Mary's Magnificat Pt.2
The Son: Meeting Jesus through Luke • Sermon • Submitted
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Introduction:
Introduction:
It has been a few weeks since we last were together in the book of Luke and studying what has been traditionally called “The Magnificat” or “Mary’s Magnificat.”
Just by way of review, allow me to once again set the scene. Mary has arrived on the doorstep of her cousin Elizabeths house unannounced. Elizabeth upon seeing Mary knew instantly that she was carrying the Messiah and so did the baby inside of her womb. Upon Elizabeths exclamation of praise to God and blessing upon Mary, Mary not bursts out in a Spirit filled song of praise to the Lord.
This song of praise is beautiful and theologically deep and resembles many of the of the Old testament prayers she would have sung during Jewish festivals and at synagogue.
Her song could be divided up into two parts: Personal (with a theological element) and prophetic.
Vs.46-50 were personal, and today in vs. 51-56 we will see the prophetic praise of Mary unfold. This is a natural progression for Mary, not a sudden jolt in direction. The principles that Mary praised God for dealing with her personally are the same principles that guide his dealings with the entire world.
There are some linguistic notes we need to be aware of as we move through this half of Mary’s Magnificat together; you will notice that each prophecy that Mary mentions is in the “past tense.”
He has shown… He has scattered… He has put down… He has filled… He has helped...As He spoke...
This is becuase in greek she is using prophetic past tense (aorist) which views God’s work in the future so surely that it is presented as already have taken place.
This type of prophecy is common in the Bible, even in the Old Testament. For instance, Isaiah, when prophesying of the coming Babylonian captivity spoke of it as an accomplished fact. (You can check me on that by reading Isaiah 14 at a later time). By her using this kind of language she was looking back at what God had done in the past and then looking forward eschatologically into what God would do in the future.
We could say that she is being both historical and prophetic at the same time.
The subject of the second half of Mary’s Magnificat has to do with reversals that her son, the messiah, the Lord Jesus would bring about to society.
We will see that he would bring:
A moral reversal. (v.51)
A social reversal. (v.52)
A spiritual reversal. (v.53)
Mary ends her song singing of God’s eternal mercy upon the nation of Israel. (v.54-5)
Let’s dive into the Lord’s word together.
1.) Mary praises the Lord for bringing moral reversal to the earth. (v.51)
1.) Mary praises the Lord for bringing moral reversal to the earth. (v.51)
51 He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
Mary begins her look backward and forward by first speaking of how the Lord has dealt with the proud.
The proud are those who are arrogant and conceited. Those who walk through life acting preeminent. Notice also they are proud “in the imaginations of their hearts.” meaning they plot and scheme inwardly to perpetuate their arrogance.
A.) Historically
34 Surely He scorns the scornful, But gives grace to the humble.
Looking back into the Old Testament, we can see the Lord bring down the proud time and time again. Men like Pharaoh in Exodus, Haman, Absalom and Nebuchadnezzar.
Perhaps there is no greater Old Testament example of God causing the prod to be humbled than Nebuchadnezzar.
He was so proud in his heart that God had warned him in a dream, which was interpreted by Daniel, that he would experience a fall if he didn't repent of His pride and turn to the Lord. He didn't and in Daniel 4 we read this:
29 At the end of the twelve months he was walking about the royal palace of Babylon.
30 The king spoke, saying, “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?”
31 While the word was still in the king’s mouth, a voice fell from heaven: “King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: the kingdom has departed from you!
32 And they shall drive you from men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. They shall make you eat grass like oxen; and seven times shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses.”
33 That very hour the word was fulfilled concerning Nebuchadnezzar; he was driven from men and ate grass like oxen; his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair had grown like eagles’ feathers and his nails like birds’ claws.
For seven long years Nebuchadnezzar suffered from a mental condition that caused him to fade in and out of an animal like state. Until near the end, after seven years he came to his senses, repented of his sin and gave glory to God.
34 And at the end of the time I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me; and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever: For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, And His kingdom is from generation to generation.
