Question

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MY SOUL PRAISES THE LORD 

(The Song of Mary)

 

Luke 1:39-56

Key Verses: 1:46,47

1.  What did Mary do in the time of the crisis brought about by her acceptance of God's mission to bear the baby Jesus? Why is it important to remember God's word in time of crisis?

2.  In what respects was Mary's visit to Elizabeth an act of faith? How did Elizabeth counsel and encourage her? What can we learn from Mary? From Elizabeth?

3.  Read verses 46-47. Why did Elizabeth's blessing evoke such praise of God? Such personal joy? Read verses 48-49. Why does God's calling bring joy even if it involves much suffering?

4.  Read verses 49-50. What does Mary say about God himself? To whom does God's mercy extend? How has God shown mercy to you?

5.  Read verses 51-53. What does Mary teach about God's justice and mercy? What can we learn here about the principle of God's history? About God's faithfulness to keep his promises? (54-56) Why are those who obey God truly happy?

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Attachment

• MY SOUL PRAISES THE LORD-questions.doc

Message

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THE SONG OF MARY

Luke 1:39-56

Key Verses: 1:46,47 “And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.”

  Greetings! Today’s passage consists of two stories; first, Mary’s visit to Elizabeth; and second, Mary’s songs of praise. Through Mary’s visit to Elizabeth we learn the importance of spiritual counseling at crucial times. Through Mary’s song we learn why she sang songs of praise and who God really is. Like Mary, I pray that we all may glorify God the Father and rejoices in Jesus Christ our Savior, especially in this Christmas season. Amen.

First, Mary’s visit Elizabeth (39-45)  It is Christmas season, one of the most wonderful times of the year. In this joyous season, visiting our beloved family members, friends, and neighbors always makes hearts excited and delighted. When we hear some encouraging words from them, our joy becomes double. Last week, I visited one of my neighbors in order to invite her to our Christmas worship service. She welcomed me with a big smile. Even before I mentioned the Christmas worship service, she asked about the service and promised to join us. I was so encouraged by her warm welcome and willing participation. Thus, visiting others with good news makes our heart joyful and our moving feet light.

  However, in today’s passage Mary’s visit Elizabeth did not start this way. Mary’s heart was full of confusion and fear. Her footsteps toward Elizabeth’s house were heavy. As we know, Mary was a virgin pledged to be married to Joseph. She was waiting for her wedding day in her house with sweet honeymoon dreams. However, one day the angel visited her and delivered God’s message that she had found favor with God and that she would conceive and give birth to a son and give him the name Jesus. The angel’s sudden visit and greetings made Mary’s heart anxious and turbulent. What made her more surprised was that the baby she would deliver would be the Son of God and the Savior of the world. Mary wondered how this might happen since she was a virgin. The angel continued to deliver God’s message that she would conceive by the power of the Holy Spirit and that nothing is impossible with God. The angel also helped Mary to remember Elizabeth, a relative of hers who was childless, but had became pregnant in her old age. (1:36) What was Mary’s response to the angel’s message? Mary answered, “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me as you have said.” (38) Then, the angel left her.

  After the angel visited her, what was Mary supposed to do? First of all, she could have met Joseph, her fiancé, and discussed with him what happened to her.  She could have made many excuses to defend herself and persuaded Joseph to believe her innocence. Then she could have visited her parents for human sympathy. However, she did not do this. Instead she remembered the angel’s message and decided to visit Elizabeth for counsel. Mary accepted all the things that happened to her as the work of God. She saw them with a godly viewpoint. So Mary decided to visit Elizabeth to find out her opinion.

  However, it was not easy for Mary to travel Elizabeth’s house. From Nazareth in Galilee to Elizabeth’s home in Judea would have taken Mary several days to travel on foot. She had to risk her life in unfavorable circumstances. She also might have been wondering if Elizabeth could understand her situation - how could a virgin conceive without having any relationship with a man?  Despite all these obstacles, Mary set out to see Elizabeth. Mary’s visit Elizabeth was an act of faith. It was also an expression of her obedience to the will of God.

  How did Elizabeth welcome Mary? Look at verses 41-45. “When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished.” It is amazing that Elizabeth already knew why Mary was visiting her and who the baby Mary would deliver was even before Mary mentioned it. We wonder how Mary’s greeting was linked to the baby’s leaping in Elizabeth’s womb. But there is no doubt that it was the work of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit inspired Elizabeth to know who the baby was in Mary’s womb. The Holy Spirit moved the baby in Elizabeth’s womb to leap for joy.

Elizabeth’s blessing to Mary had two reasons. First, Mary was blessed because of the baby in her womb. Elizabeth called Mary the mother of my Lord. Elizabeth knew that the baby Mary would deliver is the Messiah, the Savior of the world. Second, Mary was blessed because of her faith in God’s word. Mary believed that what the Lord had said to her would be accomplished. Indeed, blessed are those who believe that nothing is impossible with God. By blessing Mary, Elizabeth confirmed the angel’s message.  By blessing Mary Elizabeth prepared the spiritual environment for the birth of the Messiah.

  Here we learn the importance of counseling from God’s people. James 1:5 says “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God…” In the Old Testament, when Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, was asked to join the battle with the king of Israel against Aram, the king said, “First seek the counsel of the Lord.” (1 Ki 22:5) We must seek God first. We must seek the help of the Holy Spirit. Jesus called the Holy Spirit ‘another counselor” (Jn 14:16). When we pray, the Holy Spirit will guide us and answer our prayer. (Ro 8:26,27) So if you are not sure of what you believe, seek counseling from godly people such as your church pastor, elders, senior co-workers, Bible teachers, and so on. Before Mary visited Elizabeth, she was filled with fear and confusion. But after hearing Elizabeth’s counseling, Mary was greatly released from fear, anxiety and was assured that her pregnancy was the divine work of God. Elizabeth’s godly counseling made Mary alive and her mission possible. Elizabeth’s spiritual counseling made an environment for raising the mother of Jesus.

