Sermon – 01/08/2010 am
Mary’s Song of Praise
Study Text: Luke 1:46-56
My soul doth magnify the Lord
And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
In many churches you will hear worshippers chanting what
is called the Magnificat. The Magnificat is the song of Mary;
‘Magnificat’ being the first word in the Latin translation.
This beautiful song of praise came from the mouth of the Virgin
Mary after she heard the inspired outburst from Elizabeth. Elizabeth
pronounced blessings upon Mary and the child that was conceived
in her womb.
The text does not state that Mary was filled with the Holy Spirit
as it does with Elizabeth, and later with Zacharias. The song
is not a prophecy about the child to be born but a song of praise
to God for who he is and what he has done for his covenant people.
Mary demonstrates a deep knowledge of Scripture and a firm belief
that God will act according to his character and his word.
The song of Mary is similar in many ways to the Song of Hannah
that we read in I Samuel 2. Hannah was barren like Elizabeth.
In tears she prayed to the Lord, and in the fullness of time the
Lord answered her prayer. When she weaned Samuel she took him
up to the temple to serve the Lord. At that time she prayed
My heart rejoices in the Lord;
My horn is exalted in the Lord.
I smile at my enemies,
Because I rejoice in your salvation (I Samuel 2:1)
Mary’s song echoes Hannah’s prayer but without such
strong words of judgment upon her enemies and the enemies of the
Lord.
Rejoice in God
Mary’s visit to Elizabeth certainly lifted her spirits.
Her situation had not changed but, as God intended, this meeting
with Elizabeth was a blessing to Mary as well as to Elizabeth.
Mary submitted herself to the will of God when told she would
conceive and give birth to a son to be called Jesus, and the Son
of God. However, being a virgin made it dangerous for her to be
pregnant. Maybe no one knew about her pregnancy until Elizabeth
spoke in the power of the Holy Spirit. That Elizabeth did not
judge her was probably a relief to Mary. Here was someone who
understood her situation, someone who believed the word of the
Lord as she did. What blessed fellowship these two believing women
enjoyed!
In both soul and spirit, or in her whole being, Mary rejoiced
in the Lord. My soul magnifies or glorifies the Lord she said.
Like Hannah she exalted the Lord and gave him all the glory. True
worship means giving all glory and honour and praise to the Lord
and to him alone.
Mary referred to God as the Lord or ‘Yahweh’,
the covenant making and covenant keeping God. She referred to
God as my Saviour. She recognized her need of a saviour.
These words rule out any notion or teaching that Mary was sinless.
She needed a saviour and she rejoiced in God her Saviour. Jesus
Christ was her Saviour, just as he is ours. He is the Saviour
of the world.
Mary rejoiced in being chosen by the Lord to serve him in this
unique way. Why he chose a humble girl living in the backwaters
of Nazareth in Galilee she did not know, but she accepted God’s
will. Pondering the visit of the angel, and his words to her,
Mary realized how special she was. Then she heard Elizabeth say
blessed are you among women. Even so, her words henceforth
all generations will call me blessed (1:48) appear divinely
inspired.
Reverence for God
In many Psalms the initial words of praise are followed by a reflection
on who God is and what he has done. Mary would have known and
sung these Psalms just as she knew the song of Hannah. Her thinking
and her speaking were profoundly influenced by her knowledge of
Scripture. The Psalms in particular help us express ourselves
in worship, in prayer and in all our conversation. Is this what
you find?
He who is mighty (1:49). Mary knew that God is all powerful.
She knew he created the world in six days. She knew he delivered
his people from the clutches of Pharaoh in Egypt. The most powerful
king in the world was destroyed by God in the Red sea. History
showed Mary how God destroyed the enemies of his people time and
again. God performed great wonders in doing so. Remember all the
plagues of Egypt. Knowing God is this way enabled Mary to say
God who is mighty has done great things for me.
Holy is his name (1:49). At the burning bush Moses asked
God about his name. God said ‘I am who I am’. He is
the Lord. His name is exalted in all the earth. At the name of
Jesus every knee shall bow. The name of God must be used with
reverence and awe because his name is holy.
His mercy is on those who fear him (1:50). On the mountain
God revealed himself to Moses as merciful and gracious, slow to
anger and abounding in goodness and truth (Exodus 34:6). God is
all powerful but he is not vindictive. He is merciful to those
who come before him with reverence and humility. Mary is a great
example of such a person. She submitted her life and all she had
to the will of God. Let it be to me according to your word
she said (1:38). Present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy
and acceptable to God which is your reasonable service (Romans
12:1).
