“And Mary said: “My soul exalts [magnifies] the Lord, and my
spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. For He has had regard for the humble
state of His bondslave; for behold, from this time on all generations will
count me blessed. For the Mighty One has done great things for me; and holy is
His name. AND HIS MERCY IS UPON GENERATION AFTER GENERATION TOWARD THOSE WHO
FEAR HIM. He has done mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who
were proud in the thoughts of their heart. He has brought down rulers from
their thrones, and has exalted those who were humble. HE HAS FILLED THE HUNGRY
WITH GOOD THINGS; and sent away the rich empty-handed. He has given help to
Israel His servant, in remembrance of His mercy, as He spoke to our fathers, to
Abraham and his descendants forever.” And Mary stayed with her about three
months, and then returned to her home.” (Luke 1:46–56, NASB95)
After the angel having told Mary that nothing is impossible
with God, and Mary having gone to see her relative Elizabeth who through the
leading of the Holy Spirit affirmed what had been said, Mary responded with
these words. From the heart of her being, her very soul, she lifted up the name
of the Lord and rejoiced in her spirit in her God her Savior. She was awed that
He would look to her as a humble young woman to choose to bring about His plan
for His Son to be born. This was indeed an incredible blessing and she knew it
and lifted God’s name in praise in response. She knew that God who is holy had
indeed done great things even for her.
In her praise to God which we know as the Magnificat because
in the many translations the word “exalts” in verse 46 (first verse for today)
is translated “magnifies.” In Latin the word “magnificat” describes this magnifying
or exalting of God before men. Mary clearly was overwhelmed by the magnificence
of God, and in her praise of Him she also quoted a familiar Hebrew thought
summarized in Psalm 103:17, “But the lovingkindness of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting
on those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children’s children,” (Psalm
103:17, NASB95) She spoke of how amazing God is pointing to His power to move
things with His arm, to scatter and confuse the proud, to bring down those who
are big, and to life up (as with her) those who are humble. This is who God is,
and Mary was joyfully singing His praises.
She went on to speak of how God filled the hearts of those
who were hungry for Him, and sent away those who were big in their own strength
empty handed. And then she turned her attention specifically to God’s
faithfulness toward Israel to whom He has been a constant help—even rescuing
them time and time again from their own rebellion. He has been incredibly merciful
toward them as a people, and as He promised Abraham and the other fathers of
her people He would continue to be mercifully faithful through the completion
of His plan of restoration for all eternity. Mary had heard the voice of the
angel, she had believed God that He would do in her just as He said, and she
was ready to give herself fully to Him knowing that He was truly her
magnificent God.
The last verse of this section simply says that
Mary stayed with Elizabeth three months and then went home. I imagine those
must have been some pretty incredible months. Then it was time to return home,
and Luke does not tell us anything about that return. But we do read in Matthew
chapter 1 that when it was discovered that Mary was pregnant Joseph had
determined to break their engagement quietly so as not to bring any more shame
on her than necessary. But before he could do this the angel appeared to him in
a dream and told Him what Mary already knew, that the child she bore was
conceived in her by the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1:20). Listening to the angel,
Joseph did not put Mary away, but took her as his wife and did not have sexual
relations with her until after the birth of Jesus.
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