Mary s Magnificent Song About God Luke 1:46-56 Introduction: Christmas is a season of celebration, and music plays a key role in any experience of that kind. The music of Christmas is especially meaningful. Just listening to the words of carols will give you a lift. This Christmas season we will look at some of the biblical songs. There are four occasions when a song of praise is given priority in scriptural accounts that relate to the coming of Jesus. Mary s song Luke 1:46-56 Zechariah s song Luke 1:69-79 The Angel s song Luke 2:8-20 Simeon s song Luke 1:21-35 On this first Sunday of advent we will consider Mary s song of joy. It is similar to the Old Testament Psalms in that it is a hymn of praise for God s kindness. It may very well be called a song of pure joy, for Mary haw found a reason to lift her voice to God. Mary proclaimed God and His glorious mercy to man. Mary was proclaiming the salvation of God, a salvation wrought through the promised Messiah, her Savior. She predicted that the Savior would be welcomed by those who reverenced Him (Luke 1:50); but He would be rejected by the proud, the powerful, and the rich. We can learn much from Mary, who found great reason to praise God in spite of adverse circumstances. There are many unanswered questions, Luke 1:29-35. Her position in the society of that day was very uncomfortable but Mary still revealed a heart full of praise. The Morning Scriptures Luke 1:46-56 (NIV) 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, even as he said to our fathers." 56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home. 1
I. God Was the Subject of Her Song. V. 46 Luke 1:46 (NIV) 46 And Mary said: "My soul glorifies the Lord A. Mary wasn t thinking about herself. 1. Mary wasn t thinking about things she might accomplish. a. She made a definite statement. My Soul glorifies the Lord. b. The Lord was the subject of Her song and her praise and rejoicing. 2. Mary just finished the journey to Elizabeth s home. a. As soon as she walk in the door Elizabeth began her proclamation of praise under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. b. Mary s song followed right on the heels of Elizabeth s song. c. Mary was forgetting all the traveling. 3. Mary was now was being confirmed. a. She now knew that the angel that came to her was not a figment of imagination an illusion, a false vision, or a dreamy state of Mind Luke 1:28. b. She realized he was real and his message that she, as a virgin, would bear the Son of God was true. c. Her faith was reassured and confirmed. d. God assures and confirms the faith of us all and we believe and trust as the need arises. Deuteronomy 7:9 (NIV) 9 Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands. 4. One thing that can overcome tiredness and exhaustion is an experience with God. a. More than anything else, the experience of genuine prayer and seeking God will cause a person to forget tiredness of body. 5. The word glorify means to declare the greatness of. a. Mary s soul continued to glorify the Lord. b. She did not slip into the sin of pride, nor did she think that she was a favorite of God. II. God Was Her Savior V. 47-48 Luke 1:47-48 (NIV) 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, A. God saw her need for a Savior. 1. Mary recognized her need, that she was a sinner and needed a Savior. a. More importantly, she made a personal confession: God My Savior. 2
b. Mary was proclaiming that God saw her need and saved her. 2. God saw her low estate. a. Mary recognized where she had come from and just how lowly a person she was. 3. In the eyes of the world she was a nobody: poor, obscure, unknown, insignificant, of little purpose and meaning in life. a. The very expression the low estate of His handmaiden suggests that Mary was even considered the least within her own house hold. 4. God usually chooses the least person to more clearly demonstrate His mercy and power. Gideon, Leah, believers (you and me.) a. We must all know where we have come from, just how far down we were when God saved us. Romans 3:23 b. No matter how low, how nothing we may be, God cares and will reach down and out to us. c. God will take us by the hand, lift us up, and give us purpose meaning and significance... d. God will make us somebody and use us, giving us a full and meaningful life. John 10:10 (NIV) 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. 5. God will cause her to be remembered. a. All believers will highly esteem her and her great dedication to God. III. God Was to be Proclaimed V. 49-50 Luke 1:49-50 (NIV) 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. A. Mary proclaimed three glorious attributes of God. 1. Mary proclaimed God s power. a. The promised Messiah was now to be born. b. The hope of the world was not to be fulfilled after so many generation of waiting. c. God s power was not to be demonstrated in a way never before witnessed. 2. The promised Messiah was to be born of a virgin. a. It was to be an event and a method never before witnessed. b. The enormous power of God was to be demonstrated even in the birth of the Messiah! Psalm 51:15 (NIV) 15 O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. 3
B. Mary proclaimed God s Holiness. 1. Holy is his name. a. God is to be set apart as different from all others. b. His very nature, His very being, both perfect being and perfect in being. c. God is both holy in name, and holy in being, set apart and different from all others. Exodus 15:11 (NIV) 11 "Who among the gods is like you, O LORD? Who is like you-- majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders? C. Mary proclaimed God s mercy. 1. God s glorious mercy to her. a. He had proven to be her personal Savior. Lamentations 3:22 (NIV) 22 Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. D. God glorious mercy is finally sending the Messiah to those who feared or reverenced Him. 1. Mary saw God mercy passing down from generation to generation. Psalm 103:17 (NIV) 17 But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD's love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children's children-- IV. God Had Reversed the Order of Things on Earth V. 51-53 Luke 1:51-53 (NIV) 1 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. A. What Mary saw was the Lord had reversed the order of things on earth. 1. The Lord had scatter the proud with the strength of his arm not by love but by power. a. The proud are prideful in their thoughts, in the imagination of their hearts. b. They think themselves better in all aspects of their lives. 2. The Lord dethroned the mighty and exalted the humble. a. The mighty are those who sit in positions of power, authority, and influence b. The Lord had filled the hungry and emptied the rich. c. Those who were rich only in this world s goods are seen stripped of all their earthly goods and sent away empty. Ephesians 1:3 (NIV) 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4
V. God Had Helped His people V. 54-55 Luke 1:54-55 (NIV) 54 He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful 55 to Abraham and his descendants forever, even as he said to our fathers." A. God had remembered His mercy. 1. The people Israel desperately needed God s mercy and god s deliverance. a. They were enslaved by the Romans; therefore, they were frantic in their search for deliverance. b. So fanatic they were turning to false gods. 2. God remember His promise of the Messiah to the father of Israel. Conclusion Mary remained with Elizabeth for about three months, the very time that was needed to make sure she was pregnant. She needed the encouragement of Elizabeth until the fact had actually happened and was proven. Note the simple childlikeness of Mary, her need for the support and encouragement of her older sister who was probably more spiritually mature HYMN: Joy To the World 5