Many people have their own ideas about God. Many have their own
gods of course, but among those who call themselves Christians
you will find some strange ideas about the nature of God. Mary
had no individual or strange ideas because what she knew about
God came from the Scriptures. She knew that God is almighty, that
he is holy, and that he is merciful, because she knew the Scriptures.
Where do you get your knowledge of God from?
From generation to generation (1:50). Mary understood
that God is unchanging and that he is faithful to his covenant
promises. The promise God made to Moses was renewed with Joshua
after Moses died. I will be with you. I will not leave you
or forsake you the Lord said to Joshua (Joshua 1:5). Did
you know that that same promise is given in the New Testament
and applies to God’s people today? You will find it in the
book Hebrews, where we also read that Jesus Christ is the
same yesterday, today and forever? (Hebrews 13:5, 8)
Reversal of Order
Mary, like Hannah, refers to the proud being brought down or scattered,
and the lowly being lifted up or exalted. Mary lived in a day
when the rich and powerful oppressed the poor and needy. Pride
made the king jealous and cruel. Armed men oppressed and exploited
the poor. Is there a place in the world, or a time in history,
when this was not the case? Sinful hearts are proud hearts, and
proud hearts are selfish hearts. Men and women with such hearts
want power and prestige. They live by the imagination of their
proud hearts. Many today are dreaming of being rich or famous
or powerful.
In the kingdom of God everything is reversed. The proud are brought
down and the humble lifted up. This is what Mary saw in the Scriptures
with people like Joseph, Moses, Samuel, David, Esther and Daniel.
She saw in God’s holy law a concern for the poor and needy,
for widows and orphans. The Messiah was the one who would usher
in this new era of peace and prosperity for all.
He has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich
away empty (1:53). Is this reference to physical or spiritual
hunger? Maybe it is to both. The poor frequently go hungry, even
in the world today. It is not that there is insufficient food
in the world. It is because some have more than they need and
fail to share with the hungry. Mary saw that in the Messianic
age the rich would be sent away empty. Those who are self satisfied
and self secure in this world are in for a shock when this new
era comes.
Mary’s words are amazing in that they summarize what Jesus
said in the story of the rich man and Lazarus. When God judges
the world there will be a complete reversal of fortunes. The man
who was rich and lived in luxury found himself in torment, while
the poor man who begged at his gate was lifted up.
It is interesting that Mary spoke in the past tense as if this
reversal was already in place. It is not uncommon for prophecy
to be spoken in such a way. This indicates that the fulfilment
of God’s word is absolutely certain. Do you speak with such
certainty when sharing what God has said in his word? People do
not like such certainty in spiritual matters. How can you be so
sure they will say? You can be sure because God’s word never
fails.
It is also interesting that Mary does not refer directly to the
child she will bear; but from the words of the angel, and from
Elizabeth’s words, she understood that a change in world
order was about to take place. The kingdom of God was at hand.
Such a reversal was seen in the life of Jesus, especially in his
relationship with his disciples. Their teacher and Lord stooped
down to wash his disciples’ feet. He demonstrated how they
should live in the kingdom of God. We look forward to the coming
of Christ and the Consummation when the kingdom of God will be
fully revealed in all its glory.
Paul was accused of turning the world upside down when he preached
the gospel of Jesus Christ. Delivering a slave girl from exploitation
landed him in prison. Should it be any different for those preaching
the gospel today? Should we expect any less than what Mary spoke
of in this song in terms of a reversal of world order? Let us
be clear as to the gospel that we preach. It is a gospel for the
poor and the outcaste, not just for those who are socially acceptable.
Remember what James says about partiality in the church (James
2).
Remembrance of Israel
Mary’s song ends with an assurance that God will be faithful
to the promises he gave his people. The angel spoke of her Son
being given the throne of his father David (1:32). Mary saw that
God was coming to help his people. God was being merciful to his
people. Messiah would deliver God’s people from bondage.
What was happening to Mary was wonderful and new and unique,
but it was something promised by God long before. She understood
it as a continuation, and indeed fulfilment, of the promise he
gave to Abraham (1:55). What did God promise Abraham? He said
in you all the nations of the earth will be blessed (Genesis
12:3). To Isaac he said in your seed all the nations of the
earth will be blessed (Genesis 26:4). This promise was handed
down from generation to generation.
Mary knew this promise. She knew how God had been merciful in
helping and delivering his people down through the generations.
Her people inherited this promise. In an amazing way she saw that
she had a unique role to play in the fulfilment of this promise.
She would be the mother of Messiah, the Son of God.
Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months. What a blessed
time she had. Just before Elizabeth gave birth to John, Mary returned
to her home in Nazareth to await the arrival of her son and the
Son of God.
Rev. Dr. Dennis K. Muldoon