Tuesday in Advent

46Verse 46. Then Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord, 47Verse 47. and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior! 48Verse 48. For He has looked with favor on the humble state of His servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed. 49Verse 49. For the Mighty One has done great things for me. Holy is His name. 50Verse 50. His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation. 51Verse 51. He has performed mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who are proud in the thoughts of their hearts. 52Verse 52. He has brought down rulers from their thrones, but has exalted the humble. 53Verse 53. He has filled the hungry with good things, but has sent the rich away empty. 54Verse 54. He has helped His servant Israel, remembering to be merciful, 55Verse 55. as He promised to our fathers, to Abraham and his descendants forever.”

18Verse 18. Then King David went in, sat before the LORD, and said, “Who am I, O Lord GOD, and what is my house, that You have brought me this far? 23Verse 23. And who is like Your people Israel — the one nation on earth whom God went out to redeem as a people for Himself and to make a name for Himself? You performed great and awesome wonders by driving out nations and their gods from before Your people, whom You redeemed for Yourself from Egypt. 24Verse 24. For You have established Your people Israel as Your very own forever, and You, O LORD, have become their God. 25Verse 25. And now, O LORD God, confirm forever the word You have spoken concerning Your servant and his house. Do as You have promised, 26Verse 26. so that Your name will be magnified forever when it is said, ‘The LORD of Hosts is God over Israel.’ And the house of Your servant David will be established before You. 27Verse 27. For You, O LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, have revealed this to Your servant when You said, ‘I will build a house for you.’ Therefore Your servant has found the courage to offer this prayer to You. 28Verse 28. And now, O Lord GOD, You are God! Your words are true, and You have promised this goodness to Your servant. 29Verse 29. Now therefore, may it please You to bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue forever before You. For You, O Lord GOD, have spoken, and with Your blessing the house of Your servant will be blessed forever.”

6Verse 6. So also, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” 7Verse 7. Understand, then, that those who have faith are sons of Abraham. 8Verse 8. The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and foretold the gospel to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.” 9Verse 9. So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. 10Verse 10. All who rely on works of the law are under a curse. For it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.” 11Verse 11. Now it is clear that no one is justified before God by the law, because, “The righteous will live by faith.” 12Verse 12. The law, however, is not based on faith; on the contrary, “The man who does these things will live by them.” 13Verse 13. Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us. For it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” 14Verse 14. He redeemed us in order that the blessing promised to Abraham would come to the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.