11/30/2025
Due to road conditions and weather considerations, we are closed today. The congregational meeting and family meal have been rescheduled for Sunday, December 8.
May this Lord’s Day be a time filled with worship through the Word in your home. May it sound like this:
Mary's Song of Praise: The Magnificat
46 And Mary said,
“My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,48 for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; 49 for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. 50 And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. 51 He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; 52 he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; 53 he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. 54 He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, 55 as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”
56 And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home."
-- Attributes / Titles of God that Mary Praises --
The Lord (Κύριος) – v. 46→ The sovereign covenant King, the same YHWH of the Old Testament, now personally encountered by Mary.→ This truth calms every fear, steadies every step, and makes my soul magnify Him because no rival power can ever touch His rule.
God my Savior – v. 47→ Mary confesses that she herself is a guilty sinner who needs personal redemption; the Child in her womb is her own Redeemer.→ This truth kills my pride, ignites my joy, and drives me to praise because the same Savior who rescued her has rescued me.
The Mighty One (ὁ δυνατός) – v. 49→ The omnipotent God who needs no help from man; the same One who spoke the universe into being born of a virgin is the ultimate display of raw power.→ This truth turns every impossibility into a prayer and every prayer into confident praise because nothing is too hard for Him.
Holy is His name – v. 49→ God’s absolute moral purity and majestic separateness; everything He does flows from perfect holiness.→ This truth makes me hate my sin, love His beauty, and worship in awe because a perfectly holy God has drawn near to me.
Merciful – v. 50→ Covenant-keeping hesed that is never earned; it flows only to “those who fear Him” and lasts “from generation to generation.”→ This truth melts my heart with gratitude and fuels lifelong praise because His mercy is not a one-time gift but an everlasting river.
-- Actions of God that Mary Praises --
Has looked on the humble estate of His servant – v. 48→ Sovereign electing grace: God fixes His favor on a poor, unknown girl for no reason in her.→ This truth destroys every boast and fills me with wonder because if He chose Mary for no merit, He chose me the same way.
Has done great things for me – v. 49→ The incarnation itself is the greatest thing: omnipotence willingly becoming embryo.→ This truth makes every other blessing feel small and turns my whole life into one long “thank you.”
Shows strength with His arm – v. 51→ The same “arm of the Lord” that delivered Israel from Egypt is now bared in salvation through Christ.→ This truth gives me unshakable courage and loud praise because the strongest power in the universe is fighting for me.
Has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts – v. 51→ God judges intellectual and spiritual arrogance; pride is crushed even before it becomes action.→ This truth keeps me low, makes me watchful over my heart, and causes me to praise the God who hates what I naturally love.
Has brought down the mighty from their thrones – v. 52→ Earthly power structures are overturned; Herod, Caesar, and every tyrant are already dethroned by a baby.→ This truth frees me from fear of man and fills me with triumphant praise because the final victory is already won.
Has exalted those of humble estate – v. 52→ The great kingdom reversal: the lowly and despised are lifted to honor by grace alone.→ This truth makes humility sweet and ambition empty, so I praise the God who turns weakness into glory.
Has filled the hungry with good things – v. 53→ Those who know their spiritual emptiness are satisfied with covenant blessings and ultimately with Christ Himself.→ This truth teaches me to stay hungry for Him, because only the empty get filled—and that filling is worth singing about forever.
Has sent the rich away empty – v. 53→ The self-sufficient and self-righteous leave with nothing; you cannot buy or earn what God gives freely.→ This truth exposes every attempt at self-salvation and drives me to praise the God who gives everything for nothing.
Has helped His servant Israel – v. 54→ Covenant faithfulness: God keeps His ancient promises to the patriarchs in the very moment Mary sings.→ This truth makes every promise in my Bible feel rock-solid and turns my waiting into worship.
Remembers His mercy (as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever) – v. 55→ The incarnation is the final, unbreakable fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant; mercy is eternal because God never forgets His word.→ This truth anchors my hope beyond the grave and makes me praise now, because the same mercy that saved Abraham is saving me and will save my children’s children forever. Amen.
