Mary's Great Praise

​Luke 1:46-47 ~ “And Mary said, ‘My soul magnifies the LORD, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.’”
 
In a moment of poetic praise, Mary expresses her great love for and worship of the LORD God. This great declaration by the chosen mother of the LORD Jesus is called by many the: Magnificat. There is much to be made of Mary’s magnifying the LORD. She calls Him, “LORD,” for He is the righteous Ruler over all. She knows Him as “God my Savior” for the Almighty is the giver of mercy and grace to all who call upon Him. In these two names alone, God is supremely worthy of all that we can do to magnify Him with our life. Not only does she express her praise, but she draws it up from the depths of her inmost being. She proclaims, “My soul magnifies.” From the very core of life itself, with each breath of her life, she will worship the LORD. The great condemnation of many even in our day is proclaimed by our LORD Jesus, “This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me” (Matthew 15:8).
 
There are many reasons why Mary gives this great expression of worship for the LORD. Take a moment and read Luke 1:46-55. As Mary unfolds her glorious praise, there are two statements that bring to light this grand Magnificat, and both are illuminated with a single word: Mercy.
 
The first declaration of mercy is founded on the promise of God to exalt those who fear Him. We read in Luke 1:50, “And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.” Mary looks at her life and underscores this truth: Her exalted blessing is founded squarely upon God’s divine mercy. In Luke 1:48-49 the mother of our LORD looks upon her own life in wonder, not because she saw herself in any state of greatness but because she was chosen by the LORD. Those who fear God, who hold in high majesty the LORD Jesus Christ, will discover the LORD to be merciful and filled with compassion toward them. We read in Malachi 3:16-17, “Then those who feared the LORD spoke with one another. The LORD paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the LORD and esteemed his name. They shall be mine, says the LORD of hosts, in the day when I make up my treasured possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him.” Mary feared the LORD, reverencing Him in her life, and she received mercy. Will you also fear the LORD and humble yourself before Him? His mercy is “from generation to generation.” It is an enduring thing, and will stretch to the final generation of all mankind.
 
The second use of the word mercy is given in order to help those who are humble. We next read in Luke 1:54-55, “He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever.” Luke 1:51-53 speak of God scattering the proud and exalting the humble, of filling the hungry and sending the rich away. These verses describe how it is that God has helped—and done so in remembrance of His mercy. This world is filled with the boastful pride of arrogant hearts. But God chooses to lift up the humble, to give the meek and inheritance and provide abundantly to those who hunger and thirst. Those mighty in their own eyes will never know the mercy of God. Hebrews 4:16 declares, “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” But how has the LORD helped one might ask. For we see in our world the impoverished still struggle and the arrogant still boastful. Yet let us first examine the greatest dilemma, the most noted desperation of humanity—and that is to have our sins forgiven by God. Jesus is come as Savior and LORD, and He will save His people from their sins. It would be of little hope for anyone if we read these verses only to think that they speak of temporal, and earthly satisfactions. Look to the LORD for your salvation, and He will remember His mercy and deliver your soul from destruction.
 
Consider the state of your life before the LORD. If you are born-again, can you say, as Mary, that your soul magnifies the LORD? Do you exalt the God of your salvation? There will come that day when the LORD God, our Savior, Jesus Christ, will fully and eternally establish His righteous and holy kingdom. On that day, all the arrogant and boastful will be put away and the humble will be exalted.
 
In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

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