The Magnificat–Mary’s Song of Praise

Thursday, December 21st, 2017     by Debra DuPree Williams     Start the Conversation

by Debra DuPree Williams @DDuPreeWilliams

One of my favorite verses in the Bible is called The Magnificat. In sung Latin, this is pronounced mahn-yee-fee-kaht, emphasis on the second syllable. The words are found in Luke 1:46-55. These are the recorded words of Mary at learning that she is to be the mother of the Son of God.

I cannot imagine being the very young Mary and hearing that she has been chosen from among all the women on the face of the earth to carry within her, God’s only Son, the Savior of the world, the long-awaited Messiah. Her words are so beautiful, I am in awe of her ability to express so eloquently what she felt at the time.

Then it occurred to me that she had been filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, thus her ability to put into words what her heart and her entire being experienced. What a mountain-top event.

Each of us can have this same mountain-top experience when we decide to carry Jesus within our hearts. God sent His Son, this perfect gift, to us to be the propitiation for the sin of the world. He also gave to us free will. Either we accept this gift, or we turn our backs on it. The choice has always been ours. I can’t imagine why we wouldn’t want to accept this gift─Jesus. It costs us nothing and we gain everything, including everlasting life, the moment we welcome Him into our hearts.

As Mary did, ponder these things in your heart. Then feel the peace, joy, and love that comes with accepting this precious gift. Peace that passeth understanding. Joy everlasting. And unconditional love. That’s right. Unconditional love. All that is asked of you is that you believe. And faith is believing. In Hebrews 11:1, we are told Now Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things unseen. (NASB)

Some of the happiest times of our early married life were spent as members of the sanctuary choir of Independent Presbyterian Church in Birmingham, Alabama. We had a phenomenal choirmaster/organist, Joseph W. Schreiber. The choir, to this day, still sings some of the same anthems and major works we sang during our years there. Orlando Gibbons’ arrangement of The Magnificat was one of our favorites. The link I am including isn’t of the IPC choir, but it is a good one. I hope that you will enjoy it.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dS89VM5W6eY

This Christmas season, let me challenge you to have faith as Mary had. Read The Magnificat in Luke, then share your thoughts with us here.

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