MEDITATING ON THE MAGNIFICAT

And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour – Luke 1: 46-47

The wonders of God! He was about to change the course of all human history; yet He occupied Himself with two obscure, humble women – one old and barren, the other young and virginal. Mary is so moved by the vision of God, the lover of the lowly, that she breaks out in song – a song that has come to be known as the Magnificat.

Mary and Elizabeth depict a unique faith, birthed in lowliness and cheerful humility (Lk.1 43, 48). The only people whose soul can truly magnify the Lord are those who acknowledge their lowly estate and are overwhelmed by the meekness of the magnificent God. Mary’s song sounds similar to that of Hannah, the mother of Samuel (1Sam.2: 1-10). Note and meditate on three distinct sections of the Magnificat!

First, Mary’s heart magnifies the Holy God, by the expression of her heart’s feeling – JOY (vs 46-47). Her spiritual beauty reaches its emotional zenith when she responds from the heart to all God did for her. A mouth magnifies God by speaking his praises, but how does a soul magnify God? No one hears a soul, but that soul and God. Mary’s soul at this moment felt the greatness, holiness and mercy of God expressed through inexplicable JOY: “My spirit rejoices in God!” We magnify God by rejoicing in Him, relaxing in His mercy.

Second, the holy God blesses Mary. She states what God has done specifically for her as a person (vs 48-49a): regarded her lowliness, did great things for her, and thus gave her an enduring reputation for blessedness. Here she simply sees in her own experience an example of the way God is. It is such a singular and unimaginable blessing that all generations from that time on have acknowledged her blessedness.

Third, she describes God’s character – Holy – and how this accounts for why He treated her the way He did in her lowliness and thus led her to rejoice and magnify the Lord: the Holy God helps the lowly. What fills Mary’s heart with joy is one side of God’s holiness: that He loves to undertake for the underdog who calls on His mercy – those who fear Him, those of low degree and the hungry! The other side is that God opposes and abases the haughty. God is not partial to the rich, the powerful, or the proud. He is not the least impressed by human pride, power, or opulence. The great and holy God magnifies His greatness by blessing the lowly who admire His greatness and by abasing the haughty who resent his greatness!