I just HAVE to tell you! I’m so excited I’m about to burst! REALLY! Our son just received word that he won the prestigious fellowship he applied for. J (I didn’t even know that when I wrote my first draft of this post. But what a wonderful gift and illustration that is.) You know, I think that’s how Mary felt after Elizabeth’s affirmation. She just had to burst into song. I find it interesting that Mary’s song did not come after Gabriel’s announcement to Mary it came after Elizabeth’s affirmation. There is something special about the affirmation of a girlfriend … or in this case a female relative. God, please help me to be an affirming friend to the women I come across today.
God, through Gabriel and Elizabeth, said to Mary, I love you.
Mary’s response, her song is saying back to God, I love you. It was worship.
Mary’s song came from the depth of who she was. She says, “my soul magnifies… my spirit rejoices” in “the Lord” … in “God my Savior”. In the words Lord and Savior, Mary acknowledges who God is in her life. Previously she had referred to herself as a servant, this time she speaks of the same relationship only looking at it from God’s side. He is her Lord. And like me, Mary needed a Savior. Like me, God is her Savior.
But it was the next few verses that caused me to burst into song. Mary says, “for …” or “because” and lists four reasons why she is magnifying and rejoicing in her Lord and Savior.
1. “He has looked on the humble estate of his servant.” When God looked at Mary, He saw humility. He saw a servant. Those observations affirmed to Mary His love for her. My question for me, what does God see when He looks on me and how has God affirmed His love for me today?
2. “… all generations will call me blessed;” That started with Elizabeth. A few chapters later another woman called Mary blessed. Jesus was there and He responded, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” Luke 11:28. Both are true. Mary was blessed. I can be too. My question, what do you want me to hear today God so I can trust, so I can respond and so I can be blessed?
3. “He… has done great things for me,” God was active in Mary’s life. My question, how have I seen God active in my life this past week?
4. “… holy is His name.” This character quality of God seemed to summarize for Mary all that she was experiencing. My question, what would be the character quality I would ascribe to God as a result of my experience with Him recently?
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Psalm 103:1
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