An Exposition

Luke 1:39-56: “Mary’s Song of Praise”

“Now at this time Mary arose and went with haste to the hill country to a city of Judah and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. It came about that when Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. She cried out with a loud voice and said, ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! How has it happened to me that the mother of my LORD should come to me? For behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoke to her by the LORD.’

“And Mary said, ‘My soul exalts the LORD, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior, for He has had regard for the humble state of His bond slave. For behold, from this time on all generations shall call me blessed. For the Mighty One has done great things for me, and Holy is His name. His mercy is upon generation after generation toward those who fear Him. 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. He has filled the hungry with good things and sent away the rich empty handed. He has given help to Israel His servant in remembrance of His mercy, as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and his offspring forever.’

“Then Mary stayed with her about three months and then returned to her home” (Luke 1:39-56, NASB).

Mary’s declaration of praise to the LORD shows her gratitude and amazement that she would be given the honor of being the vessel by through whom the Savior would come. Mary’s words are a song of pure devotion to the LORD for His mercy, grace, and protection. Words of praise and worship are not uncommon to God’s people in times of joy and distress. In His graciousness, God will impress upon us Scriptures or hymns that we have put to memory that we can turn to when the circumstances of life are often burdensome. As believers, we have the awesome honor to come before the throne of God and talk with Him as we would a dear and cherished friend or relation (Hebrews 4:14-16).

Mary begins her time of praise by referring to the joy of salvation she has found in the LORD (vv.46, 47). This declaration of praise shows her reliance on the promises of God to deliver her from her sins. Mary was a flesh and blood human born with a sin nature, as all of us are. She was a vessel used for the service of the LORD, but she knew she needed a Savior like everyone else. She is not now, nor ever has been, anyone worthy of worship. She is NOT a perpetual virgin, as presented in the last study. She does NOT grant favors from heaven and is NOT a co-redeemer.

None of the Roman Catholic accolades placed upon her by either tradition, church law, or papal decree have any Scriptural foundation. She is NOT to be worshipped or placed above the Lord Jesus Christ. She has NEVER provided salvation for anyone; and after the first chapter of the Acts of the Apostles where she is mentioned as being in the Upper Room among the 120 followers of Jesus, her name is never found in the Scriptures again. She served her purpose and relied on Jesus Christ to be her Lord and Savior just as much as anyone does today. She was blessed, not deified. Her mission was to be the instrument of what is referred to as the Incarnation, the divine arrival of Christ on Earth.

Mary continues her song of praise by declaring God’s greatness, holiness, and mercy (vv.49, 50). The Scriptures declare the mercy of God, eternal in scope (Psalm 105:17; 106:11), without bounds (Psalm 108:4; 115:1), prolongs life (Lamentations 3:22-23), it encourages the necessity of penitence (Joel 2:13), is able to render forgiveness for sin (Micah 7:18; Ephesians 2:4), and is able to save (Titus 3:5). She goes on to state that God’s strength is always present and that we are weak (vv.51, 52). God is the One to scatter the proud and weaken those who believe they are mighty. We are nothing without Him, and He is worthy of all our worship and praise.  She sings of those who rely on the LORD and downplays the wealth and self-interests of sinful men (v. 53).

It is the LORD who gives His children true spiritual fullness and contentment. He tells us to open our mouths for Him to fill it (Psalm 81:10). He prepares a table for us in times of distress (Psalm 23:5). He feeds and satisfies us (Isaiah 66:11), and provides the good pasture for His sheep (Ezekiel 34:14), and is ready to pour out blessings upon those who are seeking His forgiveness and restoration of a true relationship with Him (Malachi 3:10).

The conclusion of Mary’s song reminds us to remember God’s provision upon His people, along with His mercy, direction, grace, and rebuttal, all for the purpose of preparing them and the world for the arrival of the Messiah. Nowhere in these verses do we see any hint of self-importance or ego from Mary. She is totally devoted to the service of the LORD, and her song should be a model for us to follow in terms of submission and obedience to his will.

Elizabeth has blessed her, and the unborn John has leaped for joy, showing that life begins at conception and that the LORD allows us to be born for a purpose (Psalm 139). Now, after three months, Mary returns to Nazareth, obviously pregnant, and prepares herself for the next chapter in the redemptive drama, that being the arrival of her Child and the praise that would come from heaven afterward.

