Luke 2:25-40 comments: Simeon and Anna prophesy

Luke 2:25 ¶  And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. 26  And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27  And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, 28  Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, 29  Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: 30  For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, 31  Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; 32  A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. 33  And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him. 34  And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; 35  (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. 36  And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; 37  And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. 38  And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem. 39  And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth. 40  And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.

What Simeon was waiting for, the text says, was waiting for the consolation of Israel, that is, the coming of the Messiah. The Holy Ghost, the very mind of God was upon him and revealed that this baby was, indeed, the Messiah to come, the Lord’s Christ.

Consolation is linked to patience in Romans 15:5, salvation and comfort in 2Corinthians 1:6 and 2Corinthians 7:7, and  hope through grace in 2Thessalonians 2:16.

Simeon was on a divine appointment to meet Jesus Christ, mankind’s Saviour. He prophesied to Mary the grief she would experience at the Crucifixion in verse 35.

Anna was a prophetess. As I have already shown from Nehemiah, prophets preach. Here are some other notable prophetesses.

Exodus 15:20  And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances.

Judges 4:4  And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time.

2Kings 22:14  So Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam, and Achbor, and Shaphan, and Asahiah, went unto Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe; (now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the college;) and they communed with her.

Anna had been widowed after only seven years of marriage and was now 84 years old. She chose to serve the God who created her through her entire widowhood, in the temple. The text reports that she was a real prayer warrior. She, too, was given the wisdom to recognize Israel’s Saviour.

Verse 33 is an interesting one. In the second century harmonization of the Gospels known as Tatian’s Diatessaron showing early evidence of the text we have the verse is written just as we have it here not has modern Bibles often say, “his father and his mother,” revealing their Gnostic bent in undermining the divinity of Christ.

Verse 39 makes us aware that Joseph and Mary have obeyed the ordinances of man and God. Jesus will reinforce this idea those who follow Him live in two worlds; the kingdom of heaven and God and the kingdom of man. There is usually a clear division between the two. In Matthew 17:24-27 Jesus paid His taxes by a supernatural method and here in this passage later in Luke He states the difference between man’s rule and God’s and what belongs to whom.

Luke 20:20 ¶  And they watched him, and sent forth spies, which should feign themselves just men, that they might take hold of his words, that so they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor. 21  And they asked him, saying, Master, we know that thou sayest and teachest rightly, neither acceptest thou the person of any, but teachest the way of God truly: 22  Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Caesar, or no? 23  But he perceived their craftiness, and said unto them, Why tempt ye me? 24  Shew me a penny. Whose image and superscription hath it? They answered and said, Caesar’s. 25  And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar’s, and unto God the things which be God’s. 26  And they could not take hold of his words before the people: and they marvelled at his answer, and held their peace.

There can be no law against the evidence of having the Holy Ghost, the very mind of God, indwelling a person.

Galatians 5:22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23  Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

But, at times when man’s law crosses the line there is no expectation from God for the Christian to obey.

Acts 5:26 ¶  Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned. 27  And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them, 28  Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us. 29  Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.

Some people possessed of a rebellious spirit do draw the line where God does not. But, God did not make Mary and Joseph into revolutionaries. Remember, when Jesus faced His trial under Governor Pontius Pilate He told the Roman about God’s permissive will.

John 19:8  When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he was the more afraid; 9  And went again into the judgment hall, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou? But Jesus gave him no answer.10  Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee? 11  Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.

The boundary is drawn so that when a military chaplain is forbidden to pray in Christ’s name or when people are forbidden in Vietnam or Saudi Arabia or even America to worship God in Christ’s name it is clear that disobedience to man’s law is required.

God was careful in that His plan, up to a point, followed the prevailing laws of Rome and the religious and social customs of the Jewish people. Is rebellion and revolution ever justified? Sure, it is. Oppression and evil must be fought with actions and not just with words. But, just don’t couch your not wanting to do anything you’re told in religious terms using Christ as an excuse to disobey a city zoning law or to disobey a township ordinance requiring a permit to go door to door. Civil protest is one thing as is petitioning to have a law changed but disobedience without a Godly cause in Christ’s name is another.

In verse 40 modern versions often remove in spirit. Man’s spirit can refer to the mind and its faculties of reason as the heart refers to the mind and the faculties of emotion, both of which must work together to learn and make decisions.

God uses our minds, our spirits, to search our thoughts. There is nothing hidden from Him.

Proverbs 20:27  The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.

1Chronicles 28:9  And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.

Psalm 139:23  Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:

Compare and contrast this with John the Baptist.

Luke 1:80  And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.

Luke 2:21-24 comments: circumcision and presentation

Luke 2:21 ¶  And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb. 22  And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord; 23  (As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;) 24  And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.

Here is the original requirement for circumcision of Hebrew baby boys given to Abraham.

