any doubt or questioning on her part. Unlike uncle Zacharias.

Remember when the angel told him about the birth of John. He was highly skeptical, remember that verse 18 and Zechariah said to the angel, how shall I know this for I am an old man and my wife is well advanced in years and the angel answered and said to him, I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God was sent to speak to you, bring you these glad tidings Gabriel almost sounds like he feels insulted.

I think he was by Zacharias is lack of faith, but verse 20 behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time.

So Elizabeth has just seen in her own home her own family. Example of someone who was given a divine revelation from an angel and have trouble believing it eventually did a trouble believing it.

Mary immediate believed it wife because it came from God. Faith is believing the revelation of God and acting accordingly. Mary shows exemplary faith, remarkable faith. She believes the revelation of God and immediately response in an appropriate way most blessed therefore is immediate faith. Mary's an example of that, but also blessed is delayed faith. Zacharias is an example of that is faith. Eventually was exercised and it was genuine.

Nevertheless, and there's a great blessing attached to all faith in God's word, that is true heart faith. Most tragic is no faith.

Most tragic is unrelenting relit resistance and skepticism to the revelation of God which is given to us in the Bible most tragic of those who refused to believe the Bible refused to acknowledge it is God's word refuse to accept it by faith.

There are tragic consequences to those who go on unrelentingly in that condition that brings is now thoroughly to Mary's song and will have to cover this one quickly, more quickly than I would like but I will read it is beautiful saturated with Old Testament quotations and allusions, similar in some respects to Hannah's song and of the mother of Samuel. But here's an in itself is a testimony to Mary's godly upbringing and her saturation with the Bible when she started to speak. Scripture rolled out a set of John Bunyan.

I think that anyplace you pricked him he would bleed Bible and Mary is pretty much like that anyplace you pricked her she would bleed Bible and that's what comes out in this Magnificat called Magnificat because in the Latin Vulgate. This song of Mary the first word is Magnificat which means magnify my soul magnifies the Lord, and so now we read it and Mary said my soul magnifies the Lord in my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior work for he has regarded the lowly state of his maidservant, for behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed, for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name and his mercy is on those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm. He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He is put down the mighty from their thrones and exalted the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things and the rich he has sent away empty.

He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and his seed forever. My mind recalls that in the King James version says he has my right.

It says he is hoping his servant Israel.

I think that's what it says he has helped his servant Israel what Mary song contained number one, Mary exalts the Lord number two.

Mary acknowledges personal blessings third. Mary acknowledges God's mercy. Fourth, Mary acknowledges God's justice and finally number five Mary exalts God's covenant faithfulness. Mary exalts the Lord I saw magnifies the Lord Magnificat. My soul magnifies the Lord makes great God exalts God with praise to the extent that I'm able to magnify him with my words magnify him before others. My soul magnifies the Lord, and my soul rejoiced in more another phrase of great significance. God my Savior, some erroneously teach that Mary was without sin. Mary was somehow immaculately conceived, in which case, of course, Mary wouldn't need a Savior, but Mary didn't get the memo.

She recognized himself to be a sinner in need of a Savior. My soul has rejoiced in God my Savior.

Mary exalts the Lord number two Mary magnifies personal blessings. She makes reference here to the fact that God in his kindness has raised her from her lowly condition. Humble background, low economic status is not part of of the nation that was not in the center of of power and and political activity.

But God nevertheless reached down to her in her lowly condition spouse to be married to the village carpenter. I mean she was born into a lowly condition and it looked like that was going to be her condition for the rest of her life and nothing wrong with that. But God had other plans and he says God has highly exalted me and from henceforth all generations shall honor me all generations shall call me blessed. That is indeed true and we are in the year 20 22,000 years after Mary spoke and it would not be an exaggeration to say that they are easily more than a billion people in this world who know who Mary is know she is the mother of Jesus Christ and honor her for her faith in what she did while you talk about an exaltation.

That's it. So she was raised from her lowly condition. She is a recipient of God's mighty power.

