WEEKLY SUNDAY
SCHOOL LESSON
An international
Sunday school lesson commentary
For
Sunday December 8, 2013
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readers worldwide
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MARY’S SONG OF
PRAISE
(Rejoice in what
GOD is doing)
(Luke 1:46-56)
Luke 1:46-55 is a passage that, over
the years, has become one of the great hymns of the universal Christian Church
as a whole, and is known world-wide as the “Magnificat”. The term, Magnificat,
is taken from the “Latin Vulgate”, the first Latin translation of the bible,
which was written by Jerome at the end of the fourth century A.D., and it
means, “My soul doth magnify the LORD”.
This song, which was
first uttered by Mary, the mother of JESUS, praises GOD for HIS favor on her
and her people (Vs. 51-55). Some scholars tend to doubt that a young uneducated
country girl, such as Mary, could have composed such a wonderful and prophetic
poem, however, common sense dictates that she, or anyone else, who was in a
close personal relationship with GOD, and were fairly familiar with the Old
Testament passages which are alluded to in this song, is capable of expressing
these thoughts of praise that we find here.
Apparently, Mary saw
herself as a part of the GODly remnant that had served her LORD with all
diligence. We see in verse 47, for instance, where she calls GOD, “my SAVIOR”,
shows she had a deep intimate knowledge of HIM. She also speaks of GOD’s
faithfulness, power, holiness, and mercy in verses 48-50, showing that her
relationship with GOD was “an experiential one”.
This timeless stretch
of biblical literature, has, contained within it, four distinct parts which
should be noted by every reader:
·
First,
there is “great personal adoration and thanks to GOD” (Vs. 46-48). In
the biblical Greek, the word “makarizo” (mak-ar-id-zo) is used in verse
46 for “blessed”, and it actually means “supremely blest”, or, “beatified”.
It describes, in this passage, what it is like to be “indwelt by GOD, and
thereby, fully satisfied”. Mary was completely satisfied and honored by the
wonderful, and unexpected way, in which GOD chose to use her body for HIS
purpose.
·
Secondly,
there is “a celebration of GOD’s attributes” (Vs. 49-50). Mary
celebrated GOD’s goodness and she cherished all that HE had done for her, and
she also appreciated the fact that HIS mercy extended throughout all
generations, for all times.
·
Thirdly,
we see her “praising GOD for correcting pride, social injustice, and
economic disparities” (Vs. 51-53), “GOD’s three great moral revolutions”.
These moral rebellions can also be found in the make-up of Christianity itself.
We see, first of all:
(a). “GOD’s
revolution against pride (v.51), where Mary notes that, “GOD scatters
the proud and haughty ones” (NLT).
When Christianity is practiced properly, it automatically means death to “pride”.
A person cannot possibly set their life beside the life of CHRIST without,
first, tearing every ounce of pride from him, or herself.
(b). “GOD’s
revolution against social injustice” (v.52) “HE has taken the princes
from their thrones and exalted the lowly” (NLT). When Christianity is
practiced properly, it means death to “social injustice”. It puts an end to race,
labels, and prestige, because what CHRIST did for one, HE
intended for all. No man is favored in the eyes of GOD, but also, we
can call no man worthless, or common, for whom JESUS CHRIST has died. HE
died for all men in general, and all Christians, in particular.
(c). “GOD’s
revolution against economic disparity” (v.53) “HE has satisfied the hungry
with good things and sent the rich away with empty hands” (NLT). When
Christianity is practiced properly, it means death to “economic disparity and
greed”. A “Christian Society” is a community of believers who dares to have
too much, while others don’t even have enough. The attitude of a believer
in CHRIST JESUS, is “one that desires to have more, in order that they may
have more to give away”.
·
In
the fourth and final part (Vs. 54-55), we see Mary “giving GOD praise for
the mercy shown to Israel”. There
she cites that, “How GOD has helped HIS servant Israel! HE has not forgotten
HIS promise to be merciful. HE promised our ancestors, Abraham and his
children, to be merciful to them forever” (NLT).
Even at her young age
we can clearly see that Mary knew for sure that her blessing and charge of
giving birth to the SON of GOD was not all about her, but rather, it was about
a “covenant promise” that was established with Abraham and her fore-fathers,
long before she was ever thought about.
It was William Barclay
who wrote, concerning this wonderful passage of scripture, that, “There is
loveliness in the Magnificat, but within that loveliness, there is also,
dynamite”. And he was right. And so Mary went on to birth our LORD and
SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST, and JESUS CHRIST birthed Christianity into the world, and
Christianity birthed a revolution in civilization against pride, social injustice,
and economic disparity. And now, mankind must take up that fight, and continue that
revolution, throughout the world.
A Sunday school lesson
by,
Larry D. Alexander
LARRY D. ALEXANDER-
Official Website
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