Genesis 17:12  And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed.

Then under the Law given to Moses. Note the poverty of Mary and Joseph underscored by this passage. You can’t get too much more humble than this; born in a stable which may have been a cave, a feeding trough for a crib, and a mother and step-father who were poor as the proverbial church mouse.

Leviticus 12:2  Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a woman have conceived seed, and born a man child: then she shall be unclean seven days; according to the days of the separation for her infirmity shall she be unclean. 3  And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised…6 ¶  And when the days of her purifying are fulfilled, for a son, or for a daughter, she shall bring a lamb of the first year for a burnt offering, and a young pigeon, or a turtledove, for a sin offering, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, unto the priest: 7  Who shall offer it before the LORD, and make an atonement for her; and she shall be cleansed from the issue of her blood. This is the law for her that hath born a male or a female. 8  And if she be not able to bring a lamb, then she shall bring two turtles, or two young pigeons; the one for the burnt offering, and the other for a sin offering: and the priest shall make an atonement for her, and she shall be clean.

As the Law required.

Exodus 13:12  That thou shalt set apart unto the LORD all that openeth the matrix, and every firstling that cometh of a beast which thou hast; the males shall be the LORD’S.

Luke 2:8-20 comments: Peace, good will toward men

Luke 2:8 ¶  And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9  And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10  And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12  And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 13  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14  Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. 15  And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. 16  And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. 17  And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. 18  And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19  But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. 20  And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

Some writers, quoting sources like the Greek philosopher Aristotle from hundreds of years before and the Jewish Babylonian Talmud much later, insist that shepherds held a very low social status in the Palestine of the first century. Perhaps, as common laborers they did but let us remember that the Jews would remember King David was a shepherd boy who likened God to a shepherd in my late father’s favorite Bible passage, Psalm, chapter 23. Keep in mind that the people in verse 18 wondered at the message the shepherds delivered and the text does not say they were shocked that the “lowly” shepherds were involved.  

If you take this account at face value as I do you will notice that the appearance or angel of the Lord, who is also Christ, shows Himself as He is also lying in a feeding trough as a baby. An angel is a presence, an appearance of someone who is someplace else physically.

Isaiah 63:9  In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.

Judges 2:1 ¶  And an angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said, I made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you unto the land which I sware unto your fathers; and I said, I will never break my covenant with you.

Acts 27:23  For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve,

And this verse, understanding that even typically connects two things that are the same or similar. First, for the definition of even.

Genesis 6:17a  And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life...

And now this verse for my point…

Galatians 4:14  And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.

Notice how Christ, talking about Himself can show that He could be in two places at one time.

John 3:13  And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.

And even those who trust Him.

Ephesians 2:6  And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

This, of course, if the angel of the Lord here is not Gabriel who has previously been given the task of being the spiritual world’s version of John the Baptist, heralding the first arrival of Christ.

Christ is the long-awaited Messiah of the Jews, Saviour of mankind.

John 4:25  The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.

Notice in verses 13 and 14 the angels are not singing as in Christian mythology. They are saying and what they are saying is not conditional as in peace to men of good will. They are saying good will toward men. This is not conditional. This is God’s peace being presented. See in the following the peace between Jew and Gentile and between both as the Church and God.

Ephesians 2:11 ¶  Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; 12  That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: 13  But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by

the blood of Christ.

    14 ¶  For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 15  Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; 16  And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 17  And came and preached peace to you which were afar

off, and to them that were nigh. 18  For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. 19  Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 20  And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21  In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22  In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

 

Mankind is at war with God. He ignores or fights against God’s standard of righteousness in the moral aspects of the Law given to Moses and the admonitions of Christ, Paul, Peter, John, and James. Mankind is malicious, murderous, evil, and vile in his affections and his plans. He is constantly trying to change God’s plans. He tries to cheat death desiring to live as long as the men and women before the Flood of Noah in this sinful flesh, change and destroy the natural world trying to place his own twisted sense of order on it, and in some cases even deny that the physical condition of gender and age have any bearing on him or her. Mankind is constantly trying to control that which he can have no control over and claim to know that which his finite man cannot know.

But, God made peace with us. He did all the work and all we have to do is to receive His mercy, the mercy of a God dealing with a rebellious mob. There is no chance of defeating Him and we would not be able to exist for another moment where we able to do that as He is the author of every heartbeat, every cell function, and every breath. We are fools to fight our Creator.

So, He entered our space in physical flesh like ours and suffered the consequences of our rebellion, death and agony, and then rose again for our justification before Himself having preached to the spirits in Hell and taken Paradise to Heaven. As in a medieval conflict, the herald rides up and offers us peace, a peace we only need to receive, the parts of all parties having been satisfied by God. This is the only offer you’ll get, the only chance for your king’s mercy.

