Verse of the Day (December 15, 2019)

Verse of the Day (December 15, 2019) #BMSeminary – [Do not be afraid] This is a present imperative with the negative particle negated, which usually means to stop an act in process. This is a common angelic message to humans (see Luk 1:13). [you have found favor with God] This seems to be an OT idiom for God’s special activity in someone’s life (cf. Gen 6:8; Gen 18:3; Gen 19:19; Gen 30:27; Exo 33:12; Exo 33:17; Act 7:46). God chooses to use imperfect, but available, humans who choose to trust Him to accomplish His purposes in this world. [you will conceive in your womb] Mary could have been stoned for pregnancy outside of marriage (cf. Deu 22:24-25). A virgin-born child fulfills the prophecy and promise of Gen 3:15 (cf. Gal 4:4). Until this point in progressive relation, neither Isa 7:14 nor Gen 3:15 made sense. But now Joh 1:1-14; Rom 1:3; Rom 8:3; Php 2:6-11 make perfect sense. God became incarnate to deal with human sin. In Jesus, God’s justice,( “the soul that sins it will surely die”) and God’s grace (“For God so loved the world He gave His only begotten Son”) meet in a redemptive, loving, sacrificial climax (cf. Isa 52:13 to Isa 53:12; Mar 10:45; 2Co 5:21)! [you shall name Him Jesus] Jesus is the Aramaic equivalent of the Hebrew “Joshua” (BDB 221). Both are a compound of “YHWH” and “salvation.” In the Matthew parallel (Mat 1:21) the name is explained by the angel. [v32-33] These two verses describe who this male child is and what he will do: 1. He will be great (cf. Mic 5:4); 2. He will be called the Son of the Most High (cf. 2Sa 7:14; Psa 2:7); 3. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David (cf. 2Sa 7:12; Psa 132:11; Mic 5:2); 4. He will reign over the house of Jacob (cf. Mic 5:3-4); 5. His kingdom will have no end (cf. Dan 2:44; Dan 7:14; Dan 7:18; Dan 7:27). These phrases must have shocked Mary because: 1. The Jews were not expecting an incarnation, but an empowering (like the Judges); 2. Her child will be the promised Messiah (cf. Isa 9:7); 3. His kingdom would be universal and eternal (cf. 2Sa 7:13; 2Sa 7:16; Isa 9:7; Dan 2:44; Dan 7:14; Dan 7:18; Dan 7:27; Mic 5:4). (You Can Understand the Bible by Dr. Bob Utley)