Asking for a boring life.
Luke 1:46–55 (ESV)
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.”
Mary’s heart soars and an inspired song, The Magnificat, springs forth. Mary’s attitude is especially glorious. She sees everything in its proper context. Her praise is a treatise on God’s grace, mercy and power.
When we pray for someone who is pregnant, what do we usually pray for? Do we ask for things like an easy pregnancy? How about a safe delivery?
Mary will get none of that; she delivers in a stinking cattle stall and has to lay her child in a manger. What Mary does get is buckets of God’s grace and the thrill of knowing that He has big plans for her (and Elizabeth) and their sons.
Imagine praying at a baby shower and tossing in a request for something big. “May the Lord use this child to do mighty things.” “May the Holy Spirit fill this child with his peace.” “Dear Lord, give these parents the strength to raise up the child in the spirit and power of Elijah.”
Okay, that might not go over so well. I’m not recommending that. Still, it does seem like we’re always asking God to give us a boring life. Mary’s life was anything but.
The Magnificat is Mary embracing her destiny.
Unlike the Lord’s Prayer, the Magnificat doesn’t lend itself to straight recitation (though some folks do recite it) because only Mary can say all these things.
But it is a wonderful model for how to praise God for His glorious works—and embracing His plans for us. Therein lies a challenge. How can we praise God like that?
Some of the Magnificat is suitable for reciting. The beginning is great, especially the King James version—My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior.
But the rest of the first sentence and all of the second get into specifics about Mary’s life. While we don’t have the kind of vision of the future that Mary had, we’re older than Mary and so have more vision of the past. We know more than enough to agree with Mary’s praises. We just need to find the words.
My soul doth magnify the Lord.
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These weekday DEEPs are written by Mike Slay. Saturdays’ by Matt Richardson. Subscribe here: https://www.ailbe.org/resources/community
The weekly study guides, which include questions for discussion or meditation, are here: https://www.ailbe.org/resources/itemlist/category/91-deep-studies
Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ESV stands for the English Standard Version. © Copyright 2001 by Crossway. Used by permission. All rights reserved. NIV stands for The Holy Bible, New International Version®. © Copyright 1973 by International Bible Society. Used by permission. All rights reserved. NASB stands for the New American Standard Bible. Used by permission. All rights reserved. KJV stands for the King James Version.
