Today I am linking to a Bible translation for my dear friend who is joining us from the Philippines. I am so happy you are reading along with us dear Claire!
https://www.bible.com/bible/2197/LUK.1.MBBTAG12#:~:text=Ang%20Pagdalaw%20ni,bago%20siya%20umuwi.
Luke 1:39-56
This is so incredibly sweet! Elisabeth is in her 6th month and fresh out of seclusion. Her likelihood of miscarriage is massively reduced, even for a woman her age. Now her little cousin comes for a visit.
There are all kinds of things to notice, but the thing that made me chuckle this morning was a verse I have highlighted in the past. Today I saw the humour in it. Liz tells Mary, “You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said.” (Luke 1:45, New Living Translation) I have always loved this statement, this assertion that the Lord rewards faith. It’s encouraging and beautiful. It inspires me. I want to have faith like Mary. I really want to be able to hear from God and just say, “Ok, I’m yours, so do what you like.” But today I found myself wondering, was Elizabeth side-eyeing Zechariah when she said it? Was she thinking, Buddy, if you had simply believed like Mary did, maybe the house wouldn’t be so quiet these days.
It must have been so affirming to Mary when Elizabeth and her baby responded to her immediately. No explaining. No awkward wondering if she would be accepted. The Holy Spirit revealed the truth to Elizabeth and her baby. Mary was instantly safe and accepted.
Mary’s song is very like the psalms that King David wrote. She bursts into praise. She recognizes that her child represents the fulfillment of the covenant God made with Abraham to bless all nations through his offspring. We can tell that, though she was a girl and wouldn’t have received formal training, she was pretty well-educated in the scriptures. Her song of praise focuses on the way God cares for the hungry, powerless, and poor whom others might easily pass over. It seems like she already understood the nature of the ministry her son would have.
Take a few minutes and read Mary’s song of praise again. Think about the way Mary describes God. How is her understanding of God similar to yours? Does it differ?
To begin with, you brought up a good point. Mary had to know scripture even though she was young and a woman. I know the movies make it look like her family doesn’t believe it, but does scripture say that? It would make sense for them to accept it as well!
As far as how she describes God….I know those all to be true things but would I be singing that when I was in her position? I’m not sure. She absolutely had her eyes on things bigger than herself. What an example to look to!
Right? One of these days I’d just like to amass all the scriptures that refer to Mary and try to get a better picture of this woman. She was something special.