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Bible Notes - Tabernacle Commentaries
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Luke 1:46
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(Synoptics: Luke 1:46-56)Here we have two prophetesses praising God one after the other, with their prophecies mutually edifying one another. Mary’s song of praise is known as the Magnificat, a word which come from the Latin Vulgate rendering of this verse meaning ‘magnifies’. These are the words of Mary at the beginning of her pregnancy. She has heard the words of the angel Gabriel back in Nazareth (verse 30), and now she overflows with praise as she reflects on the greatness of her privilege, the goodness of God to his people, and the fulfilment of the promises given to the patriarchs long before. All this is connected with the child she carries in her womb. Her words are inspired by the Spirit of God and God superintended every word, but they are channelled through the style that is peculiar to her. She shows every sign of being an intelligent woman, but she could not have composed this on her own. This is the first Christian hymn in the New Testament, full of happiness, but also full of reverence. The prayer breathes humility, and such sophisticated praise. She praises God for his grace, his might, his mercy, his holiness and justice and faithfulness. It resembles Hannah’s prayer, but there are also strains of the psalms in it, and she shows how deeply versed she is in the psalms of old. It is remarkable theologically, and in its casting.‘My soul doth magnify the Lord.’ Acceptable praise is from the soul; external rituals and ceremonies on their own can never be enough. Praise is not something we work up by any technique; it comes spontaneously from within us as we gaze at the Lord, and reflect on what he has revealed about himself. God made every part of us: our thinking minds, the deepest feelings of our hearts, and our wills which obey him; these are the faculties of the soul. Every part of us must be involved in worship, not our emotions alone. We praise God because we appreciate him and all he has done. Mary was reflecting on God’s gift to her, and as she thought about it, the goodness of the Lord grew in her estimation and she found herself compelled to express it.
Application
Mary’s song has everything we need to know about Christ. You hear people talk of Christ and the incarnation, especially at Christmas time, and they are fumbling over every word. They say there is something in the message of Christmas for everyone. But not as Mary explained it. It is not about peace for all nations, and blessing upon the whole world.
She magnifies, makes large, the Lord. Maybe my thoughts are not large enough. I need to reflect more on what God has told me about himself. Mary’s song is full of intelligent reflection.
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