He has come to bear upon her with his mighty arm. His omnipotence in order for her to be able to to conceive a child in a miraculous way. She is aware of God's holiness. Holy is his name. That means God is holy when it says name. It means the person that bears the name God is holy, which probably in this instance has emphasis upon God being separate. I don't have time to go through the whole meaning of holiness, but it starts with the idea being separate the courses separate from sin. That's the holiness that we think of, but separate from his creation transcendent above his creation glorious and mighty and majestic, and unlike anything in this University created is God and how does God richly favored one so undeserving, Mary didn't have the attitude that so many have today.

Well it's about time I got recognized.

It's about time I got what I deserved.

Mary recognized I thank God I don't get what I deserve. She knew she was a center. Thank God for his mercy is salvation rejoice in God my Savior.

Mary acknowledges personal blessings number two. Mary acknowledges God's mercy, no flowing out beyond herself, but her acknowledgment of God's mercy is also intertwined with Mary's acknowledgment of God's justice. The two go together in their in a poetic manner and couplets are paired one against the other, you'll see that in his mercy is on those who fear him from generation is shown strength with with his arm.

He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts is put down the mighty from their thrones and exalted the lowly is filled the hungry with good things and the rich. You sent away empty mercy for those who fear God, God delights to exalt the lowly, even as God is exalted, Mary. That's just an example of the way God hears in the way God operates. He delights in exalting the lowly on those who fear him. God satisfies the hundred hungry, which is more than saying that God supplies physical food, though he does that promises to for his children, we pray. Give us this day our daily bread that America will be related don't have to worry most of this most of the type have to worry about where our next meal is coming from that petition doesn't carry quite the weight that it does say in Zimbabwe, where many of the people there don't even know where the next meal is coming from and have some days go by when they have nothing to eat but give us, and yet God righteously supplies for them and they rejoice and praise God for his supply and thank him amazingly and immensely. But God satisfies the hungry, physically yes indeed. But this probably has more to do with the thoughts that Jesus gave in the sermon on the Mount that he satisfies those who hung first after righteousness for they shall be filled. Those who are spiritually hungry. God feeds them. God satisfies them.

That's God's mercy. But Mary also acknowledges God's justice. There are many in our day who want to talk about God's goodness, his kindness, his mercy is love, but somehow don't think it's appropriate or helpful to talk about God's justice God's judgment take a lesson from godly Mary. She put some together in exalts one is much as the other. She honors God because he scatters the proud forts there proud plans and ambitions and desires far more times than we even know she honors God because he puts down the mighty from their thrones. Gabriel told Mary that her child would be on David's throne it would have a an everlasting kingdom that would never add and all other kings kingdoms presidents premiers have all come to the end and God puts them off their throne at the proper time. Everyone God sent the rich away empty. Again, this doesn't necessarily mean that he destroys the riches that sometimes he does but it probably has more of a spiritual significance. Those who live for money link that their main goal in life whose object is to accumulate wealth to try to find satisfaction and happiness and wealth eventually go away empty because that doesn't satisfy doesn't produce what they want. In the meantime they have cut themselves off from what really satisfies which is Christ and his word and salvation and life eternal. And they lived for the wrong things God sends them away empty. Finally, number five, Mary exalts God's covenant faithfulness.

He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy as he spoke to our fathers, to April, I am into his seed forever. He helped Israel in a special way. No question about it.

Why because he promised to, in remembrance of his mercy he has promised mercy. That's why did they deserve it. Not at all if you think so you haven't read the same Old Testament Scriptures.

I have does Israel deserve a special favor. Not at all, but they have it anyway because God promised it. God always keeps his promises. He fulfilled his promises to Abraham and to his seed and having made those promises you can be sure he's going to fulfill them.

So God is merciful and kind. God keeps his promises.

Mercy for those who trust him judgment for those who spurn him.

I will read a few sentences. In conclusion, there is abundant blessing for those who believe God's word. I hope that you, there is deserve judgment for those who refuse his word.

I hope that's not you. God favors the lowly and resist the influential which you striving for lowly made a lowly carpenter lowly stable we could go on and on and on to bring the most exalted being into the world to accomplish the greatest work that is ever been known for redemption of the people that all creation story.

What a truth shall we pray father seal these truths to every heart, O Lord, create faith in the every heart of father work in mercy, undeserved mercy upon those who are by birth and by choice sinners and rebels against you go dear Lord and mercy help us and bring us to our knees into our saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray