Lk1:46-55 Rejoice in the Mighty Saviour

# Rejoice in the Mighty Saviour
## Luke 1:46-55
[John Towner](https://unsplash.com/photos/JgOeRuGD_Y4 "caption")

>>>

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# Have I felt **forgotten** by God?

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## Prelude to Christ's Birth
+ Annunciation of **John** [(1:5-25)](# "ref")
+ Annunciation of **Jesus** [(1:26-38)](# "ref")
+ **Magnificat** of Mary [(1:39-56)](# "ref")
+ Birth of **John** [(1:57-80)](# "ref")

[Iswanto Arif](https://unsplash.com/photos/KXtMGheovdw "caption")

>>>
+ Angel Gab to **Zech**:
  + make **ready** for Lord
  + a people prepared
+ Gab to **Mary**:
  + holy, son of God
+ Mary visit **Liz**:
  + John **leaps** in womb
+ in **response**, Mary,
  + young woman swept up in
  + confounding, momentus events
+ spoke this powerful, poignant **poem**

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## Magnificat of Mary
1. He **Sees** Us [(v46-48)](# "ref")
1. He **Works** in Us [(v48-50)](# "ref")
1. He **Scatters** the Proud [(v51-53)](# "ref")
1. He **Remembers** Mercy [(v54-55)](# "ref")

>>>
+ Focus not on **eloquence** of Mary, 
  + but wisdom of **HS**
+ We think of Mary as **meek**, passive
  + but she was not **oblivious**
+ Knew significance + **chose** to obey
  + submit whole life + **body**
+ **Advent**: waiting for the Christ

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

[Luke 1:47 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Gabby Orcutt](https://unsplash.com/photos/9mzGpUpqUpw "caption")

>>>
+ Heb **couplets**: rhyming ideas
  + soul + spirit: **whole** essence
+ **rejoice**: leap, happy (John in womb)
  + not **hype**, hysteria
  + **response** to what God has done
+ **Why** rejoice?
+ Sentence **continues**
  + beyond couplet ("enjambment")

---

for he has **looked** on 
the **humble** estate of his servant.

[Luke 1:48a (ESV)](# "ref")
[Alex Jones](https://unsplash.com/photos/p0W9Q9gei4g "caption")

>>>
+ Mary can call God **her** Saviour
  + bc he has **seen** her state
+ "humble estate": **lowness**,
  + frailty, weakness
+ Mary from no special town/family
+ also state of **people** of God
  + conquered **multiple** times
+ under authoritarian rule of **Rome**
  + rebellion **tried** + failed
+ political leaders **cruel**
  + religious leaders **selfish**
+ Psalmist **cries out** in Ps94:

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O Lord, **how long** shall the wicked, 
how long shall the wicked **exult**?

They kill the **widow** and the **sojourner**, 
and murder the **fatherless**;

and they say, “The Lord does not **see**; 
the God of Jacob does not **perceive**.”

[Psalm 94:3,6-7 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Silverthorne, CO. Nathan Anderson](https://unsplash.com/photos/mKA3VavSuaI "caption")

>>>
+ Does God **see**?  Does He **care**?
+ When it feels like God is **absent**
  + **evil** + violence flourishes
  + as in our world **today**
+ 420yrs since Malachi
  + several **generations**!
+ Direct **revelation** of God but
  + a distant **memory**, myth
  + **fairy tale** to comfort children
+ Born, **grow up**, live in corrupt world,
  + grow old, die
  + all w/o **hearing** from God
+ What happens when God is **silent**?

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Where there is no prophetic **vision** 
the people cast off **restraint**,

but blessed is he who **keeps the law**.

[Proverbs 29:18 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Aaron Burden](https://unsplash.com/photos/1EbsMYrAu-s "caption")

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+ "vision": not corp plan but 
  + **God's** plan revealed to us
+ Society starts to **fall apart**
  + "the people **perish**"
+ lose social **cohesion**:
  + tribalism, **nationalism**, strife
+ But we: **keep** God's law:
  + read, remember, treasure
  + obey, uphold
+ This is what **Mary** did:
  + continued to be His **servant**
+ She'd have remembered **Hagar**:

---

So she called the name 
of the Lord who spoke to her, 
“You are a **God of seeing**,”

for she said, “Truly here 
I have seen him who **looks after** me.”

[Genesis 16:13 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Egypt. Mariam Soliman](https://unsplash.com/photos/Ht5XmeuLyDg "caption")

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+ when **fleeing** mistreatment
  + by her mistress Sarah
+ desperate, w/o resources
+ Angel of God **met** her
+ El-roi: the God who **sees**
+ Mary: God has **looked** on
  + humble estate of servant

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# Does God **see** our despair?

