My Soul Magnifies the Lord!
December 21, 2025
Scripture: Luke 1:46-56
Today, I want to briefly look at Mary’s statement after she had confirmed that she was going to give birth to the Messiah.
Mary said in verses 46, 47, My soul magnifies/glorifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.
Verse 46 echoes Psalm 34:2, 3, My soul will glory in the Lord. Her statement, my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, reflects Isaiah 61:10, I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in God.
Mary rejoices in the Lord, her Savior. Mary’s inner heart was one of worship and rejoicing in the Lord. This is the essence of true worship! Mary sets an example for us. For external worship, without the inner being, is shallow, superficial observance. Isaiah 29:13 states, The Lord says: These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught.
Worship begins with an attitude. It is the inner heart of adoring praise that is the essence of real worship.
Jesus said in John 4, God is a spirit and you are to worship Him in spirit and in truth (John 4:24). The true worshiper is the one whose heart is devoted to honoring God with total sincerity. The true worshiper has profound gratitude to God. It cannot be just showing up and going through the motions. Worship begins with an inner heart of praise!
Principle 1: Have a heart desiring to worship and rejoice in the Lord God Almighty!!!
Verse 48a states, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.
This statement reflects Psalm 136:23 and Hannah’s prayer in 1 Samuel 1:11. The word humble means lowly. Mary sees herself as being God’s unworthy servant. It refers to one’s inner character. Mary sets an example for us!
Then Mary states, verse 48b, 49, From now on all generations will call me blessed for the Mighty One has done great things for me- holy is His name.
Mary exults the Lord as she considers what the Lord has done in choosing her to be the mother of the Messiah. Now, let me say briefly. Mary does not say all generations will look to me to bless them. They will consider me blessed because of what I have received.
She gives praise as she says, holy is His name. Now, the Old Testament regularly referred to God’s name as Holy! For instance, Psalm 111:9 says, Holy and awesome is His name. His name refers to His person, the sum of His attributes.
Principle 2: See yourself as a humble servant of Almighty God! Remember/take to heart that it is all about Him, not you!
D. L. Moody said, Christ sends none away empty but those who are full of themselves.
Franz Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) was present at the Vienna Music Hall. His oratorio, The Creation, was being performed. Weakened by age, the great composer was confined to a wheelchair. As the majestic work moved along, the audience was caught up with tremendous emotion. When the passage "And there was light!" was reached, the chorus and orchestra burst forth in such power that the crowd could no longer restrain its enthusiasm. The vast assembly rose in spontaneous applause. Haydn struggled to stand and motioned for silence. With his hand pointed toward heaven, he said, "No, no, not from me, but from thence comes all!" Having given glory and praise to the Creator, he fell back into his chair exhausted. It is not about you or me; it is about HIM!
Since Mary has experienced God’s mercy and she then states verse 50, His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.
Here she notes a key principle for others to receive God’s mercy! It is a fear/reverence for the Lord. Her reference is likely from Psalm 103:17, But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting for those who fear Him, and His justice to the children’s children (NASB). (Also note Deuteronomy 5:10.)
Scripture repeatedly emphasizes the importance of having a fear, reverence, for the Lord.
For instance, Deuteronomy 10:12, 13, What does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, 13 and to observe the Lord’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?
It is when you have a fear of authority that you act the way you should, when your best self comes out. What happens when you fear the police officer is clocking your speed? You go the speed limit.
Listen, the fear of the Lord is a healthy, restraining fear and a motivational force in your life. People who fear the Lord do what he says because they love and appreciate Him.
Mary continues in verse 51, He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
Mary states that the Lord scatters those who are proud in their thinking. Pride is the worship of self. It is thinking that you are a little bit better than others. Pride is a heart attitude of self-sufficiency or doing it one’s own way.
James 4:6 says, God resists the proud, God gives grace to the humble.
Verse 52, He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.
In the Old Testament, there were many leaders and rulers who were dethroned because of pride. For instance, in Daniel 4, King Nebuchadnezzar became full of pride and God took his sanity for a period of time.
In contrast to bringing down those who are prideful, Mary notes the Lord lifts up the humble.
In Matthew 23:12, Jesus said to his disciples, But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.
Verse 53, He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.
God satisfies the spiritually hungry. Jesus said in Matthew 5:6, Blessed/happy are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. The prerequisite for being filled is to be hungry for righteousness. Righteousness is being in a right relationship with the Lord. One is right with the Lord as one believes and abides in the Lord Jesus!
Mary states the Lord gives good things to those who are hungry. Jesus stated in Matthew 7:11, If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him! The Lord gives good things such as the gift of salvation, the gift of the Holy Spirit, the gift of a fulfilled, purposeful life and the gift of friendship.
Principle 3: Fear/reverence the Lord! Be humble and hunger for Him! Do not be proud or pursue the riches of this world!
Listen, if you humble yourself, hunger for the Lord, you will experience His mercy. However, if you continue to go your own way, you will suffer the consequences.
Verses 54, 55, He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.
Mary states that God is faithful to His covenant promises! What God has promised, He will fulfill in His time. Mary believed that those old, old promises are now being fulfilled in herself. Mary is linking the promised birth of Jesus the Messiah to God’s covenant promise to Abraham. She is saying, “Lord, you are on the process of fulfilling what you promised to Abraham in Genesis 12, and 15, and 17, that through one of his seed all the nations of the world would be blessed. You are doing this here and now!
Mary knew the Lord fulfills his promises as she had a knowledge of God’s word. Throughout this hymn of praise, Mary references Old Testament verses. She knew a great deal about God’s attributes and mercy. She knew what God had done in the history of His people, and what He had promised to do in sending His Messiah.
The Lord is good for all those promises He has made! For instance, the promise of forgiveness by receiving and believing in Jesus Christ. The promise he will never leave us or forsake us. If one believes in the Lord Jesus Christ, one will not perish but have everlasting life.
In a small-town diner, there was a young couple having breakfast alone. When they were done and got the check, the husband got up and went up to the diner's register to pay. Then he went back to the booth, and then he did something rather odd. He picked up his wife and carried her through the diner. Why? Because she was crippled. As he carried her through the diner, the noise level slowly went down until you could almost hear a pin drop. Everyone's eyes were fastened on this young guy carrying his wife through the diner and on out the door. Then people watched as he somehow managed to open the door to his truck and tenderly set his wife inside. In that pregnant silence, with everyone's jaws hitting the ground and no one having a sense of what to say, a waitress broke the silence and said, "I guess he took his vows seriously."
God takes his promises seriously! We also should take his promises seriously!
Verse 56, Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.
Remember Luke 1:26 notes Gabriel came to Elizabeth when she was 6 months pregnant. So, Mary was with Elizabeth when John the Baptist was born. Mary was probably very encouraged staying with Elizabeth as she was an encourager and a mentor. Mary then returned home. She most likely was emotionally and spiritually prepared to face the difficulties of being pregnant out of wedlock.
We all need mentors in our life. I think this is especially true during a person’s teenage years. I have been extremely fortunate over the years for the various mentors in my life. I encourage you to develop as a mentor.
Principle 4: Learn God’s word and take to heart God’s promises. Have a mentor help you grow in Christ. Mentor a person grow in Christ.
Mary has matured from dealing with anxiety, a trial, as she hurried to Elizabeth’s, but now returning home confident in the Lord and His will. She was prepared to move forward!
At various times in life, we need to deal with the anxiety, the doubts, our selfishness, the various trials and move forward trusting in the Lord and His will!
Let’s pray.
