17 December 2023 // Luke 1:57-79
SCRIPTURAL APPLICATION: Read Luke 1:57-79 & watch/listen to December 17 sermon.
SERMON REVIEW:
A Song of Praise for the Fulfillment of the Davidic Covenant Vs. 68-71
A Song of Praise for the Fulfillment of the Abrahamic Covenant – Vs. 72-75
Mercy-
Remembrance –
Deliverance –
Service without Fear-
A Song of Praise for the Child – Vs. 76 - 77
Prophet of the Most High –
Go Before –
Prepare –
Knowledge of Salvation –
Forgiveness of Sins –
A Song of Praise for the Sunrise – Vs. 78-79
He’s Coming!
To Give Light to the Darkness –
QUESTIONS:
DIGGING DEEPER:
Coming out of Darkness
The night before the sunrise of Jesus’ birth had been long and dark. According to the Scriptures the people of Israel had been “living in darkness and in the shadow of death”—like a caravan lost in a desert at night and fearing for their lives (Luke 1:79; cf. Isaiah 9:2). The faithful remnant knew the messianic sunrise would come because the prophet Malachi had memorably promised in the concluding lines of the Old Testament that “the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall” (Malachi 4:2). So despite over 400 long years of darkness, the people were looking for the sunrise.
There had been recent glimmers of light indicating that dawn was imminent—Gabriel’s annunciation of John to Zechariah, Gabriel’s annunciation of Jesus to Mary, the meeting of the two pregnant mothers and Elizabeth’s loud, joyful prophecy, Mary’s Magnificat, the birth of John the Baptist. These momentary flashes were signs that steady rays of messianic sunlight would soon shine from the horizon.
Now, with the birth of John, a faint glow was almost perceptible. Zechariah circumcised his son, and the people asked, “What then is this child going to be?” [1]
The Great Hope
The so-called Davidic Covenant was simply God’s promise (or covenant) to David that he would be succeeded by his son Solomon, who would build the temple, and that an ultimate greater successor would establish his throne forever. The covenant was delivered by the prophet Nathan to David when David was at the height of his power and had expressed his desire to build a temple for God. The covenant reads:
“The Lord declares to you that the Lord himself will establish a house for you: When your days are over and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.” (2 Samuel 7:11b–13)
The great promise of an enduring kingdom and king fired the hopes of the faithful in Israel, and they looked longingly for the great coming ruler of the house of David.
Isaiah gave immortal expression to this great hope:
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. (Isaiah 9:6, 7)
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. What role does the Holy Spirit have in the birth announcements?
2. What character traits do Zechariah and Elizabeth share with Mary? Why would God choose such people to prepare the way for the Lord?
3. How many references to prayer can you find in Luke 1? What different types of prayer are represented? What do you learn about God’s response to prayer and praise?[2]
PRAYER:
[1] R. Kent Hughes, Luke: That You May Know the Truth, Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1998), 73.
[2] Trent C. Butler, Luke, vol. 3, Holman New Testament Commentary (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2000), 24.
SERMON REVIEW:
A Song of Praise for the Fulfillment of the Davidic Covenant Vs. 68-71
A Song of Praise for the Fulfillment of the Abrahamic Covenant – Vs. 72-75
Mercy-
Remembrance –
Deliverance –
Service without Fear-
A Song of Praise for the Child – Vs. 76 - 77
Prophet of the Most High –
Go Before –
Prepare –
Knowledge of Salvation –
Forgiveness of Sins –
A Song of Praise for the Sunrise – Vs. 78-79
He’s Coming!
To Give Light to the Darkness –
QUESTIONS:
- What did the message teach me about God/Jesus/Holy Spirit?
- What did the message teach me about the human condition?
- Is there anything I need to confess, repent, or be grateful for, because of this passage?
- How do I need help in believing and applying this scripture to my life?
- How can I encourage others with this passage?
DIGGING DEEPER:
Coming out of Darkness
The night before the sunrise of Jesus’ birth had been long and dark. According to the Scriptures the people of Israel had been “living in darkness and in the shadow of death”—like a caravan lost in a desert at night and fearing for their lives (Luke 1:79; cf. Isaiah 9:2). The faithful remnant knew the messianic sunrise would come because the prophet Malachi had memorably promised in the concluding lines of the Old Testament that “the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall” (Malachi 4:2). So despite over 400 long years of darkness, the people were looking for the sunrise.
There had been recent glimmers of light indicating that dawn was imminent—Gabriel’s annunciation of John to Zechariah, Gabriel’s annunciation of Jesus to Mary, the meeting of the two pregnant mothers and Elizabeth’s loud, joyful prophecy, Mary’s Magnificat, the birth of John the Baptist. These momentary flashes were signs that steady rays of messianic sunlight would soon shine from the horizon.
Now, with the birth of John, a faint glow was almost perceptible. Zechariah circumcised his son, and the people asked, “What then is this child going to be?” [1]
The Great Hope
The so-called Davidic Covenant was simply God’s promise (or covenant) to David that he would be succeeded by his son Solomon, who would build the temple, and that an ultimate greater successor would establish his throne forever. The covenant was delivered by the prophet Nathan to David when David was at the height of his power and had expressed his desire to build a temple for God. The covenant reads:
“The Lord declares to you that the Lord himself will establish a house for you: When your days are over and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.” (2 Samuel 7:11b–13)
The great promise of an enduring kingdom and king fired the hopes of the faithful in Israel, and they looked longingly for the great coming ruler of the house of David.
Isaiah gave immortal expression to this great hope:
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. (Isaiah 9:6, 7)
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. What role does the Holy Spirit have in the birth announcements?
2. What character traits do Zechariah and Elizabeth share with Mary? Why would God choose such people to prepare the way for the Lord?
3. How many references to prayer can you find in Luke 1? What different types of prayer are represented? What do you learn about God’s response to prayer and praise?[2]
PRAYER:
[1] R. Kent Hughes, Luke: That You May Know the Truth, Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1998), 73.
[2] Trent C. Butler, Luke, vol. 3, Holman New Testament Commentary (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2000), 24.