>>>
+ God **sees** + cares
+ Do not **despair** at corruption
  + Do not be **envious** of wicked
+ **Keep** God's Word
  + **wait** for God's plan

---

## Magnificat of Mary
1. He Sees Us [(v46-48)](# "ref")
1. **He Works in Us** [(v48-50)](# "ref")
1. He Scatters the Proud [(v51-53)](# "ref")
1. He Remembers Mercy [(v54-55)](# "ref")

>>>
+ Not that God's plan would be **easy**:
  + Hagar: sent back to Sarah
  + Mary: social stigma, rl fiancee
+ Recognised **history**-making
  + significance of this baby
  + split BC/AD

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For behold, from now on 
all generations will call me **blessed**;

for he who is **mighty** 
has done **great** things for me,

[Luke 1:48b-49a (ESV)](# "ref")
[Reine, Norway. Jonas Geschke](https://unsplash.com/photos/qqHJkcP1HjI "caption")

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+ not bc **Mary's** piety, humility, purity
+ but **God's** mighty power
  + displayed in her life
+ Great things **in** (or to) me
  + not **following** my orders
+ Executing **His** wondrous plan
  + We're just **caught up** in it!
+ Addresses Him as **Mighty One**
  + enjambment flows into next couplet:

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and **holy** is his name, 
And his **mercy** is for those who **fear** him 
from generation to generation.

[Luke 1:49b-50 (ESV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ **Characteristics** of God:
  + mighty, holy, merciful
+ Justice + mercy
+ Rl w/us: those who **fear** Him
  + God's power, glory, holiness
  + Our awe, humility, obedience
+ Parallel of "all **gens**"
  + 48b: recog God's **blessing**
  + 50: pass on **fear** of Lord
  + 55: **promises** to all gens
  + who have **faith** of Abr in Chr

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# How have I seen God's **might** and **mercy** in my life?

>>>
+ Will I pass on **fear** of Lord
  + to next gen?
+ That they may see the **mercy** of God
+ In what **way** does God show **might**?

---

## Magnificat of Mary
1. He Sees Us [(v46-48)](# "ref")
1. He Works in Us [(v48-50)](# "ref")
1. **He Scatters the Proud** [(v51-53)](# "ref")
1. He Remembers Mercy [(v54-55)](# "ref")

>>>
+ Parallel 49a + 51:
  + done **great** things in me
  + done **mighty** things in arm

---

He has shown **strength** with his arm;

he has scattered the **proud** 
in the thoughts of their hearts;

[Luke 1:51 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Chris Lawton](https://unsplash.com/photos/6tfO1M8_gas "caption")

>>>
+ Lord's arm is not too **short** to save
+ "proud": **show beyond** warranted
  + have a **little**, think worth a lot
+ "thoughts": **attitude**, way of think
  + "heart": not seat of **emotions**
  + core **being**: values, priorities
+ Not just **outward** boasting, but
  + inner being truly **believes**
+ influence, possess. give them **value**
+ What does God **do** to such people?
  + "scatter": disperse, toss in disarray
  + like **confetti** in the wind
+ These **proud** in heart are addressed
  + Two **couplets** of contrast:

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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**.

[Luke 1:52-53 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Sarah Penney](https://unsplash.com/photos/-6nDec_KT7U "caption")

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+ **high** to low, **full** to empty
+ "mighty": kings, w/auth + **power** (dynasty)
  + "humble" (v48 servant): **low**
+ "rich": **full**, abundance
  + "hungry": not just for **blessings**
+ filled w/ that which is **good**
  + as Jesus, in ministry:

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Blessed are you who are **hungry** now, 
for you shall be **satisfied**

Woe to you who are **full** now, 
for you shall be **hungry**

[Luke 6:21,25 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Neven Krcmarek, Popovec, Croatia](https://unsplash.com/photos/M4KpA7NC-l0 "caption")

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+ not just **wishful** thinking
  + **telling** us what will happen
+ God **displays** strength of His arm
  + accomplish what **man** cannot

he has **filled** the hungry with good things, 
and the rich he has sent away **empty**.