Luke 2:1-7 comments: no room for them in the inn

Luke 2:1 ¶  And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. 2  (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) 3  And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. 4  And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) 5  To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. 6  And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 7  And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

Luke, like any good historian, puts a local event in the context of a larger historical circumstance. Here, the current Roman emperor is named. We cannot be 100% sure of dates but some believe that Augustus, whose great-uncle was Julius Caesar who adopted him as his own son, reigned from 27BC, or before Christ’s birth, to 14AD, Anno Domini or the year of our Lord, signifying time after Christ’s birth.

Julius Caesar had been assassinated in 44BC and a bright daytime comet called today ‘Caesar’s Comet’ was said to have heralded his deification as a god. Augustus Caesar’s typical signature on his imperial documents included himself as the son of god.

Some writers note that the imperial census, which was not just important for taxes but also for expectations of military service, began in Gaul in the first decade before Christ and took 40 years to complete. In any event, there was a regular pattern of census taking for the purposes of governmental control and Rome was all about organization and control.

Cyrenius, aka Quirinius, is thought to have become the official who ruled Syria with the responsibility of assessing Judea for taxation in 6AD which would move Christ’s birth forward six years from what tradition held as the date. Due to the absolute uncertainty of dates with different calendars used by the Jews, the Romans of that day, and we today it is not something I want to spend a lot of time on.

Isn’t it ironic how atheists, agnostics, and people of other religions are forced to mark time from the date of the birth of the Saviour of mankind? Like having to use the pre-Flood world’s remains as fuel and with death itself it is almost impossible to get around God’s plan of things no matter how hard mankind tries.

So, Luke lets us know that everyone had to go back to their own city for the census which practice is also confirmed by a later document from the rule of the Roman prefect of Egypt in 104.

“The census by household having begun, it is essential that all those who are away from their nomes [a district of Egypt] be summoned to return to their own hearths so that they may perform the customary business of registration and apply themselves to the cultivation which concerns them.”(3)

With such a crowd in such a small village there was no room for Joseph and Mary at an any more comfortable establishment so they would wind up in stable with the baby having a feeding trough, a manger, for a crib. Here was the Word by which all things were created, the Saviour of mankind, not born in a palace but in a dwelling place for animals. This speaks of His humble origins on earth and of the importance of animals to God as their sacrifice was a type of His future sacrifice as the Lamb of God. As He was laid in a feeding trough so we feed on His words and His broken body and spilled blood is fed on as a metaphor during our communion in the Lord’s Supper. Keep in mind that something has to die so you can live. There would be no eternal life with God without Christ’s sacrifice.

Some writers say a poor place like Bethlehem would have had only a space for travelers to park like we have campgrounds today, not much more but a little step up from a stable that they say was probably in a limestone cave. Many believe that the ordinary man and woman of the ancient world would have slept in a house that had room for animals as well. In fact, some writers report that it was not uncommon throughout history for a poor man’s cow to reside under the same roof as him.

I bring this up to show that the expectations for comfort and the modern insulation from animals except for pets was not always the same. We moderns regard our separation from the natural world as normal. We don’t sleep under the same roof with animals other than pets, we experience death typically not in agony but drugged up, and we regard modern table manners and a pristine living space as part of what it means to be civilized. This was not always so until the last century and a quarter. We would be appalled at the sanitary, eating, and living habits of our eighteenth century and before ancestors.

Jesus was born then in the most humble of surroundings contrasted here in Luke against the emperor of the Roman world born in the trappings of power and luxury. I read that Thomas Huxley, Darwin’s propagandist of the second half of the 1800s, called the Bible, “the poor man’s Magna Carta,” meaning that the Bible, unlike how it has been used by the powerful, also contains a powerful statement of the poor person’s declaration of value and rights under God. A person living in a grass hut in New Guinea or Africa or the most humble shack in the Americas can identify with the God of the universe who came to live as one of them in a very backward time and place. The rich and powerful would do well to consider that before they set out to abuse and exploit.

(3) K.C. Hansen, “Census Edict for Roman Egypt,” quoting from Hunt, A. S., and C. C. Edgar. Select Papyri. Vol. 2: Non-Literary Papyri; Public Documents. Loeb Classical Library 282. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1934. http://www.kchanson.com/ANCDOCS/greek/census.html

Luke 1:67-80 comments: Zacharias prophecies

Luke 1:67 ¶  And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying, 68  Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people, 69  And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David; 70  As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began: 71  That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us; 72  To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant; 73  The oath which he sware to our father Abraham, 74  That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, 75  In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life. 76  And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; 77  To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins, 78  Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, 79  To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. 80  And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.

Filled with the Holy Ghost, the mind of God as Christ is the body of God, Zacharias prophesies. Remember how Saul prophesied under that condition.

