Prophetic Poetry: A Study of Luke 1 and 2
Jackson Snyder, December 3, 1997

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Mary -- She's with Elizabeth. Luke 1:{46} And Mary said,

The Magnificat (magnifies) - there are 15 Old Testament quotes in this section.

{46a} My soul doth magnify the Lord, {47} And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. {48} For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

{49} For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. {50} And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.

{51} He hath showed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. {52} He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.

{53} He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. {54} He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy; {55} As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.

(Gen 17:7) And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.

Zacharias -- He's with his kinfolk. (Luke 1:67-79) And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,

The Benedictus (blessed be)

{68} Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people, {69} And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David; {70} As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began: {71} That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us; {72} To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant;

{73} The oath which he sware to our father Abraham, {74} That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, {75} In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.

"The oath" is the covenant God made with Abraham. (Gen 17:16-18) By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: {17} That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; {18} And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.

{76} And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;

(Mal 4:5) Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:

{77} To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins, {78} Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,

"Dayspring" means "sunrise." (Mal 4:2) But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.

{79} To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

(Isa 9:2) The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.

Simeon -- (Luke 2:25-35) And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. {26} And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ. ... and when the parents brought in the child Jesus ... {28} Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,

The Nunc Dimittus (now let)

{29} Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: {30} For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, {31} Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;

(Isa 52:10) The LORD hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.

{32} A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

(Isa 49:6) And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.

{34b} Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; {35} (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.

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