The Gospel of Luke opens with a song, "Glory to God" (Luke 2:14) and closes with a song, "Praising God" (Luke 24:53). This symphony of song begins and ends with God's glory. It started the whole world singing His song and there have been believers singing ever since.
There is a huge emphasis on songs and hymns throughout this great gospel which shows God manifest in the flesh. Luke is the gospel of Christ's manhood. The angel says to Mary, "so the holy one to be born" referring to our Lord's humanity. In contrast our human nature is unclean, but when the Son of God took bodily form He was "holy".
In Luke 1:46-55 we find the song of Mary, The Magnificat. It is a song of rejoicing. Then, in 68-79 we find the song of Zacharias. It is a song of deliverance and worship. Then of course there is the song of the angels in chapter 2. God's glory blazed the heavens and a huge angelic choir sang praises and glory to God.
Not only a symphony of song but a symphony of prayer is seen in this gospel. Luke tells us more about the prayers of our Lord than any other of the gospel writers. Prayer is an expression of human dependence on God. We need to continue this symphony of prayer today. There is too much activity with too little private prayer in the church today. The cause of Christ doesn't need less work, but definitely more prayer.
What would happen if today we were to get serious about the symphony of song and the symphony of prayer? Maybe then we would truly see God's glory! mjm
