Day Ten: The Magnificat

Read Luke 1:46-56 in several translations to gain better understanding. Ask the Lord to speak to your heart today.

And Mary said:  "My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me - holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, even as he said to our fathers."
Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home. 

The Christmas story is a masterpiece, a work of art, a beautiful love story!  There is a spiritual crescendo taking place as God paints the picture scene by scene. Do you hear the sound building in the distance?  It began where the Old Testament ends spanning four hundred years of supernatural silence. Then, heaven touches earth by way of Gabriel as he whispers "Hope is Coming!"

Every subsequent voice adds a new dimension resounding from the heart of the Father. Now, it's Mary's turn to sing...

"My soul (that in which there is life*) glorifies (to make great, enlarge, magnify*) the Lord and my spirit (the power by which the human being feels, thinks, decides*) rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful (to turn the eyes upon, to look upon*) of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, (why?) for the Mighty One has done great things for me--holy is his name."

Taken out of context Mary's words might be considered arrogant. "From now on all generations will call me blessed..."  Really?  But, if we could truly hear Mary's tone and voice inflection, emphasis would be given to "the Lord"; "God, my Savior"; "He"; "the Mighty One" and "holy is His name" reassuring us of the point of her song.

Mary testifies to Jehovah's faithfulness to His word: "His mercy extends to those who fear him (reverential obedience*), from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down (demolished*) rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich (of outward possessions*) away empty (destitute of spiritual wealth*). He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham, (with whom He made His covenant in Genesis 12:2; 15:5) and his descendants forever, even as He said to our fathers."

What is Mary saying?  Clearly she could not have understood all that God was doing as He entered the realm of humanity, a Seed now growing inside of her. But, in awestruck wonder and worship her Spirit inspired words attempt to describe what God's entrance on planet earth has, is and will accomplish.

When words of gratitude seem trivial and difficult to find...just SING!!  Something about it touches the heart...

*http://bible.lifeway.com/crossmain.asp (KJV with Strong's)