1Samuel 10:10  And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them. 11  And it came to pass, when all that knew him beforetime saw that, behold, he prophesied among the prophets, then the people said one to another, What is this that is come unto the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?

We know that prophesying is preaching, either of what is to come or of what God has already declared.

Nehemiah 6:7a  And thou hast also appointed prophets to preach of thee at Jerusalem, saying… 

Here, Zacharias is given John’s mission to the Jews. But first he also prophecies about Christ’s upcoming and ultimate authority and His kingdom on earth, of which there will be no end. Verse 74 shows that there was an expectation that Christ the Messiah would restore Israel and deliver it from Roman occupation. This expectation persisted even after Christ’s resurrection.

Acts 1:6 ¶  When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?

This shows how the Fundamentalist doctrine that in the Old Testament the Jews were looking forward to the Cross is wrong. Actually, they did not understand Isaiah 53. Their confusion persisted until an eleventh century rabbi nicknamed Rashi developed the idea that rather than being about a singular man the chapters in Isaiah about the Messiah were actually about the suffering Jewish people as a group thereby totally confusing the Jews with regard to Christ.

Jesus’ Jewish followers literally had no clue what He was talking about when He referred to His impending agony on the Cross or understood anything about His Resurrection.

Matthew 16:21 ¶  From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. 22  Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. 23  But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.

Mark 9:9  And as they came down from the mountain, he charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen, till the Son of man were risen from the dead. 10  And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean…31  For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day. 32 

But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him.

Luke 18:31 ¶  Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished. 32  For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on: 33  And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again. 34  And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.

John 20:9  For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.

John the Baptist will be the prophet who declares Christ. He will teach the Jewish people as a nation to repent of their sins and be baptized as symbol of their repentance. John’s baptism had no saving power but was an outward expression of a commitment to righteousness in preparation for the Messiah to come.

The dayspring is a reference to dawn as light takes over the darkness. This word is also used in Job.

Job 38:12  Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place;

The metaphor is also used by Peter with day star as the phrase likening Christ to the dawn.

2Peter 1:19  We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

In all of these metaphors it is about Christ giving light to a dying world not saying that He literally is Venus or the sun.

Revelation 22:16  I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

What is about to happen physically is that there will be a brief period of daylight for humanity and then a long night followed by Christ’s return to assume control of the kingdoms of the world and a new day that goes on forever.

John 9:4  I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.

Paul, like we are supposed to be, expected Christ’s return soon.

Romans 13:12  The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

During this nighttime of mankind, waiting for the Messiah to return, we have the sun, the Son of God, in our hearts, expectantly awaiting.

Titus 2:11 ¶  For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13  Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

There are many Old Testament verses linked to this first chapter of Luke. A cross-reference will show that these verses have an Old Testament prophetic context. For instance, verse 71 and Psalm 106:10 and verse 79 with Isaiah 9:2. Always keep in mind the prophecies of Christ’s coming kingdom. Note that Christ is God in the flesh, the body of God. They are the same in essence.

John 10:30  I and my Father are one.

John 14:9  Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?

Romans 8:9  But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

…and then the kingdom to come.

Isaiah 9:6  For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7  Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

John is growing strong in preparation in his spirit in the desert until he begins his ministry, coming in the spirit and power of Elijah.

Luke 1:57-66 comments: Zacharias speaks

Luke 1:57 ¶  Now Elisabeth’s full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son. 58  And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her. 59  And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father. 60  And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John. 61  And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name. 62  And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called. 63  And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all. 64  And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God. 65  And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judaea. 66  And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be! And the hand of the Lord was with him.

Zacharias can finally speak again. Notice when God looses someone’s tongue they can speak even if they are an animal.

Mark 7:32  And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to put his hand upon him. 33  And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue; 34  And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened. 35  And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain.

Numbers 22:28  And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?

The verse in Numbers suggests that animals do have thoughts and memory. They just don’t have speech as we do. We know the animal prototypes in Heaven, the Cherubim or Living Creatures, speak. See Ezekiel 10 and;

Revelation 5:14a  And the four beasts said, Amen...

The hand of the Lord was with John the Baptist. So, it was with Elijah.

1Kings 18:46  And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.

All things and all events are in His hand and God has control over every aspect of reality, no matter how unpleasant or painful, or how joyous or beneficial.

For verse 63 a writing table was a book or leaf of a book or stone on which you would write or engrave.

Exodus 24:12  And the LORD said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them.

Isaiah 30:8  Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever:

Jeremiah 17:1  The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron, and with the point of a diamond: it is graven upon the table of their heart, and upon the horns of your altars;

As Thomas’ 1587 Latin and English dictionary defined it; “a table, a board, a plank, a book or register for memory of things, a paper journal, a writing table…”

(2) “Writing table,” search in University of Toronto’s Lexicons of Early Modern English, https://leme.library.utoronto.ca/