One of my favorite things about the Christmas season is the
music. Some of my favorite Christmas tunes include O Holy Night, Sleigh ride,
and anything by the Tran-Siberian Orchestra. However, I’m not the only one who
enjoys carols and familiar musical phrases. The research shows that Christmas
music is a powerful force to be reckoned with as it is a multi-billion dollar a year industry!
One thing that many arrangers or recording artists have done
is provide compilations or medleys of several different songs that have already
been written. Whether it’s a medley of carols or a grouping of holiday
favorites, I always enjoy how arrangers use what has already been made
available or already written to create something new (with its own spin and
flavor). I had the privilege of singing such medley at the holiday pops along
with the symphony orchestra choir and an entire auditorium full of people just
the other day.
However, songs or groupings of songs used to commemorate a
season are not new. In fact, many might be unaware of the very first Christmas
song ever written. Though this first ever Christmas song is a single tune,
Mary’s Magnificat is also a compilation of previous melodies that existed in
the first century. Written by the Holy
Spirit and originally recorded by the virgin Mary, this song is a hymn of
praise and reflection that continues to inspire those who hear it today. Let us
look at its two profound verses in Luke 1:46-55.
I. VERSE #1: MARY’S PERSONAL PRAISE BALLAD-1:46-49
The very first Christmas song was
sung by a virgin girl who would one day give birth to Christ Himself. The word
“magnificat” is Latin for my soul magnifies and it comes from the first word
used in the Latin text of this passage. In this translation, the opening lines
read, “my soul exalts.” Mary begins this ancient hymn and most beautiful
Christmas melody with praise and adoration for the Lord God in Heaven. The
direction of her praise and adoration is to the Lord in whose eyes she had
found undeserved favor. While we have
already observed how she reacted to such grace with obedience (putting her
“yes” one the table), she now responds in praise and explodes in worship.
Such exaltation is witnessed in
Hannah’s song in 1 Sam. 2:1-10- “my heart exults in the Lord.” Interestingly,
she too had found favor with God by means of a miraculous conception and in
response chooses to praise the Lord.
It is important to understand
that although God had shown Mary grace by choosing her for this task, the result
of this journey, the completion of this task, would result in her own
salvation. In a very Jewish way, Mary had also waited for the Savior that she
now bore and would deliver. In essence, Mary was asked to be a small part in
the program of salvation by acting as the vessel through which the God-child
would come to earth. In this she rejoices in God who would save her through her
child saying, “and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior” (1:47). It is obvious by this personalization (“my
Savior”) that Mary saw herself as part of the godly remnant that had served the
Lord.
Hannah also understood how God
had saved her in spite of her barrenness by providing for her pregnancy. In her
prayer you read that she also rejoices in the salvation that God provided.
1 Samuel 2:1-“My heart
rejoices in the Lord; my horn is lifted up by the Lord. My mouth boasts over my
enemies, because I rejoice in Your salvation.”
One reason for Mary’s praise
ballad is the attention God gave to her humble situation. Luke cannot seem to shake the theme of
humility in the account of Jesus’ birth. This awesome and Mighty God took
notice of Mary’s humble state (a teenage girl from a small township in the
middle nowhere) and chose her for a most important task. Because of His unique
and surprising choice in this matter, Mary can help but to send praise His way,
“…For He has had regard for the humble state of His bond slave;…” (1:48a). The
only difference this reference to her humble obedience has with the one we
talked about last week is that she is now living out her obedience, not just
claiming it. She has made good on her answer and is living out her humble
commitment to God’s great scheme to bring Jesus to earth.
Have you
ever considered that only smaller birds sing in a pleasing way? You never hear
a note worth whistling from the eagle, nor admire the sound a turkey makes, nor
find the squawking of an ostrich pleasant to the ear. However, we love to
listen to the sophisticated tunes of the canary, the wren, and the lark. Similarly,
the sweetest music comes from those Christians who are small in their own
estimation.
Not only does Mary praise the
Lord because of His recognition of her in spite of her humility; but she also
understood the eternal implications of the child she bore and that she too
would be remembered for her humble
service in God’s incarnational program, “for behold, from this time on all
generations will count me blessed…”(1:48b). The small role she plays would be
remembered by all who know the Bible and appreciate her example of courageous
obedience. The opportunity to be a testimony of obedience is yet another reason
that she praises the Lord in the first verse of this song.
However, while some might be
tempted to venerate Mary herself. Mary is careful in her song to keep attention
where it should be--the Lord God. God and His mighty power is the third reason
she give Him praise, “for the Mighty One has done great things for me…” (1:49a).
Even in her song Mary expresses that she was undeserving of any credit or any
glory. Instead, she points all glory to the One who made her great because of
His grace. The great things God did in her life are the only source of her
goodness and that is the reason we see her praise the Lord in song, rather than
sing about herself.
Mary concludes her praise ballad
with a proclamation of God’s holiness—the fourth reason for her praise. Perhaps
God’s most over-arching quality, holiness describes His unique and separate
character that made everything transpire in both Mary’s life and in the world.
It was God’s holy and awesome will that put this program of salvation together
and now was pleased to bring Jesus to Earth. It is His holiness that authored
salvation in the first place and it was his holy wisdom that saw fit to extend
to Mary His grace and favor. For that reason Mary sings her humble praises.
Mary’s personal praise ballad is
a rubric that can be followed today. Just as Mary borrowed from Hannah’s Old
Testament hit, we can borrow form this song several principles to apply in our
lives. Taking from this song’s template so far, we must pick up the melody and
praise the Lord by our obedience in all things. Following Mary’s example, we
are compelled in this text to
glorify God for all of the good that He has given. When we do this, the melody
is beautiful.
