“And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she exclaimed with a loud cry, ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!’” Luke 1:41-42 ESV
During the next couple of weeks throughout the Advent season we will be looking at 5 songs of hope as recorded in Luke’s gospel on the birth of Christ. Music and particularly songs of praise are all throughout Scripture. Music alone has a way to lift the soul. What better time of year is there than to celebrate with music than the Christmas season. Christmas music will be filling the airwaves, churches, school auditoriums, concert halls, and shopping malls. It can certainly change your mood, mostly for the better, but some might argue with that. These 5 songs of hope for Advent are songs spoken to praise God for the hope He has bestowed upon us in sending His Son for the hope (assurance) we have of salvation.
Our first song this Sunday is ‘Elizabeth’s Song.’ It is not at all lengthy, but rather short and to the point speaking volumes of praise and theological truth. The occasion was Mary’s visit to Elizabeth and Zechariah upon hearing the news of them having their first child. “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.” (Lk.1:42b-45 esv)
Elizabeth was Mary’s older cousin, much older. Zechariah, a priest, was told by an angel of the Lord while he was serving in the Temple burning incense that his wife Elizabeth, who was barren, would have a child in their old age. The angel said his name would be John, and there would be much rejoicing and gladness, “And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.” (Lk.1:16-17 esv) John would be the forerunner of Jesus, the Messiah and John’s cousin. He would lead people to repentance preparing the way for the Lord.
When Elizabeth heard Mary’s voice upon arriving, the Bible says the baby leaped in her womb. Perhaps John was singing his own song meeting his aunt and cousin for the first time. Elizabeth was then filled with the Holy Spirit and started her song about the hope that was to come. ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!’ Elizabeth praised Mary’s faith and the child to be born to her. She realized through the Holy Spirit this must be the Messiah, the son of God for she said, “And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” (Lk.1:43 esv) Elizabath evidently knew of the prophet Isaiah’s words, “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” (Is.7:14 esv) She was in the presence of her cousin Mary and yes, was impressed that Mary would visit her, but Elizabeth also in the presence of the Messiah, her savior.
Elizabeth’s song of hope introduces the savior who was coming into the world, born of a virgin as prophesized in Scripture. Her own child, John, perhaps also at the influence of the Holy Spirit leaped for joy at the coming savior. Although Elizabeth may not have been able to understand it all, she did realize the blessings she and her husband Zechariah were given and through the Holy Spirit, Elizabeth knew enough to break out in song. It was a song of praise to God and a song of hope for all people in the coming of the Messiah.
Read: Luke 1:5-25, 39-45 ESV – Birth of John the Baptist Foretold – In – Bible Gateway
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