[Luke 1:52-53 (ESV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ Urban **myth**: Magnificat **banned** in 
  + Guatemala and Argentina
+ but message of **upending** social hier
  + oft-quoted by **revolutionaries**
  + "eat the rich"
+ Missing the key: **who** does it?
  + Not the **rebels**
  + not even the **people** of God
+ but **God** in His own plan:

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For Jews demand **signs** 
and Greeks seek **wisdom**,

but we preach Christ **crucified**, 
a **stumbling block** to Jews and **folly** to Gentiles,

but to those who are **called**, 
both Jews and Greeks, 
Christ the **power** of God and the **wisdom** of God

[1 Corinthians 1:22-24 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Lac d'Anterne, France.  Hugues de Buyer-Mimeure](https://unsplash.com/photos/-wT0iS-TSZM "caption")

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+ if looking for **power**:
  + Christ on the **cross**
  + seems like **weakness**
+ if looking for **wisdom**:
  + leading by **dying**
  + seems like **nonsensical**
+ But when God **calls** us,
  + He grants power to **respond**
+ recog **power** + **wisdom** in cross:
  + ultimate demonstration of
  + justice + mercy

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# How has God displayed His **power**?

>>>
+ prev Q: might + mercy in my life
+ e.g., answer to prayer, healing
  + enable me to achieve my goals
+ Not that God doesn't **care** abt that
  + But we think too **small**
+ **Short-term** goals: what about
  + **next** illness, job, rl?
+ Lack of **faith**, put God in **box**
+ Mary recog God's **power** in
  + upending status quo
  + reorienting world history
+ Christ did it by **humbling** himself
  + **emptying** himself

---

## Magnificat of Mary
1. He Sees Us [(v46-48)](# "ref")
1. He Works in Us [(v48-50)](# "ref")
1. He Scatters the Proud [(v51-53)](# "ref")
1. **He Remembers Mercy** [(v54-55)](# "ref")

>>>
+ God does see our **struggles**
  + **injustice** in the world
+ Has **acted** and is **acting** 
  + Taking us along for the **ride**
+ Those who think themselves **wise**
  + or **powerful**
+ God can just wipe away
+ And He **intervenes** in our lives

---
## Actions of God [(Lk 1:46-55)](# "ref")
+ **Looked** on our lowness [(v48)](# "ref")
  + **Done** great things in us [(v49)](# "ref")
+ **Done** mighty things with His arm [(v51)](# "ref")
  + **Scattered** the proud [(v51)](# "ref")
+ **Brought down** / exalted [(v52)](# "ref")
  + **Emptied** / filled [(v53)](# "ref")
+ **Helped** + spoken [(v54-55)](# "ref")

>>>
+ Move from God's **power**
  + and **judgment**
+ to His **compassion**
  + and **relationship** w/us

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He has **helped** his servant Israel, 
in **remembrance** of his mercy,

[Luke 1:55 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Geetanjal Khanna](https://unsplash.com/photos/8CwoHpZe3qE "caption")

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+ Helper is not **subordinate**
  + we are **weak**, need help
  + God is **strong**, able to help
+ "servant": not slave, but
  + **dependent** on God, as little child
+ Amid God's righteous **judgment**
  + Upending **power** structures of world
+ When His hand is **heavy** upon us
  + He **remembers** mercy

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O Lord, I have **heard** the report of you, 
and your work, O Lord, do I **fear**.

In the midst of the years **revive** it; 
in the midst of the years make it **known**;

in **wrath** remember **mercy**.

[Habakkuk 3:2 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Łukasz Łada](https://unsplash.com/photos/q7z-AUlHPaw "caption")

>>>
+ **Hab**, under violent corruption of Assyrians
  + God's impending **judgment** via Babylon
+ Prayer in last ch
+ God **remembers** to show mercy to us

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as he spoke to our **fathers**, 
to Abraham and to his **offspring** forever.

[Luke 1:55 (ESV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ through Abr's **seed** (sing.)
  + all nations will be **blessed**
+ God's **promises** to prev **gen** long ago:
  + 420yr since Mal, 1800yr since Abr
  + we may **forget**, but He doesn't
+ His **blessing** + **mercy** are
  + from **gen** to gen forever

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# How can I better **remember** God's promises?

>>>
+ God's **Word**: read, memorise
+ God's **works**: study history, science
  + hear **stories** from prev gen
+ Take comfort: He remembers **mercy**

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

for he has **looked** on 
the humble estate of his servant.

******
For behold, from now on 
all generations will call me **blessed**;

for he who is **mighty** 
has done **great** things for me, 
and **holy** is his name.

******
And his **mercy** is for those who fear him 
from generation to generation.

He has shown **strength** with his arm;

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.

******
He has **helped** his servant Israel, 
in **remembrance** of his mercy,

as he spoke to our **fathers**, 
to Abraham and to his offspring forever

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