II. VERSE #2: MARY’S REFLECTIVE REFRAIN-1:50-55
In this second verse of Mary’s
song, she borrows lyrics from several popular Psalms and makes a transition
from praise and toward reflection. First, Quoting from Psalm 103:17, Mary reflects
on God’s activity in Israel’s history in general and how this miraculous
conception in her life fits into a much larger story, “And His mercy is upon
generation after generation toward those who fear Him…” (1:50). Truly, the
entire story of the Old Testament that led up to this moment in Mary’s life was
characterized by rebellion and mercy. In rebellion man sinned in the garden and
God provided his mercy with the coverings of animal skin through a sacrifice.
In rebellion, mankind grew so wicked that God determined to annihilate mankind
in a flood and yet because of God’s mercy Noah and his family were saved. In
rebellion, mankind built a tower to God and they were confused in their
languages, forming all kinds of peoples and nations. In mercy, God chose
Abraham to start a new nation that would bless the world. In rebellion, the
nation God chose was disobedient and as a result was displaced and thrown into
slavery. In God’s mercy Moses was raised and led his people to the Promised
Land. In rebellion, God’s people demanded a king when they were supposed to
follow Him. In God’s mercy he provides King David (albeit after Saul). In
rebellion God’s people turn toward idols and are thrown into exile. In God’s
mercy, He returns them to the land and rebuilds their city, their temple, and
its walls. The entire Old Testament is a testimony of the incredible mercy of
God. Most recently for Mary, God has been silent for 100s of years silence
because of man’s rebellion; but now in this single act, He breaks that silence
in a big way and shows Israel, once again, His incredible mercy by sending His
son.
Along with God’s mercy as
demonstrated in the Old Testament, Mary reflects on God’s mighty deeds—floods,
fires, healing, victory, etc. “…He has done mighty deeds with His arm; He has
scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their heart, He has brought down rulers from their
thrones, and has exalted those who were humble…”(1:51-52). Each mighty act
showed favor to the humble and judged the proud. Fires or floods were sent to
scatter or destroy those who had become too proud to worship the one true God
(Proverbs 8:13-The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; pride and arrogance and
the evil way and the perverse mouth I hate). Defeat was handed to those nations
who were haughty in the face of Israel. Even for Israel herself, pride led to
exile, destruction, and defeat (cf. Amos 6:8-The lord God has sworn by Himself,
the Lord God of hosts says: “I abhor the pride of Jacob, and hate his palaces,
therefore I will deliver up the city and all that is in it”). However, when
returned to her correct state of humility, Israel was blessed, protected, and
provided for. Victory and promise is given to the humble. Reflecting on this
principle for Israel, Mary realizes that because of her humility, she was able
to experience her own mighty act of God.
Quoting from another song (Psalm
107:9), Mary also reflects on God’s unique provision in response to man’s
desperate need “…he has filled the hungry with good things; and sent away the
rich empty -handed” (1:53). It is clear when one looks at this Psalm (Psalm
107:5-6-“they were hungry and thirsty their soul fainted within them. Then they
cried out to the Lord in their trouble…”), that Mary is not condemning the
rich, but rather a failure to recognize dependency on the Lord for all things.
This line in her reflective refrain reveals that those who recognize their
hunger before the Lord are filled; however, those who already think they have
it all will be sent away with nothing. Mary recognizes this throughout Israel’s
history and in her own life as well. In no way did she pretend to have it all
and not need God. In her own mind, she understood that God’s grace had filled
her and her life with good things because of her dependency on Him. That was
something to sing about.
So What?
With that, Mary’s compilation of
Old Testament hits is complete. Having borrowed from Hannah’s timeless hit and
a couple of noteworthy tunes from the Psalms, Mary was able to create something
new for the first ever Christmas season. Both her personal praise ballad and
reflective refrain sing of God’s greatness, mercy, and sovereign purpose in the
world to bring about redemption to mankind. First, Mary’s personal praise reveals
that this experience was one that brought much joy and wonder to her life. She
recognized that her humility had been awarded with this opportunity to shine
brightly for the Lord. After praising God for this she reflects on how God has
done similar wonders in the life of her people. He extended mercy to Israel
following prideful rebellion, had done mighty acts, and would continue to see
the promises He had made fulfilled.
These verses teach us that God is
eager to bless the humble with greatness and desires to perform the miraculous
with the lowly. It is when we grow proud or arrogant that God decides we are
useless (just as He demonstrated in the flood and in exiling His nation).
Mary’s humility was an opportunity for God to use her. Israel’s humility led to
incredible victory. Your humility before the Lord today is also an opportunity
for God to use you in extraordinary ways. The more unlikely you may feel it is
for God to use you, the more likely it is that God wants to glorify Himself
through your life. The less you feel you have to offer, the more God will have
to come through when you throw yourself out there. This Christmas, humble
yourself before the Lord in order that He might shine brightly in your life.
Recognize that your humble state, my humble state, and the humble state of this
church is not an obstacle we are having to fight against. Instead, it is an
opportunity we have for God to shine in ways other people or places who fail to
realize this cannot.
This song also outlines how we should
respond when God uses us. Like Mary, we are always to give God the credit and
praise His holy Name. Who do you praise? Who gets the credit for what takes
place in your life? Choose this Christmas to sing a new song in place of the
selfish tunes we are prone to belt.
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