Anchor My Faith

Title: The Humble Are Chosen by God (Luke 1:46-49)

When Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit at Mary’s greeting, she recognized that Mary was the mother of her Lord. This recognition by Elizabeth, confirmed that she was pregnant with Jesus, as declared by Gabriel that she would be. This results in Mary rising up in song of praise to the Lord: “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”” (Luke 1:46 – 48a ESV). To magnify the Lord means to make great in the sense of increasing our estimation of him. Here is an indication that Mary has been instructed and has learned the Old Testament because she is drawing from Psalm 34:3 (ESV): “Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together!” and from Psalm 103:1 (ESV): “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!”

Mary says that her soul magnifies and her spirit rejoices. She is completely caught up in her praise to God, but she recognizes that she is a sinner because she refers to God as her savior. Mary continues with the word for, which gives the reason for her praise to the Lord. In spite of her humble estate, God looked upon her and chose her. She was not an important person of great social status, but simple person not great in the eyes of the world. It is people like this, that are not great, according to the standards of the world, that God often calls upon to accomplish great work for him. For example: “[God] has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate” (Luke 1:52 ESV).

Verse 48 continues: “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” (Luke 1:48b – 49 ESV). As a result of Mary being chosen by God to be the mother of Jesus, all generations will recognize her as being blessed by God. Even today, some 2000 years later, Mary is recognized as one who was special, but unfortunately some have exalted her above her son Jesus or address her as Queen of Heaven or Mother of God, both of which are absurd and blasphemous. It is right to consider her as highly favored, but it does not warrant one to worship her or to pray to her. Examples of what is meant by this is, Abraham was blessed in being the father of the faithful, Paul in being the apostle of the Gentiles, and Peter for preaching the gospel to them, but who would think of worshipping or praying to them.

God who is mighty has done great things for Mary by blessing her with great favor and distinguished mercies. In response to what God has done she desired to bestow on God all honor and praise and the highest honor she could affirm was to declare his name as holy because God is free from sin and righteous in all he does.  

Prayer

Father, we have a great example, in Mary, of a humble servant being chosen to accomplish great things, but in the process she remains humble and turns her attention to the worship and praise of you. I am afraid we have lost the desire to humble ourselves before you, to be used by you to accomplish your work and then to rejoice and worship you for working through us. We don’t have much to rejoice about or share today in how we have served you in our walk with the Lord. Father, we are failing to enjoy the best part of life. Please show us mercy in judgment.