DAILY BYTEIn our devotions this week we are listening to some of the songs that were sung around the Christmas story, as recorded by Luke’s gospel. Today we listen to Elisabeth’s song.
The context is that the Archangel Gabriel has just appeared to Mary, and has told her that she will give birth to the Son of God.
Mary didn't waste a minute. She got up and traveled to a town in Judah in the hill country, straight to Zachariah's house, and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby in her womb leaped. She was filled with the Holy Spirit, and sang out exuberantly,
You're so blessed among women,
and the babe in your womb, also blessed!
And why am I so blessed that
the mother of my Lord visits me?
The moment the sound of your
greeting entered my ears,
The babe in my womb
skipped like a lamb for sheer joy.
Blessed woman, who believed what God said,
believed every word would come true!
(Luke 1:39 -45 The Message)
Elisabeth’s song is certainly less glamorous than the better-known songs of Mary and Zechariah. Mary’s song is called the Magnificat and Zechariah’s song is called the Benedictus, but Elizabeth’s song has no special name.
Which leads us to a simple but important observation. Elizabeth’s song is not about Elizabeth. Elizabeth’s song points beyond her own particular story and circumstance to someone else. Elizabeth’s song is really about Mary. (Was this a foretaste of the role that Elizabeth’s son, John, would play in pointing beyond himself to Mary’s son, Jesus?)
There was of course much in Elizabeth’s story that was song-worthy. A childless, barren woman falls pregnant in her old age. It was miraculous. But that’s not the focus of her song. Elizabeth’s song is not about Elizabeth. It’s about Mary.
A young girl who was engaged to be married. Her whole life bursting with promise before her. But then one day an angel appears with the most incredible news, that threatened everything – her marriage to the man she loved, her reputation and dignity and standing in the community, her very life and future.
In a remarkable demonstration of trust Mary says, “OK. I’ll do it.” But the news was not greeted with confident joy, but trepidation. If you read the text carefully you’ll notice that in response to the angel’s message Mary doesn’t burst into jubilant song – that only comes later. I reckon she burst into tears. Bewildered, she simply had to get away, to think, to process, to get some perspective on what all this would mean, and how her life would never be the same again. And so we read that she set out with haste to Elizabeth, an elderly relative who greets her with a gracious song. A song that speaks powerful truth to Mary:
You’re blessed. And this pregnancy is a blessing.
And your being here is a blessing to me. And not just me, but even the miracle child within me celebrates your presence with joy. Yes Mary, you’re blessed, because you’ve dared to believe God and you’re trusting that God’s word is true!
What a beautiful song of encouragement Elizabeth sang. What a gift it must have been for Mary, scared and uncertain as she was. And what a difference it made in her life, helping her to see things in a fuller, truer perspective than what she was able to see before.
We know this because immediately after Elizabeth’s song, Mary bursts into song herself for the first time – singing one of the greatest hymns in the whole bible that’s become known as the Magnificat. (We’ll listen to this song tomorrow.)
The encouragement of Elizabeth’s song moves Mary beyond her bewilderment into the broader, wider perspective of God’s promise and purpose for her life.
How might you, like Elizabeth, offer your encouragement to someone else today, and so add your voice to the songs of Christmas that bring hope and the promise of peace to the world?
PRAY AS YOU GO
Thank you Lord for all who have encouraged me to see the bigger picture of your plan and purpose for my life. Amen
