In my Bible in Luke Chapter 1 there is a heading that reads “Mary’s Song of Praise: the Magnificat”. According to Wikipedia, the Magnificat is a Latin canticle (or song for the rest of us) based on Luke 1:46-55. It is called the Magnificat because the word "magnifies" in vs 46 is "Magnificat" in Latin. Since neither Mary nor Luke spoke Latin (that I know of) it is clear the heading was not written by Luke. Somebody added it for clarity, or maybe to promote their song based on Luke 1. Moving on...
Luke records Mary's words when she and Elizabeth meet. Mary’s words are some of the most beautiful and humble words of praise and worship ever put into writing. Until just recently, I had thought she had sung the words, but Luke doesn’t say that. But, I like the idea of her singing it, it makes it a little more wonderful for me.
When I read through it I see her exalting and praising God. She proclaims God’s wondrous choosing of a simple girl to be the mother of the King and Redeemer of the World. It is ten verses about what God had done and will do. Like the Psalms of David, it tells a story of God’s wondrous work in the lives of people and the life of a person. I believe Mary did not just make up those words, she was inspired. I also believe those words were written since the foundation of the world. God's perfect plan was in place and Mary was the one He chose to be the mother of Jesus. God had chosen a simple girl from a small village to be part of something amazing.
I wonder if we don’t all have our own Magnificat? A sentence or paragraph, a haiku, poem, song, photo, painting, something, in which we proclaim how God has reached down into our lives, found us as broken, homeless, rejected orphans, redeemed us, adopted us, made us sons and daughters of the King. A personal song about how He has changed us and molded us into people we could never be. How He chose us from the beginning of time as simple people from this small planet in a giant universe to be part of something amazing. I think we could all stand to take some time to put one together, our own Magnificat in which our souls magnify the Lord and our spirits rejoice in God our Savior.
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." Luke 1:46-55 ESV
Luke records Mary's words when she and Elizabeth meet. Mary’s words are some of the most beautiful and humble words of praise and worship ever put into writing. Until just recently, I had thought she had sung the words, but Luke doesn’t say that. But, I like the idea of her singing it, it makes it a little more wonderful for me. When I read through it I see her exalting and praising God. She proclaims God’s wondrous choosing of a simple girl to be the mother of the King and Redeemer of the World. It is ten verses about what God had done and will do. Like the Psalms of David, it tells a story of God’s wondrous work in the lives of people and the life of a person. I believe Mary did not just make up those words, she was inspired. I also believe those words were written since the foundation of the world. God's perfect plan was in place and Mary was the one He chose to be the mother of Jesus. God had chosen a simple girl from a small village to be part of something amazing.
I wonder if we don’t all have our own Magnificat? A sentence or paragraph, a haiku, poem, song, photo, painting, something, in which we proclaim how God has reached down into our lives, found us as broken, homeless, rejected orphans, redeemed us, adopted us, made us sons and daughters of the King. A personal song about how He has changed us and molded us into people we could never be. How He chose us from the beginning of time as simple people from this small planet in a giant universe to be part of something amazing. I think we could all stand to take some time to put one together, our own Magnificat in which our souls magnify the Lord and our spirits rejoice in God our Savior.
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." Luke 1:46-55 ESV
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