Lesson 4: looking Unto Jesus Luke 1: 46- 56, The Magnificat

The Song of Praise 1:46-55

46 And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, 47  and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; 49 for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. 50 And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. 51  He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; 52 he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; 53 he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. 54 He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, 55 as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever.” 56 And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Luke 1:46–56.

This is such a powerful declaration that the words were set to Music by Johann Sebastian Bach. This is “The Magnificat.” We would do well to study at some venture, the songs of praise concerning John the Baptist by his parents, Zechariah and Elizabeth. And In addition to that we might add the words of Hannah in I Samuel 2:1-10.

The Lexham English Bible (Chapter 2) Then Hannah prayed and said, “My heart exults in Yahweh, my strength is exalted in Yahweh; ⌊I grin⌋ over my enemies, for I rejoice over your salvation. 2 There is no one holy like Yahweh, for there is no one besides you, and there is no rock like our God.

3 Do not increase speaking ⌊very proud⌋ words! Let no arrogance go forth from your mouth, for Yahweh is a God of knowledge whose deeds are not weighed. 4 The bows of mighty warriors are shattered, but those who stumble gird themselves with strength.

5 Those who were full must hire themselves out for bread, but those who are hungry will become fat. As for the infertile, she will bear seven, but she who has many sons withers away. 6 Yahweh kills and restores alive, he brings down to Sheol and raises up.

7 Yahweh makes poor and makes rich; he brings low and also exalts. 8 He raises up the poor from the dust. From the ash heap he lifts up the needy, to cause them to sit with noble people and to cause them to inherit a seat of honor. For the pillars of the earth belong to Yahweh and he has set the inhabited world on them.

9 He will guard the feet of his faithful ones, but the wicked will be destroyed in the darkness, because a man will not prevail by his might.

10 Yahweh will shatter his adversaries; he will thunder against them in the heavens. Yahweh will judge the ends of the earth. He will give strength to his king and will exalt the might of his anointed one.

Hannah was one well versed Old Testament lady. She knew what she wanted and went after it in prayer and praise. This is pretty spiff stuff for a woman of the patriarchal period. It’s a great piece to ponder.

Just like Bach and his music, most commentary writers think of these passages in terms of singing praise or worship. If you Google the words, “The Magnificat” you will get dozens or maybe even hundreds of versions of it written by various composers. Many of them, modern songs that do not resemble the Bach version. The fact is, this makes for good music, praise, and worship. It is steeped in Old testament wording as they did not have the New Testament for Mary to meditate and consider. This is all Old Testament, but things are going to change as Jesus is born and enters the picture.

In Consideration of Mary and Her Words of Truth.

Mary’s praise comprised of her perceived reception of God’s special favor on herself: He was “God my Savior.” We need a lot more recognition like that today in individual lives. Jesus is my Savior. It has a great sound to it!

Mary has a firm belief that she was a part of a bigger picture of of the nation who had not forsaken the worship of the Lord! We would call her a part of the remnant of Jewish people who had not been overwhelmed by their culture. Mary the praised God’s power- done great things(v.49), His holiness(v.49) and generational mercy(v.50)- because the mercy just keeps on coming. Another point of interest is that Mary not only thought of herself as a recipient of God’s favor, but Israel as a whole.(Verses 52-55)

Mary took three months with Elizabeth, probably not just for consul, mentoring, and family but because of what people would say back home.

The Birth of John the Baptist 1:57- 66

The Lexham English Bible (Chapter 1)

57 Now the time came for Elizabeth that she should give birth, and she gave birth to a son. 58 And her neighbors and relatives heard that ⌊the Lord had shown his great mercy to her⌋, and they rejoiced with her.

59 And it happened that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were wanting to name him ⌊after⌋ his father Zechariah. 60 And his mother answered and* said, “No, but he will be named John.”

61 And they said to her, “There is no one of your relatives who is called by this name.” 62 So they made signs to his father asking what he wanted him to be named,

63 and he asked for a writing tablet and* wrote, saying, “John is his name.” And they were all astonished. 64 And his mouth and his tongue were opened immediately, and he began to speak,* praising God.

65 And fear came on all those who lived near them, and in all the hill country of Judea all these events were discussed. 66 And all those who heard kept these things* in their hearts, saying, “What then will this child be? For indeed the hand of the Lord was with him!”

Can you imagine how the people rejoiced with Elizabeth and Zechariah for the mercy shown to them? With Mary, people would be talking about the pregnancy without a husband. On the 8th day of the time to circumcise, everyone one thought that Zechariah and Elizabeth would name thin boy Junior, but not so. Because of the angel, they broke with tradition and it was proclaimed from the mute, Zechariah that he would be called John. Immediately, his mute state was healed and it caused great awe to fall upon Israel.

No matter what, his family and friends all agreed that the “hand of the Lord was with this child!” (v.66)

Zechariah’s Praise 1:67- 80

The Lexham English Bible (Chapter 1)

67 And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying, 68 “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited to help and ⌊has redeemed⌋ his people,

69 and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, 70 just as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from earliest times—

71 salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all those who hate us, 72 to show mercy to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant,

73 the oath that he swore to Abraham our father, to grant us 74 that we, being rescued from the hand of our enemies, could serve him without fear

75 in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. 76 And so you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High, for you will go on before the Lord to prepare his ways,

77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the forgiveness of their sins, 78 because of the merciful compassion of our God by which the dawn will visit to help us from on high,

79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to direct our feet into the way of peace.” 80 And the child kept growing and becoming strong in spirit, and was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.

Zechariah’s word never get quite as much air time as Mary and Elizabeth. Truth is, He was a distinct “Holy Man” of God. He was not just giving lip service in this passage about his son, but God had great things in store for John the Baptist and his Dad knew it. He had believed the angel’s message and now could proclaim it for everyone to hear. His sons message would be even greater. Verse 77 Shows the progression of belief would be changing from sacrifice to the message of Salvation( vs.77- 79.)