“Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill His promises to her” (Luke 1:45).
How can we make the holidays holy days? One way is to join our praises to those of Mary, the mother of Jesus. While visiting her miraculously, pregnant cousin Elizabeth, the rejoicing spirit of a newly pregnant Mary, cried out praise known as The Magnificat. This ancient song, found in the Old Testament, was traditionally sung or chanted by boys. However, on this day, Mary, full of joy at the wonder that she would give birth to the Messiah, either said or sang these beautiful words. You can find her story in Luke 1:26-56.
The Harp with Ten Strings
Charles Spurgeon, a great British preacher of the early twentieth century, said that The Magnificat, a celebration of God’s faithfulness and power, is like a “harp with ten strings” because of the ten reasons to rejoice contained within these Old Testament praises that poured out from Mary’s rejoicing heart. Are you ready for the music of these ten strings?
- God is my joy. {Luke 1:46 NIV} And Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord.
~ Mary had profound reasons to praise God. She was joyful, having settled confidence that God is who He says He is and can do what He says He can do.
- Jesus is God. {Luke 1:47 NIV} and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.
~ Mary recognized that this life growing within her was “Immanuel,” God with us and mighty to save. Jesus would one day say, “Before Abraham was, I am (John 8:58).
- God bends low. {Luke 1:48 NIV} for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.
~Mary was amazed and thrilled that God was coming down to put on humanity’s skin to save us. She saw God stooping down to deliver those who were willing from the clutches of death.
- God is good. From now on, all generations will call me blessed,
~ Mary remembered God calling Himself “good” in Exodus 33:19, and she praised Him for His goodness toward her, recognizing His compassion, love, mercy, patience, and power.
- God’s grace is holy. {Luke 1:49 NIV} for the Mighty One has done great things for me– holy is his name.
~ Mary celebrated a pure and sinless God offering His undeserved favor to sinful humanity. His “great things” included cleansing, forgiving, and giving us a way to come to His “throne of grace” to receive love, healing, hope, and peace.
- God is merciful. {Luke 1:50 NIV} His mercy extends to those who fear him.
~ Mary praised a strong but tender God who comes to us as a compassionate priest, remembering “that we are dust” (Psalm 103:14).
- God does not change. from generation to generation.
~ Mary praised God for never changing. He is not subject to bad moods or difficult times. He never lies; He is always a reliable protector and keeper of promises.
- God is powerful. {Luke 1:51 NIV} He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
~ Mary knew the power of reciting the specific times in which God had shown His wonder-working ability. God’s resume is a faith-builder because what He has done in the past can do now and in the future.
- God is the boss. He has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. {Luke 1:52-55 NIV} 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.
~Mary yielded to God as a trustworthy king, believing that His will for her was good. She let God be the judge and rule-maker, which freed her to experience fulfillment in the new adventure He had for her.
- God is faithful. “He has helped his servant Israel,remembering to be merciful {Luke 1:55 NIV} to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.”
~ Mary trusted that God would carry His plan for our salvation and the defeat of death all the way to completion! She trusted Him never to abandon His good plan for her.
What is your favorite string in Mary’s harp? Perhaps you might enjoy meditating on these ten big ideas as you move through this holiday season and add your praises to those of Mary.
Prayer:
Lord, I praise You and thank You for coming down to be with us so that death would no longer defeat us and our mistakes would no longer define us. You are a faithful, strong, good God and the source of my joy. You make the holidays holy days. Help me to play my own harp of ten strings as I praise You. Amen.
Grow Anyway 