Why is Mary Singing?

In an advent devotional I’m reading, one week focuses on the Magnificat—the song Mary sings from her heart, praising God to be honored to be the mother of the Messiah.  It caused me to ask, “Why is Mary singing?  What was it about this moment that caused her to break out in praise?”

Singing our own songs

Really, we know so little about Mary.  We know virtually nothing of her parents and family.  One hint we get is that Elizabeth is her cousin.  Were Mary’s parents even alive?  What would they have thought of it all? She answers the angel with humble submission, “I am the Lord’s servant. May your word to me be fulfilled.”  But in that moment, had she thought about the consequences?  What would people say?  What would people do?  I am sure it must have bothered her after the angel left.  There would be a great possibility of shame.

On the islands, the birth story that people hear about is very different.  In their version, Mary’s story is one of great shame followed by vindication.  In this version, no one believes her when she tells them it is a virgin birth.  And, not surprisingly, in this version the people treat her like she has sinned.  They cast her out and scorn her.  In that story, Mary takes it all submissively and in silence only to give birth and have the newborn baby miraculously speak up on her behalf and rebuke those who questioned her!  An interesting story…but it is not the Christmas story.

In the Christmas story, Mary, upon hearing from the angel both the promise of her coming pregnancy and that her old cousin Elizabeth is already pregnant, hurries to go see Elizabeth. I imagine Mary thinking about things on the way.  After the amazement of seeing an angel, did she start to wonder, “How am I to tell Elizabeth?  Will she believe me?  What will happen to me?  Will my family accept me?  Believe me? Reject me? How do I even begin to explain?”

But when Elizabeth sees Mary, Elizabeth is given a great revelation.  The baby jumps with joy and Elizabeth proclaims that Mary is pregnant and blessed for it!  How did she know this unless it was revealed to her by God?  What a miracle!  What a relief!  Mary doesn’t need to explain anything. She is already believed and accepted.  No wonder she sings.  Her fears of shame and explanations and of not being believed—all of them gone—Elizabeth is her family and she believes her.  In that moment of relief she can truly embrace the role she has been given, to bear the Messiah, free of the fear of shame. And so she sings,

“My soul glorifies the Lord
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for He has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.

I think in that moment, Mary knew that the same Lord who had chosen her to do this great and difficult thing would also protect her from shame.  She could sing because her heart was free from fear.  From another book, we know that God also provided Joseph with a dream and a revelation strong enough to cause him to believe the virgin birth, and to take Mary as his betrothed and so further shield Mary from shame.  Her honor and the honor of her child were protected.  No wonder Mary sings!

It reminds me of another story: Abraham took his son, his only son, whom he loved, up on a mountain to sacrifice him to God, but in the moment before the knife took his sons life, God provided a way.  Abraham did not have to suffer the trauma and grief of giving up his own son.  But we know, that though God spared Abraham, He would not spare himself.  God’s son would die for us, and the trauma and the grief would come upon God himself, instead of upon us.

Our son as King Herod

In the same way, Mary was spared.  She could have been reviled, insulted, gossiped about, spat upon, mocked.  But God protected her from that.  In that moment when Elizabeth cries out “blessed is the fruit of your womb,” Mary knows she will not be subjected to shame.  But what God shields from Mary, He will not shield from her son.  Her son will be insulted, gossiped about, spat upon and reviled.  They would mock him and tells lies about him, though he was righteous and just.  The trauma, the grief, the shame—He would spare of Mary, but not of Himself.  This is the good news.  This is the Christmas story.

PRAYERS ANSWERED
Thanks for praying for the big gathering. Despite some difficulties (broken down van, illness and heat), there were many people and good fellowship. The kids blessed the gathering with songs, dance, and a drama. People heard the good news, and one island man decided to accept and was prayed with at the end of the gathering.

PRAYERS REQUESTED
Pray that the follow-up from the big gathering would go well, that people would continue to think about the messages they heard, any misunderstandings would only lead to greater communication and unity, and that lessons would be learned for the next big gathering.  It has been hot and power cuts have increased.  Some nights there is no power for fans which means not great sleep. Pray for better power and for cooler nights. This week we will have our annual Christmas party with our English club— pray that people would come and be impacted by the things we discuss. Pray that those around the island would have good smaller gatherings this coming weekend continuing to celebrate this wonderful Christmas story!