Read Luke 1:68-79; Malachi 3:5-12; Philippians 1:12-18a
Before the shepherds, before the heavenly host or even the manger; Mary, having just recently received the news that she would be giving birth to the savior of the world, goes to visit her cousin Elizabeth. Elizabeth and her husband Zechariah had recently received their own heavenly visitor and Elizabeth’s unborn baby upon hearing the voice of Mary leaps for Joy in the womb.
This confluence of Elizabeth’s greeting and the joy of her blessing towards Mary and the unborn Jesus causes Mary to break out into song.
“My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.
Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
His mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things,
and sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
to Abraham and to his descendants forever.” ~ Luke 1: 68-79
Mary’s song is traditionally called the Magnificat (Latin for “My soul” magnifies “the Lord”) and is one of the eight oldest Christian hymns. Four of these hymns can be found in the “Gospel of Luke”, along with Zechariah’s Benedictus: Luke 1:68–79, the angels’ Gloria in Excelsis Deo: Luke 2:13–14 and Simeon’s Nunc dimittis: Luke 2:28–32.
All four of these songs follow the common structure of Old Testament hymns of praise, and Mary’s song can be easily seen to have four parts to it.
- Mary rejoices that she is blessed to give birth to the coming Messiah.
- She gives glory to God, for his power, holiness and mercy.
- She looks forward to the changes that the Messiah will bring to the world.
- She praises God for keeping His covenant promises.
What an incredible example for us to live out our Christian lives in thankfulness to God.
R.C. Sproul argues that,
“if you want to do something that will change your life, write out the words to the Magnificat and put it on your refrigerator and memorize it, so that that prayer is in your head.” ~ R.C. Sproul Ligoner Ministries
What an example for our lives as we wait in Advent hope for the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. Can you imagine how our lives might change if we lived out the Magnificat in our daily lives. What might that look like?
First, we would start out every day by rejoicing in God’s blessing
Second, we would give him glory for his mighty hand and outstretched arm.
Third, we would look forward to his future promises.
Finally, we would thank him for keeping his promises to us.
I wholeheartedly believe that if we did this we would see a marked difference in the way we live out our lives in thankfulness and in generosity to others.
Brothers and sisters, do you have despair, loneliness or heartache? Repeat these words to yourself: “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior” Why? “ for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.”
When we fail in our Christian services, it is often because we fear the world and the darkness of the rulers of this world. We ask ourselves, what difference does it make because as humans we are weak. But let us sing with Mary, “His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm.”
Sproul says,
“He has shown strength with His arm.” There’s the arm of the Lord again. You won’t hear Mary saying, “How are You going to do it,” you know? She doesn’t believe in a God with a withered arm. “He has shown strength with His arm.” What does He do with His arm? Listen. “He has scattered the proud and the imagination of their hearts.” Here come all these proud people, defiant people over against God, and God just takes His arm, and it’s like sweeping chess men off a chess board on a table. He scatters them across the floor. He has yanked down the mighty from their seats. God raises up and God brings down. All He has to do to Caesar is to just grab a hold of the hem of his garment and slip him off the throne, and that’s the end of Caesar. And Mary understood that.”
During the holiday season, some reports say that over 64% of people report increases in depression, sadness, and loneliness. The writers of the Psalms were no strangers to these issues, and yet even more so in these times they would remember and proclaim the promises that God has kept, (Christ has come!) and the promises he makes for the future (Christ will come again!) “He has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”
I pray that Mary’s song encourages you, lifts you up and admonishes you to keep thanks to God on your lips this Advent, and as you await the coming of our Messiah, I pray that you can sing, ““My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!”
Blessings,
Jory
Reformed in Tualatin 