THE MAGNIFICAT

In the Bible, there is a beautiful passage sung by Mary, the mother of Jesus, which we now call as the “Magnificat.” The word Magnificat literally means “an utterance of praise” (Merriam-Webster).

Mary sang this after the Angel Gabriel revealed to her that she will conceive and give birth to the Christ Jesus.

As we read the Magnificat in Luke 1:46-55, we can easily sense Mary’s joyful spirit as she sang this. However, what we often fail to realize is the challenging situation in which she was praising God.

At that time, she was just a humble teenager engaged to marry but also about to bear a child. People could have easily thought of her child as one born out of wedlock. That could have even been considered adultery which was punishable by stoning in Jewish law. Mary could have feared for her own honour and dear life. Yet in spite of all these, she chose to magnify the Lord.

And Mary said:

“My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Saviour."

To magnify God is to declare His greatness. Mary offered praises to God. Whatever difficulties she may have to face then were overwhelmed by the good end God had for her.

Whatever circumstance we may have, may we also choose to magnify the Lord, to praise Him and declare how much bigger He is than what we are facing. She also declared that she needed a Saviour, which also meant she is not a deity as some would believe.

“For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant.” 

Mary mentioned that the Lord looked upon her lowly state. This confirms a Biblical truth that God looks upon the humble (Isaiah 66:2).

Naturally, people who are powerful, influential, and popular are those who immediately get our attention. But with God, it is the opposite. He looks upon those who nobody cares about and lifts them up.

Of all the people, God looked upon a young teenager and sovereignly chose her to be the vessel through which He will bring His Son into this world.

In the past, God also chose people of lowly backgrounds and used them in mighty ways no one could have ever imagined: the shepherd David, the wilderness wanderer John the Baptist, the prisoner Joseph.

Have you ever thought that you do not matter much? That perhaps God will not be concerned with who you are or what you are going through? Or perhaps that you do not qualify to be used mightily by God?

Be encouraged by what the Bible says: “But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence” (1 Cor. 1:27-29).

We see here that the “not’s” of this world are whom the Lord looks at and uses. The weak, foolish, poor… Oh, how easy it is to qualify! But along with being a “not” should come a humble and yielding heart to Jesus. God’s Word also explains the reason why He does so: “that no flesh should glory in His presence.” Truly all glory belongs to Him alone.

“For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.” 

Mary called herself blessed. But if we would carefully investigate her life, it was not easy being her at all. She didn’t seem blessed when people wondered about the legitimacy of her son or when she faced the detractors of Jesus when He started in His ministry or when she watched her son being crucified on the cross.

But because she was looking to the Lord, she was able to see past the hardships and glorify God and consider herself to be truly blessed.

Whenever we face trials today, may we be encouraged that this is something we can look back to and say, “Blessed be the Lord!” For in everything, God works, even difficulties, for our good because He is good (Romans 8:28).

“For He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name.” 

Whenever we are facing storms in our lives, it is good to look back at the faithfulness of God. See where He has taken you from and where He has brought you so far.

Remember how He has delivered you from perils in the past. Remember that no matter how your situation seemed impossible then, it was in actuality no challenge to Him. Remember, remember, remember.

God’s greatness is also magnified when we honestly contrast God with our own shortcomings in the past. If we will consider all His works, His blessings, His patience, His mercy toward us, it will really put all of us in awe. And all this He does according to His holiness.

All His decisions and actions are right and pure in motivation. Take heart that whatever situation God has put you in today, He is right and He has nothing but pure motives for it.

“And His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation.” 

When the Lord revealed Himself to Moses, “Merciful” is the attribute He declared to him. However, God only gives mercy to those on whom He will have mercy (Rom. 9:15).

The key to receive the mercy of God is to fear Him. While we may commit mistakes, He extends His mercy to those who ultimately fear Him and seek to be right with Him.

Also, God will not only show mercy to us but to the succeeding generations of our families as well. Our children will be reaping the benefits of the mercy of God.

“He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted the lowly.”

God will truly resist the proud and give grace to the humble. We are to wait upon the Lord to lift us up rather than promote ourselves.

Lifting one’s self up may seem to be the faster way. However, it will not be for long. We will only set ourselves up for the breaking of God if we lift up ourselves. But when we allow God to lift us up instead, He will ensure that we are established. May we be steadfast in waiting on God.

“He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent away empty.” 

Those who are hungry for God are filled because they are ready and willing to receive. However, the rich think they are enough and so they do not receive anything from God.

While God is able to bless everyone, He will only pour out to those who desire to receive from Him. When we are hungry for Him, there is much room for God to fill in our lives. But when we choose to fill ourselves with other things, there is very little room left for God, the One who truly satisfies.

“He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy, as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed forever.” 

Genesis 17:4 tells us of the covenant God gave to Abraham, to be God to him and his descendants after him. No matter how long He has given a promise even through generations, He shall not forget.

We oftentimes forget God’s promises, especially during trials, but God never forgets. He will honour His Word and never break His promises.

CONCLUSION

The Magnificat is not a song that only applies to Mary but also to us today. And so, when we are going through tough times, when it seems hardest to hold on to God’s promises, may we remember this Magnificat and choose to sing this song in praise to our God.

May we believe every truth from this song for as we do, we will finally see God looking upon us and lifting us up in due time.