Advent Day 11 - Mary's Prophecy

Luke 1

39 In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, 40 and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, 42 and she exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?44 For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord."

 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."

 56 And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home.

Check out all the attributes Mary used to describe God in her song. I think it's neat to think about where she learned all those attributes of God. You know she had to be familiar with Scripture, and it makes me wonder if any particular scriptures came to her mind as she was praising God.


Savior ("God my Savior")
Isaiah 43:2,3 - When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.


Mighty ("he who is mighty has done great things for me")
Psalm 77:14 - You are the God who works wonders; you have made known your might among the peoples.


Holy ("holy is his name")
Leviticus 19:2 - You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy.


Merciful ("his mercy is for those who fear him")
Exodus 34:6 - The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness . . .

Exodus 3:7 - Then the LORD said, "I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings, 8 and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey 

Judge ("he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty." )


Psalm 75:4,7 - Say to the boastful, 'Do not boast,' and to the wicked, 'Do not lift up your horn . . . for it is God who executes judgment, putting down one and lifting up another

Also, this is cool to think about: Mary says, "He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever." What was the mercy that he spoke to their fathers? It was his covenant with them. And what was his covenant? Genesis 12:3 - "In you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." That was ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Messiah, the son-to-be that had just been announced to Mary! :)

My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!