Embrace Exceptional Praise

As believers, we all have a divine purpose—

— a particular kind of role to fill in God’s plan.

Oftentimes we may struggle for a season to discern what God is calling us to do, or we wonder if we correctly understand His will.

In better times, we have clearer convictions about our mission in life.

When those better clearer seasons come, it’s likely because God has used people and circumstances in our lives to clarify or confirm His will for us; we SO see that in Mary’s story.

When God provides that confirmation and clarity, we do what Mary does here…..we can be more humbly and GLADLY surrendered in our aspirations and plans. We can be more GLADLY involved in playing OUR role in furthering God’s desired kingdom purposes.

Mary ended up co-operating with the Lord with exceptional gladness; she embraced exceptional praise. How did that come about for Mary?

And, HOW might such a thing come about in us?

Well, it all played out so well in Mary’s life through TWO old things – by 2 older agencies: Ǝ’s

#1 An older woman who testifies to Your work Lord & #2 an older Scripture magnifies Your ways.

So first, there’s Elizabeth’s input into Mary’s heart…

Elizabeth shows no surprise when Mary first arrives “out of the blue…”

But at the sound of Mary’s voice, Mary’s speech, Elizabeth then rejoices at the great privilege that God has given to both of them—

—to Mary, that she would bear God’s own So—to her, that she should see the mother of the Saviour & find the fulfillment of her faith in Θ’s promises. (& that was the very meaning of Elizabeth’s given name)

Mary had originally learned of her role in God’s plan, from an angel, but she likely needed human confirmation/clarification of her experience.

So, Mary traveled to visit her relative, Elizabeth, who confirmed that God had indeed chosen Mary & others to fulfill His great purpose.

It was so significant, to hear such confirmation from a trusted friend as Elizabeth — someone who could understand the nature of God’s work in her own life — through yet another miraculous pregnancy.

And thus, Mary was confirmed & stirred; Mary responded with exultation and with glad surrender to God’s will…..And once again, Mary devoted her body and her baby to God’s plan of redemption.

Keep this in mind: Mary came from Nazareth, a Galilean city west of the Sea of Galilee (see ). Her journey from Nazareth to the hill country of Judah covered between 80 and 100 miles.

Luke does not mention whether Mary went on foot, alone, or, as part of a caravan. In Mary’s day, a person traveling by foot could cover about 20 miles per day. If Mary walked to Elizabeth’s home, it would have taken her four to five days. If she accompanied a caravan, she would have arrived in about three days.

Either way, Mary took courage in her stirred desire for confirmation of God’s plan— because such a journey would have been dangerous, especially for a young woman comparatively alone.

Luke’s description of Mary leaving to see Elizabeth directly follows Gabriel’s revelation that both she and Elizabeth would have children.

Luke tells us that Elizabeth was already six months pregnant when Gabriel announced to Mary that God had chosen her to have His Son ().

The phrase “in those days” along with the note that Mary “traveled with haste” () suggests that Mary departed immediately to visit Elizabeth.

Mary begins expressing her joy as a hymn of outpoured heartfelt praise, she was virtually, poetically singing,

“My soul exalts the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced greatly in God my Saviour” ().

She recognizes and openly acknowledges that God has blessed her with a central role in His plan of salvation—even though she is a young woman with no social status ().

There is quite a bit of work in the kingdom of God where it does not matter so much what other people in the church think of you; it only matters what one or 2 think of you and that you learn what God thinks of you!!

That’s precisely what Mary must’ve been doing, not only with Gabriel and Elizabeth’s help – but with the help of Mary meditating much upon OT scripture… as we see in the next v. 48

Mary first describes herself as the Lord’s “female slave” in the Magnificat just as she did in her reply to Gabriel in .

The Greek word doulē, like the masculine form doulos, has about it, an attitude/flavour of humility and obedience.

English translations render the word as “servant” or “slave.”

And yes, doulos was used to describe an actual slave in that relationship between slave and master, BUT it was also commonly used, by those of lower status, to refer to themselves when speaking to their superiors.

So Mary uses this word to express her respect & deference to God; she’s humbly acknowledging that God has blessed her by giving her a central role in His plan …and that He has done this by sheer grace …& that everyone will see this begracing she’s receiving!

Then Mary extols God’s mercy, noting that it continues “for generation after generation to those who fear Him” ().

Mary expands her hymn of tribute to praise God for bringing the proud low while exalting the humble ().

The theme of God protecting the lowly or needy while punishing the arrogant or oppressive runs throughout the ot

Read .; ; …& especially .

Mary continues on this note by singing, as it were, of God’s glory ∵

God “[fills] the hungry with good things,

and [∵ He sends] the rich away empty” nrsv

Mary then turns her song to specifically praise God for His ongoing care and compassion for Israel, in particular.

She testifies that God has helped Israel by “remembering His mercy, just as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his descendants forever” ().

Mary beautifully unites past and future by interweaving God’s promise to Abraham—to bless his descendants and go on to bless the world through him ()—with the birth of Jesus.

Despite her youth, Mary demonstrates a mature understanding of Scripture in her hymn. The themes of her hymn reflect those of Hannah’s song in .

Both mothers knew that their sons—Samuel and Jesus—were destined for greatness and expressed their thanksgiving to God with songs of praise.

They both opened by praising God for revealing His salvation.

Hannah declares, “I rejoice in your salvation” (), while Mary sings that her spirit “rejoices in God my Savior” ().

Both songs elevate Θ’s holiness, w. Hannah exclaiming that “Ǝ is none holy like the Lord” () & w. Mary rejoicing “holy is His name” ().

Each woman concludes her song with hints of coming salvation.

Hannah proclaims that God will “exalt the horn of his anointed (or Messiah)” (). Hannah’s son, Samuel, helped pave the way for the Messiah by anointing David as king of Israel (see )—the v. king from whom Jesus would descend (see )!

Hannah and Mary both describe God as a God of action.

They both praise the LORD’s sovereignty and His strength by which wise redemptive strength He elevates the humble and the needy (as in ; ) AND also He… abolishes the self-sufficient pos’n of the proud as in ;

Mary’s song reminds us of how God chooses to work through one seemingly insignificant person to advance His work as a whole—for the world, the kingdom, and the believers who will become the Church.

Without regard for the shame or danger she might face, Mary devoted herself in service to God, a model of obedience to the generations of believers that continues to this day.

Just as God chose Mary to bring His Son into the world, He has a role for each of us to play in His great plan of salvation.

Our role may be big or small.

It may bring attention to us, or we may go unnoticed.

Whatever call God places on our lives, like Mary, we must embrace His plan knowing that we exist to magnify the Lord.

In fact...

Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the New Testament Chapter 1

Mary’s song of praise is called “The Magnificat” (from the Latin word for “magnify”). Mary knew the Scriptures, for there are at least fifteen OT quotations or allusions in her song. (See 1 Sam. 2:1–10.) She praises God and eight times tells us what God has done (“He has …,” NKJV). Note that Mary acknowledged God as her Savior (v. 47), which indicates that she had trusted the Lord for her own salvation. She praised God for what He did for her (vv. 46–49), for all who fear Him (vv. 50–53), and for His people Israel (vv. 54–55). Mary took God’s promises to Israel literally and did not explain them away.