Luke 1:46-56
"And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath done to me great things and holy is his name. And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy; As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever. And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house," Luke 1:46-56.
Mary is visiting her cousin Elisabeth. She left her home in Nazareth immediately after the angel Gabriel visited her and told her that she would bring forth the Son of God, Jesus Christ. Gabriel told Mary that her cousin Elisabeth, who was old, was pregnant. Mary went to the one who could understand what she just experienced. Mary gets to the home of Zacharias and Elisabeth and immediately calls out to Elisabeth. When Elisabeth hears the salutation of Mary, John the Baptist leaped in the womb of Elisabeth, and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and proclaimed that Mary is blessed for believing what the angel Gabriel had said. Mary is experiencing the fulfilled promises of God, and she is overwhelmed with joy. She understood that Scripture was being fulfilled. Having a correct understanding of Scripture produces correct worship. Only the humble worship God. Let us get into theses verses.
"And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour," Luke 1:46-47. "Soul" in this verse is the Greek word "psuche" and is the immaterial part of personality with which Mary could magnify the Lord. It is gives us the ability to put facts together, knowledge, understanding, intellect. The soul and spirit is the immaterial part of man upon which the word of God is operative. Specifically the soul as the sentient principle, the seat of senses, desires, affections, appetites, passions, the lower aspect of one's nature. Mary's feelings and emotions were governed by the facts that she put together in her mind. These facts came from the Scriptures. Please understand that we do not feel truth, we know truth. After we know truth, feelings and emotions are produced.
Mary's soul magnified the Lord. Mary was overwhelmed with God, so she magnified Him. Magnify (megaluno) is to make (or declare) great. She is worshipping God. "Lord" in this verse speaks of God as the Supreme Lord and Sovereign. Her worship is being governed by what she knows. In verse 47 she says "my spirit hath rejoiced." "Spirit" in this verse is the rational spirit, mind, element of life. As including the understanding, intellect. Again, I want to remind us that we do not feel truth, we know truth. This is another reason it is so important that we have a biblical view of God and of ourselves. Mary had a biblical view of God, and this caused her to rejoice in Him. "Hath rejoiced" in this verse means properly to jump for joy, i.e. exult:- be (exceeding) glad, with exceeding joy, rejoice (greatly).
Joy is not a result of happenstance, but what is true. "These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full," John 15:11. The disciples joy would not by full based on their feelings, but on what Christ had told them, if they believed Him. Mary believed what the angel Gabriel said, and she believed the O.T. Scriptures. Mary believed that One would come Who would crush satan's kingdom; she believed He would come from the tribe of Judah, specifically of the line of king David; she believed that a virgin would conceive and bring forth Emmanuel, God with us. Mary believed the Scriptures, and God fulfilling the Scriptures caused Mary to have exceeding great joy. "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you," Philippians 4:8-9. Mary had great joy because of those things which God had said, and because of Who God is.
Mary rejoiced in God her Saviour. God is the Supreme Divinity. Saviour is the Deliverer. Mary rejoiced in the one and only true God, Who is her Deliverer. What did Mary need deliverance from? She needed to be delivered from her sins, and from the wrath of God. God her Saviour did this for her. Notice in verses 48-55 Mary is attributing all honour, praise, glory, and worship to God. Mary gave worship to God. Her worship was based on the facts of Scripture. Remember, we do not feel truth, we know truth. Turn to John 4:10-26. Jesus is speaking with this lady at the well. Once she is confronted with her sinfulness, she resorts to a common tactic of redirecting the conversation away from herself (verses 19-20). Jesus proclaims to her what true worship is (verses 21-26). We worship in spirit and in truth. Notice that the word "spirit" in verses 23 and 24 are not capitalized. This is not referring to the Holy Spirit, nor is it referring to some type of feeling and emotional experience. The word "spirit" is the same as it is in Luke 1:47, the rational spirit, mind, element of life. As including the understanding, intellect. We are not trying to fabricate worship based on a feeling or emotion, instead, true worship flows from us as a result of truth. "Truth" in these verses is the Greek word "aletheia" and is that which is not concealed, but open and known; hence truth. Specifically, truth, i.e. love of truth, both in words and conduct, sincerity, veracity. We worship God in our intellect according to the truth that He has revealed to us from the Scriptures. Only true believers can truly worship God.
Mary was overwhelmed with the facts of Scripture. She was truly worshipping God. True worship is the result of an informed intellect. We receive the truth, we love the truth, therefore; we love God Who is Truth, and we worship Him. Worship is a way of life, not just a short time on Sunday. Prideful people worship themselves and want attention on themselves. In Mary's song of praise, she proclaims to all that God is worthy to be worshipped (verses 48-55). God is her Saviour; He is Mighty; He is Holy; He is Merciful; He is Omnipotent; and He is Faithful. God looked upon Mary with underserved favour; He showed her mercy; and He has been faithful to His Word. He saves by His grace; He continually shows mercy to those who love Him; He protects; He provides; He reveals His Word to us and brings it to our memory. He brings to pass what He has promised.
Mary was humble, and she had a biblical view of herself and a biblical view of God, which produced biblical worship from her to God. How is our worship? Are we focused on God, or man? Remember, worship is a way of life, not just a short time on Sunday. We do not feel the truth, we know the truth. Please send questions and comments to richardsonbaptistchurch@gmail.com. Soli Deo Gloria.
