Mary’s Song: The Magnificat

Mary spoke a praise to God

Mary spoke a praise to God

Mary has arrived to see her cousin, Elisabeth, who is also with child.   Upon her arrival, the child within Elisabeth jumps for joy and the “spirit comes

upon her” as she delivers a blessing on Mary.

Mary answers this blessing with a song of her own.

As a musician, I can envision Mary singing her response and the melody just flowing out of her.  However, we’re told “Mary said” so she clearly spoke these words.

However, you can feel the lyricism and melody of the words.  More importantly, you can see and feel the trust, faith and joy Mary has in “God my Savior.”

Luke 1:46-55 {ASV},

 And Mary said,

“My soul magnifies the Lord,
     and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
 for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
    For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
    and holy is his name.
And his mercy is for those who fear him
    from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm;
    he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
    and exalted those of humble estate;

 he has filled the hungry with good things,
    and the rich he has sent away empty. 

He has helped his servant Israel,
    in remembrance of his mercy,
as he spoke to our fathers,
    to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”

With the birth of John and the confirmation of his name, Zechariah was able to speak.

With the birth of John and the confirmation of his name, Zechariah was able to speak.

 

At the end of her song we are told she stayed with Elisabeth and Zechariah for three months.  I’d love to be a fly on the wall of that home.  To hear all these women discussed and shared over this time together.

In many ways Elisabeth probably helped Mary to know and understand the changes ahead as a child grew within her and she gave birth.

However, they also most likely discussed their hopes and dreams for their children and their love of God.  Maybe they marveled at these things that God was doing through them.

Did they ever have any doubts?  Did they ever question why they had been chosen?  I would have and this is human nature to do such a thing, but we’re not told how they reacted.  From the blessing of Elisabeth and Mary’s song, we are led to believe that these women trusted God and did not question Him.

They were both in special circumstances that no one else could understand.  This was a new experience for both of them and they must have learned much about child birthing and child raising together during this time.  One was Young and one was old…it didn’t matter because God was at work.

Mary returned home

Mary returned home

We are told that Mary stayed three months before returning home and this is followed by the birth of John the Baptist.   We don’t know for sure if Mary was there when he was born or not.  The timing is such that she could have just left or still been visiting.

Maybe she stayed to help Elisabeth out until she was able to attend to her child.  This would also allow Mary to witness the birth process and understand what was ahead for her.

We do know that at his birth, Zechariah wrote “His name is John”.  With that his tongue was loosened and the first thing he did was praise God and prophesize.  {Luke 1:57-80}

Luke 1:56 (ASV)
And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned unto her house.

As for Mary, she returned home.  Was it with excitement, dread or uncertainty?  After all, she now has to face Joseph, her parents and the town and explain her pregnancy.

 

Photo 1 courtesy of FreeBibleImages.org
Photos 2 & 3 Courtesy of MorgueFile

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.