Humble Acceptance & Exaltation

When we sing songs concerning our relationship to God, we are not singing songs of theological truth from which we are personally disconnected. There might be songs of confession and repentance, songs of prayer for help, songs of hope and expectation, songs that rehearse important truths that we desire to have seared in our memories for daily living, songs of joy and victory in God fulfilling his promises, even songs of sadness with an undercurrent of trust in God.... And we aim that such songs be filled with truths and praise elevating the character of God, but these songs are not somehow disconnected from the fact that such grace from heaven has touched our own hearts.

Today in the text of Luke 1, we encounter at least two songs of praise to God for fulfilling his promises. We are reminded that the people responding submissively to God not only return praise to him for what he is doing in his great plan and purposes, but also that he has graciously chosen them to be a part of it. Our hope is that we might respond with the same humility of heart as we lift our praise and give our very lives to the God who has graciously revealed himself to us.

Having just received word from God through Gabriel that she would conceive the Messiah from the Holy Spirit, and that her relative Elizabeth was already pregnant, Mary responded humbly and with immediate obedience:

Luke 1:39–45 ESV

In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”

When I look carefully at this section, I notice that these ladies are not only kin, they are kindred spirits in their humble exaltation of the Lord.

Women of Kindred Spirit (vv. 39-45)

… each humbly accepting her role in God’s outpouring of grace.

Their two baby boys are not only kin, they are inextricably tied together in the plan of God to fulfill his promises.

Interesting notes (and details omitted): [two maps] With the distance that Mary had to travel, a journey that would have taken her 3-4 days, it’s difficult to imagine, for safety reasons, that she would have gone alone (as a teenage girl, even an older one). She would have also undoubtedly sought the blessing of her family members to make the trek.

One of two things is probably happening where there are absent details. Either Luke doesn’t know (and therefore doesn’t fabricate details that his research did not bring to light) [ie., In interviewing witnesses, he wasn’t told the exact circumstances surrounding Mary getting permission to go visit Elizabeth, and so on. What he knows is that she went.] … OR It is not relevant to the primary point that he’s making concerning Jesus, so those details are inconsequential.

Luke’s emphasis: The baby leaping and Elizabeth’s interpretation in the Holy Spirit

Her response in the Spirit “is a revelation of God’s mind. The Spirit for Luke is a Spirit who reveals, speaks, and guides (Luke 4:1; 12:12; Acts 15:28).” (Bock, 135-136)

How does Elizabeth know about the child? - Luke definitely leads us to believe that this too is a revelation of the Holy Spirit.

In her role as prophetess here, Elizabeth blesses Mary and the child.

To be “blessed” is to receive special favor from God. …in this case, because of the child that she will bear, and so she is a special vessel chosen by God’s grace.

Luke’s readers are meant to see the connection between John’s calling (from his birth announcement) and this response from the womb! Even from the womb, John has begun to fulfill his prophetic purpose, already beginning his ministry as forerunner (and see 1:15). - The baby in her womb leapt “for joy.” True joy and peace (as a result of the coming salvation) are significant motifs in this early narrative in Luke.

I believe Luke intends for us to take note of the key role of these women in God’s plan, and their humble and spiritually insightful responses to God at work. - Obedience: Mary’s response to the angel’s revelation is immediate action. - Humility: from Mary’s humble response in v. 38 to Elizabeth’s “why is it granted to me?”. She sees this child as her superior, calling him my Lord. God has revealed to her that this one is the Messiah, the Deliverer. - Faith: It is also noted in Elizabeth’s blessing that Mary’s faith is commended; those who are poor in spirit to believe God and trust Him are indeed blessed. Her faith is in God, knowing that what God promises will come to pass. - Praise: We also note the content of their worship, especially with Mary.

Luke 1:46–56 ESV

And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever.” And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home.

Mary Magnifies the Lord (vv. 46-56)

Interesting notes (and details omitted): When did Mary come up with this song of praise, that not only has the marks of meditation on the song of Hannah, but also includes allusion to other psalms? (Perhaps she meditated over it on her journey, but we are not told.)

Luke’s emphasis: Mary’s exaltation in God, as she humbly recognizes and joyfully proclaims his saving work.

Mary says that from her soul, her spirit, he inner being, she is overcome with a desire to express the greatness of God. She is overwhelmed with joy at recognizing that God, the Savior, is at work again on behalf of his people. - She is overcome by...

