Numbers 22:21-41; Luke 1:39-56; Psalms 58:10-11; Proverbs 16:6-7
NT: “When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped inside her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Then she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and your child will be blessed! How could this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For you see, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped for joy inside me. Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill what he has spoken to her!” And Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, because he has looked with favor on the humble condition of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed, because the Mighty One has done great things for me, and his name is holy. His mercy is from generation to generation on those who fear him. He has done a mighty deed with his arm; he has scattered the proud because of the thoughts of their hearts; he has toppled the mighty from their thrones and exalted the lowly. He has satisfied the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, remembering his mercy to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he spoke to our ancestors.”” (Luke 1:41-55 CSB)
Once Mary received the news of Elizabeth’s miraculous pregnancy and the announcement of her own, she was compelled to visit Elizabeth so the two of them could rejoice together – and rejoice they did. The Holy Spirit was at work at their meeting. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied over Mary, calling her blessed: blessed among women, and blessed because she believed the word of the Lord. The unborn John the Baptist was filled with the Holy Spirit in the womb and leaped with joy. Mary was compelled by the Spirit to lift up a song of praise to the Lord. Her song is called The Magnificat (Latin for magnify). She doesn’t magnify herself nor her miraculous conception. She magnifies the Lord for what He has done… what He has done for her, what He has done for the people of the world who fear Him, and what He has done for Israel by remembering His covenant. Those who believe the Lord and open their lives to His work are blessed among the people of the earth… and in blessing His faithful people, God is magnified above all.
Jamie Hicks 