Second, the song of Mary (46-56) When Mary was convinced that God was working in her life, she burst into songs of praise. Look at verses 46,47. “And Mary said: ‘My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior…” Mary’s songs of praise did not come from her feelings, but from deep in her soul. Such praise came when she met the Creator God personally. When Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, she must have been joyful.  She enjoyed the dream of a sweet marriage. However, this kind of joy is an emotional and temporal one. Such a joy has no guarantee after marriage. But, when Mary’s heart was moved by God’s message through the angel, and she came to know that Jesus is great because he is the Son of God, her soul rejoiced even though she had to pay the cost of being the mother of Jesus. Mary’s soul rejoiced when she came to know that the kingdom of God is forever. Mary’s soul rejoiced when she came to know that her God is mighty and also merciful. Some say that the heart is the door to the soul. Her soul praised God when she had God in her heart.

  No matter how difficult our life of faith may be, as long as we have God in our heart, we are happy. No matter who we are and what we do, as long as we do it all for the glory of God, we are indeed blessed. Our God is the source of joy and life. Serving God is the purpose of our life. What is the first question of the Westminster Confession of Faith? What is the chief end of man? Man’s chief end is to glorify God and enjoy him forever. When we glorify God and serve Him whole-heartedly, our life is joyful and meaningful. Preparing our Christmas worship service is costly. It requires our sacrifice and devotion. Sometimes it is burdensome. Strangely however, we are joyful when we practice our chorus, drama, and dancing whole-heartedly. When we serve God and love Him with all our heart, with all our soul and with all our strength, we are happy indeed. Mary knew the consequences of bearing the baby as a virgin. She was well aware of the cost of being the mother of the Messiah. However, when she had Jesus in her heart and participated in the work of God’s salvation, her heart burst into songs of praise.

  Let us see how Mary praised God in her song. First of all, she praised God who has been mindful of her. Look at verses 48-50. “for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty one has done great things for me- holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. ” Mary knew well that she was nothing but a poor and humble country girl. She had no reason for God’s favor. She wondered why God’s eyes had fallen on her, and why God favored her. Mary was happy when she realized that God chose her. When we appreciate God’s personal favor for each of us, we cannot but praise his mindfulness. Before David became the King of Israel, he was a shepherd boy, the youngest son among seven brothers from the smallest clan in the smallest town of Judea. But God favored David and raised him to be a king. David appreciated God’s favor. So David always feared God and struggled to please Him. Those who know God’s favor and grace become humble. They are always thankful to God who has been mindful of their humble state.

  Mary also praised God who is mighty. Look at verses 50-53. “He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled with the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.” Here ‘arm’ means ‘power’. God had performed mighty deeds with his power. With his mighty power, God opened the Red Sea and let his people cross it as on dry land. With his power, God provided manna for his people for forty years while they were living in the desert. With his mighty power, God flattened the walls of Jericho so that his people could conquer the promised land. Mary knew that God would accomplish what he had promised her through the angel’s message. Mary was joyful when she realized that the great work of God was being carried out in her life. She glorified the Mighty God who delivered his people from the hand of their enemies through Jesus Christ the baby she had conceived. She was happy to believe that nothing is impossible with God.

  Lastly Mary praised God who is faithful. Look at verses 54-55. “He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, even as he said to our fathers.” God called Abraham and made a covenant with him that all peoples on earth would be blessed through him. This meant that God would send the Messiah, the Savior of the world through Abraham’s descendant. Since then, almost three thousand years have passed. People thought that God had forgotten his covenant with Abraham. They thought that their unfaithfulness toward God caused their suffering and death. But, man’s unfaithfulness does not nullify God’s faithfulness. As he had promised, God sent the Messiah from the seed of Abraham through the Virgin Mary. The Bible says that faithfulness and love go in hand and hand (Ps 85:10). God who has been faithful to keep his promise loves us very much. Jesus said, “For God so loved the world that he gave his One and Only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” (Jn 3:16) It is amazing that such a humble and poor country girl as Mary had the sense of God’s history to see the work of God with her spiritual eyes. Mary was so joyful when she thought about the faithfulness of God. She sang songs of praise from her deep soul due to God’s sincere love and unchanging faithfulness.

  We are all highly favored. I mean that we are specially chosen by God to believe his promises and to participate in the work of God in this generation. Our God is so merciful and mindful that he provides all necessary things for us to carry out God’s mission on this earth. We don’t deserve God’s favor, but God loves us and cares us just as missionary Dream Lim cares for her daughter Victoria. Our God is also a mighty God. We frequently face our limitations.  But our God will do as he has promised. He will deliver us from the hand of our enemy Satan. He will open the door for us and provide a way-out in times of trouble.  Above all, he will save us from our sins and bring us into his kingdom for eternal life. Nothing is impossible with God. We are unfaithful. But God’s faithfulness will accomplish through us what he has promised us despite our unfaithfulness.

  Today we learned why Mary sang songs of praise. She glorified the Lord who had been so mindful of her. Mary praised the Lord who accomplished with his mighty hand what he had promised to her. She was joyful and thankful of the faithfulness of God who had kept his promise with his servant Abraham. In this delightful Christmas season, our soul glorifies the Lord when we have Jesus in our hearts. Let us pray that our spirit may rejoice in God our Savior Jesus Christ. Let us get rid of all elements of darkness, sinful desire, and negative thinking and accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior and worship Him whole-heartedly and sacrificially. Thank God who sent Jesus Christ as Immanuel God to be with us and to save us. Amen.

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Attachment

• THE SONG OF MARY[1]-final.doc