Mary's Song: The Magnificat

Introduction

Gabriel announces John’s Birth to Zecheriah vs. Gabriel announcing Jesus’ birth to Mary

Mary goes and visits with Elizabeth

Body

Sidebar Tangent: Mary’s use of the OT to inform her worship.

In 10 verses, Mary alludes to at least 35 different Old Testament passages from Exodus, 1 Samuel, Psalms, Isaiah, Zephaniah, Daniel, Deuteronomy and Micah

Mary’s Song is also very familiar to Hannah’s in 1 Sam. 1-10, where Hannah begins with “My heart exults in the LORD” and goes on in her prayer to mention his might, mercy, holiness, tearing down of the proud, and building up of the humble.

(1) The God of Blessing

a. His Salvation

i. He saves - Isaiah 61:10 “I will rejoice greatly in Yahweh; my being shall shout in exultation in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns himself with a head wrap like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewelry.”

ii. He looks - 1 Samuel 1:11 “She made a vow and said: “O Yahweh of hosts, if you will look with compassion on the misery of your female servant, and will remember me, and not forget your female servant, and will give to your female servant a male child then I will give him to Yahweh all the days of his life, and a razor will never pass over his head.””

iii. He blesses

b. His Might

i. For God nothing is impossible- Zephaniah 3:17 “Yahweh your God is in your midst; a mighty warrior who saves. He shall rejoice over you with joy; he renews you in his love; he will exult over you with singing.”

c. His Holiness

i. His whole being is holiness - Isaiah 57:15 “For thus says the high and lofty one who resides forever, and whose name is holy: “I reside in a high and holy place, and with the contrite and humble of spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite.”

(2) The God of Mercy

a. His Strength

i. He scatters the proud- Daniel 4:37 “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and honor the king of heaven, for all his works are truth, and his ways are justice and that he is able to humble those who walk in pride.””

ii. He brings down the mighty

iii. He sends away the rich

b. His Mercy

i. He exalts the humble- Psalm 103:17 “But the loyal love of Yahweh is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to their children’s children,”

ii. He feeds the hungry- Psalm 107:9 “for he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good.”

(3) The God of Redemption

a. His Help

b. His Remembrance- Psalm 98:3 “He has remembered his loyal love and his faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.”

c. His Covenant - Genesis 17:19 “And God said, “No, but Sarah your wife shall bear a son for you, and you shall call his name Isaac. And I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant to his offspring after him.”

Conclusion