Women of Courage – The Study of Mary, the mother of Jesus – Oct 19

Review of question 5: In Daily Reflections day 3, MacArthur introduces the section: “Worshipping with someone who understands”.  How precious it is to have someone close to be able to share in the experiences that God calls us to.   To be able to worship in openness, knowing you will be supported and loved through it, in the truth of the Lord.  Mary and Elizabeth had this sweet time of intimate worship for 3 months, sharing in their miraculous pregnancies.  We are developing intimacy together as women worshipping together in our bible study.

Question 6:  Mary’s praise indicates her heart for God.  Everything in her praise was about God, not herself.  Her faith was one of humility, glorifying God in every word.  Starting from her encounter with Gabriel, we see that Mary’s faith was a faith of action, trusting in the Lord and acting in her faith in the Lord, rather than being hindered by her prayers. 

Psalm 34:3 says, “O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt is name together”.  Mary’s first words in her praise mirror this verse.  Psalm 69:30 also speaks of magnifying and rejoicing in the Lord.  Psalm 136:23 says, “Who remembered us in our low estate, for His loving kindness is everlasting”, which is very like Mary’s song: “For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant”.  There is but one God to be magnified and glorified.   Clearly Mary knew scripture, but it was not just a head knowledge.  Her heart was filled with scripture and a love for the Lord.  How special for Mary to have been able to refer back to these scriptures, glorifying the Lord in her own circumstances.  We, too, can identify times in our lives when the Lord has shown Himself to be mighty, doing great things for us, times when He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant. 

Mary’s praise is even more precious and powerful when we really think about her circumstances, and the stigma that would have been attached to her for the remainder of her life.  How easy it could have been for her to dwell on her circumstances.  But rather than dwelling on the stressed relationships that would develop, and her own physical hardships to come, Mary kept her focus on God, dwelling on Him and His attributes, and realizing the blessings that He has bestowed on her. 

Verses 51-52 of Mary’s praise refer back to the history of Israel.  Sometimes when we are upset or stressed it can be helpful to go back in history, remembering the big things that God has done and dwell on those, then apply those things to our current circumstances.  Mary seems to be doing this here, dwelling on God who is mighty, who is merciful and strong through the generations of Israel.  In the last two verses she goes back to Abraham: “He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy, as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed forever”.  How precious that Mary was able to go back to God’s promise to Abraham and to see that that promise was indeed applicable to her current circumstance.