God’s grace to her personally (48-49) - Mary will be known to all as one uniquely touched by grace. … (Also God’s power, holiness and authority…)

with his mercy and compassion generally to all who fear him and his opposition of those too proud to acknowledge him (50-53) - Note that “God’s favor is specifically directed toward those who fear him.” Bock, 152 - The one who fears God seeks to know God for who He is; the one who gains knowledge of God also trusts God and loves God; the one who loves God obeys Him. — The contrast in these verses is between those who are responsive to God and those who are not.

and finally for his faithfulness to keep his promises concerning his chosen people Israel (54-55).

Another interesting note concerning omitted details: Given Luke’s order, why does Mary appear to leave just before John’s birth? (We are not given a motive.)

Luke 1:57–66 ESV

Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father, but his mother answered, “No; he shall be called John.” And they said to her, “None of your relatives is called by this name.” And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called. And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they all wondered. And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea, and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, “What then will this child be?” For the hand of the Lord was with him.

John Is Born (vv. 57-66)

Luke’s point: This birth magnifies God and displays his mercy. Also, a direct fulfillment of what was spoken is coming to pass, and the result is rejoicing.

The insistence that the child’s name is John, and the subsequent speech ability restored to Zechariah reveals that God’s mercy to Zechariah to give him this sign had its intended effect (of loving discipline). Zechariah has been humbled and is prepared to obey in faith.

The reaction of the people and the spread of news about John reflects the recognition among those who heard that there was something unique about this one because the hand of the Lord was with him.

In the midst of these responses, we have Zechariah’s Spirit-directed prophetic praise:

Luke 1:67–80 ESV

And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying, “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us; to show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.

Zechariah Prophesies in Praise (vv. 67-80)

As he praises God, Zechariah prophetically recognizes what God is doing in fulfilling his promise of redemption, raising up a horn (symbolic of strength) of salvation… in the house of his servant David. (This cannot be an exaltation of John, since his parents are both Levites. Rather, this is a description of the one for whom John prepares the way.) - The point is that it has been revealed to Zechariah that if his son is the forerunner, then the Messiah too is coming, and soon!

Note the very real expectation of political freedom from the enemies that oppress them. In fact, it is a mark of authenticity here that Luke does not attempt to adjust anything from Zechariah’s view in terms of his OT perception of just one coming of the Messiah. Luke himself, with the rest of the NT, gains and presents a better understanding that Christ’s first coming is to inaugurate his spiritual reign over all, and his political dominion over everything is yet future at his second coming.

So we hear Zechariah exalting the mercy of God, his faithfulness to his holy covenant (specifically that oath which he made to Abraham and to all his descendants).

Zechariah also has a clear understanding of the purpose for God’s deliverance (73b-75):

Luke: An Introduction and Commentary F. The Song of Zechariah (1:67–80)

There is a religious aim behind the deliverance from the enemies: it is so that God’s people may serve him without fear. They will serve in holiness (they will belong to God), and righteousness (they will live as God’s people should).

I agree with Darrell Bock’s conclusion that as vv. 76-77 turn directly to the ministry of John, and that vv. 78-79 describe the Messiah’s coming for whom John prepares the way.

John:

Luke: An Introduction and Commentary F. The Song of Zechariah (1:67–80)

Specifically he would tell people about the coming of salvation in the forgiveness of their sins. John would not save people. No man could. But he would call people to repentance and tell them about One who could save them.

Jesus:

“The hymn glorifies God for completing the salvation that was promised to Abraham and to the nation. The salvation centers in the Davidic Messiah, who will function like a shining heavenly light in the midst of a people who sit in death and darkness.” (Bock, 195)

Conclusion: Exalt God from a Humble Heart

When we see God for who he is, and we understand his outpouring of grace, we humbly accept our role in his plan and joyfully give him praise.

Are you (on some days, maybe most days) too self-important for your own good?

- For your good and for his glory, God’s desire is that you humbly submit to being a vessel for his good purposes and that your heart joyfully praises him for his goodness. - You do realize that such is the very purpose for your life (your existence)? … That you should KNOW him (through faith in Christ), and be used by him (by following the pattern set by Jesus for His Church). *Everything in your life needs to conform to this purpose. Whatever does not have a place in that purpose is dross. That means that our loved ones, our possessions, our abilities… everything that we are and have, we can and must humbly submit to God to use us as he pleases. And for it we humbly and joyfully give him praise!

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