35 All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; He does according to His will in the army of heaven And among the inhabitants of the earth. No one can restrain His hand Or say to Him, “What have You done?”
36 At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my honor and splendor returned to me. My counselors and nobles resorted to me, I was restored to my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added to me.
37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all of whose works are truth, and His ways justice. And those who walk in pride He is able to put down.
Yes, indeed the Lord, in times past, “Had shown strength with his arm; and scattered those who were proud”as Mary sang.
B.) Prophetically
But, most of all, Mary looked forward to a day that their would be a final moral reversal among the proud due to the birth, life, death and resurrection of her son, The Lord Jesus. A coming day when He would “scatter those who are proud.”
The Son whom she would give birth to would later state to the proud religious leaders in his day:
12 And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.
Twice the New testament records the words:
6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”
5 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”
Those who are proud in their hearts in this day for one reason or another and refuse to bow a knee to the Lord Jesus are in for a rude awakening if they do not repent and turn to Him becuase the arm of God (which pictures his might) will be brought against them.
If God has scattered the proud in the past, He will do it again. God does not change. This should be sobering news to us if we possess thoughts of moral excellence over others or if we arrogantly think our selves superior.
23 I have sworn by Myself; The word has gone out of My mouth in righteousness, And shall not return, That to Me every knee shall bow, Every tongue shall take an oath.
11 For it is written: “As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God.”
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,
2.) Mary praises the Lord for bringing social reversal to the earth. (v.52)
2.) Mary praises the Lord for bringing social reversal to the earth. (v.52)
52 He has put down the mighty from their thrones, And exalted the lowly.
Again there are example of the Lord doing this very thing in Israels past.
A.) Historically
One can look back again to ancient Babylon where Israel was held captive and find the doings of King Belshazzar the son of Nebuchadnezzar.
He displayed his arrogance by choosing to east when the vast armies of the Medes and Persians were at his gates. During that drunken feast, he blasphemed the name of God by ordering that the gold and silver goblets taken from the temple in Jerusalem be used for to toast the false Babylonian god’s. And, He did all of this knowing and having written copies of his father’s example testimony of being humbled by God.
Belshazzar was arrogant, over confident in his own superiority and safety but would suffer disgrace and the loss of his kingdom.
Soon in the midst of his drunken, lude and blasphemous party a disembodied hand would appear and write words of judgement on the wall bringing an end to the partying.
6 Then the king’s countenance changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his hips were loosened and his knees knocked against each other.
Once again Daniel was summoned to interpret the message from the Lord
26 This is the interpretation of each word. Mene: God has numbered your kingdom, and finished it;
27 Tekel: You have been weighed in the balances, and found wanting;
28 Peres: Your kingdom has been divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.”
29 Then Belshazzar gave the command, and they clothed Daniel with purple and put a chain of gold around his neck, and made a proclamation concerning him that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom.
30 That very night Belshazzar, king of the Chaldeans, was slain.
31 And Darius the Mede received the kingdom, being about sixty-two years old.
Mary’s lyrics hold wonderful significance to the history of the nation and people of Israel. He has shown himself to bring down kings and elevate the humble.
You can also see this in the events of the life of Joseph in Genesis and the life of Mordecai in the book of Esther.
B.) Prophetically
All of these historical events were simple foreshadowing to the mighty reversal the gospel would bring to the world.
Jesus himself is a prime example of the Lord bringing down those of high social standing and instead elevating the lowly.
9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,
11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
The gospel casts down the proud and lifts up those who humbly call on Christ bringing about a social reversal.
Life isnt always what it appers to be. Many times spiritually speaking down is the way up, and the way down is up.”
This principle Mary is speaking of will indeed play itself out in the end as well.
5 Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth.
6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,
Stop trying to get ahead and simply humble yourself under the mighty hand of God and allow him to bring the social reversal he desires.
