MARY SINGS
Opening Prayer
Lord, along with Mary we sing praise to You.
Read LUKE 1:46–56
Mary’s Song
46 And Mary said:
“My soul glorifies the Lord
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
holy is his name.
50 His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation.
51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful
55 to Abraham and his descendants forever,
just as he promised our ancestors.”
56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Meditate
Why not begin your devotional time by singing? What is your favorite song of praise?
Think Further
Luke’s story so far has been mind-boggling. His source for all this must be Mary herself, for she is the one person present or at least close to all the events recorded in these two chapters. It is time to reflect with Mary as she contemplates all that has happened to her in recent months and sees herself not in isolation but in the line of God’s purposes in history. Her poetic words, serving as a pause in the action, consider the meaning of what has happened so far. Up to this point the story has been about individuals and how God speaks to them. Now, as Mary reflects, the individual merges into a larger drama.
From the time that God made a covenant with Abraham, God loved and provided for his people. The books we know as the Old Testament tell the sad story of their unfaithfulness but also of the remnant who remained faithful. God never abandoned them. He loved them in a way that we, as fallen people ourselves, can barely understand.
Mary sees herself among those to whom God has shown mercy, echoing the song that Hannah sang after Samuel was born. She understands, as Hannah did, that God strikes down the arrogant and exalts the lowly, but she goes beyond this. God’s mercy is for everyone who fears him, initially Israel, but then Gentiles as well (50). And not only in the past, but “from generation to generation.” One thinks, too, of Zephaniah 3:17, the John 3:16 of the Old Testament: “The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he… will rejoice over you with singing.”
Apply
Join Mary in rejoicing in God your Savior.
Closing prayer
Lord, we ask You to continue to do great things for your Church as You did for Your people Israel.
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