Sunday: Mary’s Song
Imagine the scene: Mary had received a message from the angel Gabriel just a few days earlier. He had told her that she was to be the mother of Jesus, the Son of the Most High. She has not yet told anyone but goes to visit Elizabeth, her older relative, who also is expecting a miracle baby. With spiritual insight Elizabeth recognizes Mary’s news before Mary has a chance to say anything, and together they celebrate the promises and goodness of God.
Read Luke 1:46-55. Notice the mix of praise between what was meant only for her—“for the Mighty One has done great things for me” (Luke 1:49, NIV)—to the much more general. Why should our praise and worship to God include both personal and general emphases?
Mary’s Song
This is a remarkable song that could fit well among the psalms or in the writings of the Hebrew prophets. Mary is overflowing with a sense of wonder and gratitude to God. She has obviously seen God working in her own life, but she is also well aware of the larger implications of God’s plan for her nation and for the human race.
But in Mary’s understanding, not only is God powerful and praiseworthy, He is also merciful and seems to have a particular regard for the humble, the downtrodden, and the poor. The angel had barely left after announcing the “good news” of the impending birth to Mary before she was singing the following: “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” (Luke 1:52-53, NIV).
Right at the beginning of the story of Jesus’ life on earth, He is introduced as a ruler (see Luke 1:43)—but as the ruler of a different kind of kingdom. As many commentators have described it, the kingdom of God that Jesus came to inaugurate and establish was to be an “upside-down kingdom” when compared to the usual social ordering of the kingdoms of this world. In the descriptions we have of Jesus’ kingdom, the powerful and wealthy of this world are the least, and the poor and oppressed are liberated, “filled”, and lifted up.
| If the church should be an expression of the kingdom of God, how well does the church do in modeling the “upside-down kingdom” that Mary described? How could something like this be modeled, but without being unfair to the rich and powerful as well, who were also recipients of Christ’s love? |
(26)
Sometimes the Bible quote says it all. It has become one of the most well known hymns in the Christian world. Is it because who sang it first or the message it contains?
And Mary said, my soul doth magnify the Lord - He cannot be made greater than He is; but ascribing greatness to him, even all the perfections of the Deity, and praising him on account of them; and also declaring and speaking well of his many and mighty works of power, goodness, grace, and mercy, and giving him the glory of them.
My spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior - This means Mary needed a Savior, and she knew that she needed a Savior. Only sinners need a Savior.
He who is mighty has done great things for me - This song mainly celebrates God’s goodness, faithfulness, and power. Mary’s song shows the futility of trusting in self, of trusting in political power, or of trusting in riches. Mary’s trust was in God, and it was rewarded.
Mary rejoiced and gloried in God, though the child was not yet born. “Brothers, there are some of you who cannot even sing over a mercy when it is born, but here is a woman who sings over an unborn mercy.” (Spurgeon)
I am not familiar with this hymn. Not in our Adventist hymnal.
You are almost right Paul, but it is in the Hymnal, not as a hymn but as a canticle and prayer. It is 835 in the current Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal. It is probably more familiar to many of our readers with a Roman Catholic background at a canticle called the Magnificat sung at Vespers. The term "magnificat" is latin for "magnify". The word "magnify" starts the song in the KJV version of Luke 1. A canticle is essentially a quote from the Bible that has been put to music, and was a common form of involving the congregation in worship before the Bible became readily available in printed form.
It is a bit unfortunate, that in our effort to distance ourselves from catholicism we have selectively eliminated some beautiful music that is so expressive of our relationship with God. I say "selectively" deliberately because few of us have difficulty singing the Catholic hymn, "Faith of our fathers, living still." Perhaps it is time to look at the meaning of the lyrics and not just think about the origins.
Hi Maurice l totally agree with your statement "few of us have difficulty singing the Catholic hymn, "Faith of our fathers, living still." Perhaps it is time to look at the meaning of the lyrics and not just think about the origins."
Consider the following verse from the Catholic hymn 'Faith of our Fathers' carefully omitted from our Hymnal. Bearing in mind this hymn was written in encouraging the faithful Catholics against the rise of Protestantism in England.
' Faith of our fathers; Mary's prayers
Shall win our country back to thee [Mary] (parenthesis supplied)
And through the truth that comes from God
England shall then indeed be free
Faith of our fathers, holy faith
We will be true to thee [Mary] till death. (parenthesis supplied).
Note we assume the hymn is to our God, but it is really to Mary.
Thank you again Maurice for pointing out this gross discrepancy.
'
The question is asked at the end of Sunday lesson about the upside down kingdom. How to embrace it without being unfair to the rich and powerful.
Mary response was in connection to Elizabeth salutation. The Holy Spirit was sent to Mary with a message about herself and about Elizabeth. Elizabeth was excited and Mary was both grateful and ecstatic with such news that she, a poor single girl will be the mother of The Savior of the world. We were told down through the ages all Jewish house hold look forward for this privilege, but they, they Jews thought he will be born to a marriage couple who were rich. No one looked forward for his birth to be coming from a poor, single teenager girl. It also caught her off guard. This is not something of man doing, this is prophecy fulfilled.
The church is compose of people from all different nations kindreds, tongues and people who are rich, poor or in between. The Holy Spirit will be given to anyone who yield themselves to him whether rich or poor. Mary had one work to do, so the rich and poor have their own work to do. Humans can’t move the hands of God to favor them ( whether rich or poor). No one can be unfair to the rich and powerful, this is something above our working.
It is our duty to praise God as much as it is to pray. Let Him know daily how much you appreciate His divine blessings.
In order for the church to model the Upside-down kingdom.Vistors at church should be hosted by the poor families such that they eat and sleep with them,,such that they should know what's on ground