Page 19 - December 2025 - Truth & Tidings

person singular: He, His, Him. The center of “blessed” because of it.
her song is the Lord – His might, His holiness, A further note is needed on verses 51-53
His mercy, His greatness, His faithfulness. and the verbs used, all in the aorist tense. It
Taken together, then, her praise was firmly is possible that these are prophetic aorists,
grounded in Scripture and focused on the describing events linked with the Lord
majesty of her glorious Lord. What a lesson Jesus’ final victory. These coming events are
this is to us, who have been chosen to offer so certain that they can be portrayed as past
the sacrifices of praise to God continually realities (this occurs frequently in the Old
(Heb 13:15). Let us remember to keep our Testament prophets). This view would tie in
prayers and praises Scripture-centered and nicely with the covenant promises made in
God-focused. In doing so, we will indeed be verses 54-55. If so, Mary is confident that God
magnifying the Lord, enabling others to see will again manifest His power, overthrow the
how great He is. wicked and vindicate His people, but this
The Course of Her Song time by the actions of the Messiah she would
bring forth. Mary was confident of final and
Mary begins by speaking of what God complete victory. She likely did not see (nor
had done for her personally: “For he hath did Israel) that there would be two phases
regarded the low estate of his handmaiden of the Messiah’s coming, and that His first
… he that is mighty hath done to me great coming would not bring these promises to
things” (Luk 1:48-49). But she quickly pass. But she still believed there would “be
transitioned to speaking of what God had a performance of those things” God had
done for others and to others, referring to pledged (cf. v45). We believe it still!
“them that fear him,” “the proud,” “the
mighty,” “them of low degree,” “the hungry,” The Climax of Her Song
“the rich” and “his servant Israel” (vv50-54). Musicians will spend hours, maybe even
The expansion continued, for by mentioning days, working to get the proper ending for a
the promise made to Abraham in verse 55, song. We do not know how long it took Mary
the course of Mary’s song has moved from to compose her song, but it has a tremendous
an individual (herself) to a nation (Israel) to climax: “He has helped his servant Israel, in
all the nations of the earth (think Genesis 12:3 remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to
here – “In thee shall all families of the earth our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring
be blessed”). forever” (vv54-55 ESV). She does not mention
the Mosaic Covenant, which was conditional
The Confidence in Her Song and dependent upon the obedience of the
Mary not only praised God for His works nation. She referred to Abraham, likely
in the past but for what would happen in thinking of the unconditional covenant the
days to come. She looked into the future Lord made, promising him, among other
while exclaiming, “From henceforth all things, land, descendants and an offspring
generations shall call me blessed” (v48). which would bring blessing to all the nations
There was still no highchair in their kitchen of the earth. By mentioning Abraham and not
nor crib for Him to sleep in, but Mary was mentioning Moses or the Law, Mary exalted
confident that the child God promised them the grace of God as she brought her song to
would be born exactly as He had said, and a magnificent conclusion.
that all future generations would call her The last words of Mary’s Magnificat

371
TruthandTidings.com I December 2025 371