3.) Mary praises the Lord for bringing spiritual reversal to the earth. (v.53)
3.) Mary praises the Lord for bringing spiritual reversal to the earth. (v.53)
53 He has filled the hungry with good things, And the rich He has sent away empty.
Mary now, praises God for the connection between a her material and spiritual state.
Often in the Old Testament we see examples of the poor being the ones with the healthiest spiritual conditions before the Lord.
The song of Hanna, which we’ve already established Mary would be very familiar with says:
7 The Lord makes poor and makes rich; He brings low and lifts up.
8 He raises the poor from the dust And lifts the beggar from the ash heap, To set them among princes And make them inherit the throne of glory. “For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s, And He has set the world upon them.
Mary’s satement “He has filled the hungry with good things” is an allusion to Psalms 107:9
9 For He satisfies the longing soul, And fills the hungry soul with goodness.
Typically, those in physical and material need are more likely to understand their spiritual needs more than those who want for nothing.
Over and over again spiritual hunger is encouraged in the pages of the Old Testament.
1 O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water.
1 As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God.
2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?
10 I am the Lord your God, Who brought you out of the land of Egypt; Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.
2 Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, Who seek Him with the whole heart!
81 My soul faints for Your salvation, But I hope in Your word.
Spiritual hunger is the Old Testament remedy for spiritual health.
B.) Prophetically
Those who are full and think of themselves as needing nothing are in fact tragically empty.
The Lord later said to the church at Laodicea in the book of Revelation:
17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—
18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.
Self sufficiency is tragic.
The rich young ruler who came to Christ missed salvation because he was not willing to get rid of his things to follow Jesus. His desire for the material over the spiritual left him empty.
Yet we see over and over again in the life of Christ people coming to him hungry and having nothing walking away eternally full.
young Mary, Simeon and Anna, the fisherman, the tax collector, the prostitute with seven devils, and many many others.
Mary’s son, the Lord Jesus would make being spiritually hunger a cornerstone of his most famous sermon in Matthew 5:6
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.
The reward for those who hunger and thirst after Christ is far greater than anything material this world can offer.
The woman at the well.
4 But He needed to go through Samaria.
In John 6, Jesus said to the multitudesMary’s prophetic past following him
35 And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.
Mary’s prophetic past tense set God’s promises of satisfaction in eternal concrete- “He has filled the hungry with good things.”
That filling isn't just for today, but for all eternity. Christ alone brings eternal satisfaction to the soul.
4.) Mary praises the Lord for His eternal Mercy to the people of Israel. (v.54-5)
4.) Mary praises the Lord for His eternal Mercy to the people of Israel. (v.54-5)
54 He has helped His servant Israel, In remembrance of His mercy, 55 As He spoke to our fathers, To Abraham and to his seed forever.”
Mary’s song reaches a crescendo as she praises the Lord for keeping his covenant promise he made with Abraham in Genesis 12:3 and that he would continue keeping with his people for all time.
3 I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
(reiterated in Gen 17:19, 22:18, 26:3-4, 28:13-14)
and the beautiful thing about that is as Christians we are a part of the spiritual offspirng of Abraham:
9 Does this blessedness then come upon the circumcised only, or upon the uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness.
10 How then was it accounted? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised.
11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while still uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they are uncircumcised, that righteousness might be imputed to them also,
12 and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of the faith which our father Abraham had while still uncircumcised.
18 who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, “So shall your descendants be.”
19 And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb.
20 He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God,
21 and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.
22 And therefore “it was accounted to him for righteousness.”
That means that God’s covenant promise to Israel extends to us as well for all eternity. God’s mercy is an accomplished fact. He has been merciful and he will always be merciful to his people.
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
All that was in Mary, her soul and Sprit, was poured out in magnifying the Lord in her song. She knew in her heart that the son in her womb, the Lord Jesus was going to set the world on it’s head and make all that was wrong right.
He would humble the proud.
Bring down those who exalt their thrones above God
Fill the hungry with good things.
And keep his covenant of mercy forever and ever.
She had much to magnify the Lord for and so do we.
Give the gospel and tie it to the points.