The Song Of Faith Series

Introduction

Commentator Tom Wright asks the following question: “What would make you celebrate wildly, without inhibition?”

He then offers several suggestions.

It could be the news that someone close to you who had been very sick was getting better and would soon be home.

It could be the news that your country had escaped from tyranny and oppression, and could look forward to a new time of freedom and prosperity.

It could be seeing that the floods, which had threatened your home, were going down again.

It could be the message that all your money or business worries had been sorted out, and you could relax.

It could be the telephone call to say that you had been appointed to the job you had always longed for.

Whatever it might be, you would do things you usually would not do.

You might dance round and round with a friend.

You might shout and throw your hat in the air.

You might phone everybody you can think of and invite them to a party.

You might sing a song.

You might even make one up as you went along—probably out of snatches of poems and songs you already knew, or perhaps by adding your own new words to a grand old hymn.

And if you lived in any culture where rhythm and beat mattered, it would be the sort of song you could clap your hands to, or stomp your feet on the ground.

“Now,” says Tom Wright, “read Mary’s song like that” (Tom Wright, Luke for Everyone [London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 2004], 13-14).

Mary’s song, the Magnificat, is an expression of enthusiastic, excited, and exuberant praise of God.

You may recall that after the angel Gabriel told Mary that she was going to conceive and bear the Son of God (Luke 1:31), he also told her that Elizabeth, her relative, had conceived a son and was in her sixth month of pregnancy (1:36).

So Mary arose and went with haste to visit Elizabeth (1:39).

The meeting between the two relatives was a time of great joy and celebration.

Elizabeth burst out singing the Benedicta, pronouncing blessing upon Mary, Jesus, and all who believe in Jesus.

Mary responded with equal joy and elation by singing the Magnificat.

The Magnificat is a song of praise to God.

Mary praised God for a number of his attributes.

Today I would like to study Mary’s song of praise, known as “The Magnificat.”

Luke gave us five nativity hymns. They are:

• Elizabeth’s Benedicta (1:42-45),

• Mary’s Magnificat (1:46-55),

• Zechariah’s Benedictus (1:68-79),

• the angels’ Gloria (2:14), and

• Simeon’s Nunc Dimittis(2:29-32).

The name for each of these nativity hymns comes from the first word in the Latin translation of the Bible.

Theologian R. C. Sproul said that “Mary’s song, the Magnificat, is one of the most important hymns in the history of the church” (R. C. Sproul, A Walk With God: An Exposition of Luke [Great Britain: Christian Focus Publications, 1999], 22).

And Bible commentator William Barclay wrote, “It has been said that religion is the opiate of the people; but it has also been said that the Magnificat is the most revolutionary document in the world” (William Barclay, The Gospel of Luke, The New Daily Study Bible [Louisville, KY; London: Westminster John Knox Press, 2001], 19).

These are strong words for a song that we do not know very well.

So, as I said, today we will learn about Mary’s Magnificat.

And then, Lord willing, we will close our Worship Service today by singing a version of the Magnificat.

Scripture

Let us read Luke 1:46-55:

46 And Mary said,

“My soul magnifies the Lord,

47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

48 for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.

For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;

49 for he who is mighty has done great things for me,

and holy is his name.

50 And his mercy is for those who fear him

from generation to generation.

51 He has shown strength with his arm;

he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;

52 he has brought down the mighty from their thrones

and exalted those of humble estate;

53 he has filled the hungry with good things,

and the rich he has sent away empty.

54 He has helped his servant Israel,

in remembrance of his mercy,

55 as he spoke to our fathers,

to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”

Lesson

Luke 1:46-55 shows us several ways in which every Christian should praise God.

Let’s use the following outline:

1. We Should Praise God for His Condescension (1:46-48)

2. We Should Praise God for His Holiness (1:49)

3. We Should Praise God for His Mercy (1:50)