December 9 Advent

Today we continue on in Mary’s song to the second half! In this part, Mary praises God for what he has done and will do in Israel.

His mercy extends to those who fear him,
    from generation to generation.
 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
    he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
 He has brought down rulers from their thrones
    but has lifted up the humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things
    but has sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
    remembering to be merciful
to Abraham and his descendants forever,
    just as he promised our ancestors.” (Luke 1:50-55)

I LOVE that Mary just “gets it”. She must have been full of the holy spirit to say that first line; “His mercy extends to those who fear him...” She got it, that it wasn’t about what you did, or the rituals, or good deeds, or strictness or sect of your faith. She really got it! It’s about respecting and fearing God. She understands that those who are close to God, he will have mercy on. She understood the freedom of Christ and what he represented, even before he was born. How big is that!?

What is interesting about the next four sentences, is that she sounds as though she is talking about the past (and maybe she is) but it also sounds like a prophecy towards the future time when Christ would free people of their sins. Because in affect, these are the things Christ did on earth. He performed mighty deeds, healing the sick, raising the dead. He scattered the proud teachers of the law, and caused them to question their inmost thoughts. He brought down Satan, as ruler of this world.  He lifted the humble, by making “the least of these” his disciples, and the cornerstone of his church. Jesus fed the hungry, and sent the rich young ruler and the rich Pharisees away with nothing but more questions. Jesus provided a way for Israel to be with him. Jesus was so merciful and even until right before his death, was giving the Pharisees an opportunity to repent and believe... 

So you see, Mary’s song was as much declaring the past as it was prophesying the future of her son’s life! So we too, can sing Mary’s song of praise! Her past, is (in a very different way) our past to declare as well!

The last verse of her song is what really bind’s this thought. She declares these things “to Abraham and his descendants forever (past) Just as he promised our ancestors (future).” Because what was promised to her ancestors, was a Christ to deliver his people (which was yet to take place). And the prophecies about him included turning hearts, and lifting the humble, destroying the proud and wicked, etc...  What incredible wisdom for a teenage girl, yet to be married. We can only assume that Jesus had some pretty strong grandparents who raised his mother to be so devoted to the Lord. The truth is, God chose Mary in her humble state, because her heart was right. Similar to how God chose king David for the same humble yet sincere reasons. God can use a sincere heart for great things, because it’s not about us, it’s about Him being able to work in our lives. That is the story of every great person in the bible. The people themselves are not great. Their obedience to the lord is what is great. And therefore, it is nothing but God himself that is great...And that my friends, is what worship is. That Is why the songs of the old testament praise God and not Jonah, Noah, David, Solomon, etc... Because it is GOD who works in everything, not us... It is GOD whom Mary was declaring in her song, and not herself or her wonderful people. We ought to do the same.

Lord, we want to praise you, for who you are, and all you have done. Your acts of love and grace that have brought us to this moment are un-measurable! We know we cannot list them all or even KNOW them all, so we thank you with what little knowledge we have. Lord we lift up our gratitude with sincere hearts, knowing that its not about us, or about anyone really. It’s all about you, and your love and your sacrifice. Without you God, we truly are nothing at all. Thank you... Amen.