Rachel Workman:
36 There was also
a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very
old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and
then was a widow until she was eighty-four.[e]
She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.
38 Coming
up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the
child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.
39 When Joseph and Mary had done
everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their
own town of Nazareth. 40 And
the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of
God was on him. I would say that stating Jesus was filled with wisdom, and
the grace of God was on him is an understatement.
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John Burnett:
36 There
was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher.
She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her
marriage, 37 and
then was a widow until she was eighty-four.[a]She never left the temple but
worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. 38 Coming up to them at that very
moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were
looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. I
have always wondered why God opened the eyes of some to realize who Christ was
to Israel and why some, like the Pharisees, could not or would not recognize
the Savior standing in their presence.
39 When
Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they
returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. 40 And the child grew and became
strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.
With
the violent protests against conservative speakers going on in California and
New York, Isaiah 5:18-23, should comfort us in that justice will be
served. In this passage, Isaiah is referring to Israel at the time but
similar behavior today will result in destruction like it did for Israel.
Anytime “Woe” is used, justice is coming and God is righteous in all His
judgements.
Isaiah
5:18-23
18 Woe to those who drag iniquity with the cords of [m]falsehood,
And sin as if with cart ropes;
19 Who say, “Let Him make speed, let Him hasten His work, that we may see it;
And let the purpose of the Holy One of Israel draw near
And come to pass, that we may know it!”
20 Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil;
Who [n]substitute darkness for light and light for darkness;
Who [o]substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!
21 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes
And clever in their own sight!
22 Woe to those who are heroes in drinking wine
And valiant men in mixing strong drink,
23 Who justify the wicked for a bribe,
And take away the [p]rights of the ones who are in the right!
And sin as if with cart ropes;
19 Who say, “Let Him make speed, let Him hasten His work, that we may see it;
And let the purpose of the Holy One of Israel draw near
And come to pass, that we may know it!”
20 Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil;
Who [n]substitute darkness for light and light for darkness;
Who [o]substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!
21 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes
And clever in their own sight!
22 Woe to those who are heroes in drinking wine
And valiant men in mixing strong drink,
23 Who justify the wicked for a bribe,
And take away the [p]rights of the ones who are in the right!
When abortion is championed and protests break out to keep
people in the right from speaking on college campuses, this passage could be
talking about America. Here is what happened to Israel and I would
suspect something similar is in store for America
24 Therefore, as a tongue of fire consumes stubble
And dry grass collapses into the flame,
So their root will become like rot and their blossom [q]blow away as dust;
For they have rejected the law of the Lord of hosts
And despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.
25 On this account the anger of the Lord has burned against His people,
And He has stretched out His hand against them and struck them down.
And the mountains quaked, and their corpses [r]lay like refuse in the middle of the streets.
For all this His anger [s]is not spent,
But His hand is still stretched out.
And dry grass collapses into the flame,
So their root will become like rot and their blossom [q]blow away as dust;
For they have rejected the law of the Lord of hosts
And despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.
25 On this account the anger of the Lord has burned against His people,
And He has stretched out His hand against them and struck them down.
And the mountains quaked, and their corpses [r]lay like refuse in the middle of the streets.
For all this His anger [s]is not spent,
But His hand is still stretched out.
His hand being still stretched out shows His patience with us
for which I am so thankful. Have a great weekend.
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Commentary:
There
was much evil then in the church, yet God left not himself without witness.
Anna always dwelt in, or at least attended at, the temple. She was always in a
praying spirit; gave herself to prayer, and in all things she served God. Those
to whom Christ is made known, have great reason to thank the Lord. She taught
others concerning him. Let the example of the venerable saints, Simeon and
Anna, give courage to those whose hoary heads are, like theirs, a crown of
glory, being found in the way of righteousness. The lips soon to be silent in
the grave, should be showing forth the praises of the Redeemer. In all things
it became Christ to be made like unto his brethren, therefore he passed through
infancy and childhood as other children, yet without sin, and with manifest
proofs of the Divine nature in him. By the Spirit of God all his faculties
performed their offices in a manner not seen in any one else. Other children
have foolishness bound in their hearts, which appears in what they say or do,
but he was filled with wisdom, by the influence of the Holy Ghost; every thing
he said and did, was wisely said and wisely done, above his years. Other
children show the corruption of their nature; nothing but the grace of God was
upon him.
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Monday’s reading for Luke 2:41-48.
41 Every
year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. 42 When
he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom.
43 After the festival was over, while his parents were
returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware
of it. 44 Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on
for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. 45 When
they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. 46 After
three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers,
listening to them and asking them questions. 47 Everyone who
heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 When
his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why
have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching
for you.”
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