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This is probably the most important question you will ever ask someone in your lifetime. The Lord draws all men by His Spirit so they will contemplate eternity or question themselves whether or not there is a God in existence. Basically, we can say that God gets our attention at some point by speaking or an action to reveal his eternal presence.

Sometimes, that action is not under the best of circumstances, which causes you to call upon God to deliver you from your existing dilemma. Your eternal security decision rests with you and you alone. Some are totally apathetic and do not care in any way if there is “a God” or not. They want to live their life their way, no matter what.

God only gives each person so many opportunities to come to Him, and no one knows that number. If they continue to refuse the call, then He turns them over to their own reprobate mind. Read about this in the first chapter of Romans in the New Testament.

This dynamic theological question is coming from the book of Acts of the Bible where the Apostle Paul and his cohort Silas are imprisoned. The story line is true, of course, with no deep biblical concepts to understand and sort through. It’s a simple question asked in a dire time of need by a common person, the jailer, with a simple answer given. God was “getting his attention” dramatically in this instance that meant life or death in this extreme chaos presented.

This is the narrative of Paul which is on his Second Missionary Journey that is covered in the book of Acts (16:36-18:22) where he travels to 18 different provinces or regions throughout Asia Minor.

Paul and Barnabas had just had a dispute among themselves concerning John Mark, in leaving to go strengthen the churches there. Therefore, Barnabas ended up taking John Mark with him to Cyprus, and Paul choosing Silas to go with him.

While Paul and Silas were in the Asia region of their journey, they came across a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination. She was fortune-telling for her owners, making money for them in this scam, as we state it in today’s time. Note: God warns us about fortunetellers, spiritual mediums, and the likes in the Old Testament. Don’t get caught up in this demonic business. She was indwelled by a demonic spirit which Paul finally cast out.

When the owners found out about it, they took Paul and Silas to the local magistrates, who had them beaten and cast into prison. Their feet were put into stocks (leg irons) so they couldn’t escape; besides, they had a jailer guarding them.

At midnight, Paul and Silas are praying and singing praises to God, with the other prisoners hearing them. Suddenly, there is a great earthquake, the foundations of the prison shake, and immediately the prison doors are opened. Plus, all the prisoners’ bands were loosed. Then, the keeper or head of the guards wakes up and sees how the prisoners will probably escape. Bad news for the guard; back in those days, if that happened on a guard’s watch, they knew they would be killed. He draws out his sword to kill himself, but Paul cries out to him to stop.

Paul reassures the guard that all of the prisoners are still there. The guard calls for a light and comes in trembling to Paul and Silas, falling down. We don’t know what transpired, if anything, between Paul and the guard before this Divine interaction. He asks them:

Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

The guard knew the circumstances of Paul and Silas, along with their background of who they were. He might have known the story of Jesus and the “Christian Way” that the disciples were sharing. He knew somehow that what happened was done providentially, and God’s Spirit had touched his heart; he recognized Salvation coming to him at that instance. Being overcome with fear or joy, he simply asked them what he needed to do to become “saved.” Paul and Silas might have witnessed to him.

He didn’t need to know or state any impressive theological question about what it takes to become a child of God. In all his humility, he asked a simple question to them. That’s all you need to ask.

They respond in verse 31: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”  God alone knew about the guard’s family that is mentioned here, and I don’t; so I am not going to cover that.

Salvation is simple. All you have to do is call upon the Lord to save you. Just believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and surrender your life to him. The way things are now in these end times, it appears that the Lord’s return is imminent. Don’t put salvation off, because you don’t want to go through the Tribulation period. Believe me.

This is a simple narrative given here in the Holy Scriptures for everyone to see how plain and simple the free gift of Salvation is that secures a person’s eternity in Heaven. How glorious and wonderful that will be one day when we will be with our King. Jesus is Lord, and He is at the right hand of the Father right now waiting to come get us. No one knows the hour or day.

Matthew 24:42 “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.”

Matthew 24:44 “Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the son of man cometh.”

Study each word carefully in both of these two verses. We are so close, it seems, due to the now-present condition we are living in; don’t wait a second. Give yourself over to Jesus even now, right where you are. When Jesus comes, it will be in a millisecond.

I hope this has stirred you to the simplicity of the Gospel of Salvation which you will not pass up.

Blessings and Peace to you,

Clay Smith

Scripture is from the King James Bible.

All emphasis is mine.

Clay02789@att.net