Luke 1:46-56 When God’s Blessing Makes You Sing
Format for Your Devotions
Instructions: Do not read my example devotion until you have completed your own devotional time in the scriptures. Reading my thoughts first may limit your own understanding. Let the Holy Spirit speak to you alone before looking to see what anyone else has to say, whether it is me, a Bible commentary, or a friend. Let God speak to you before you let another person speak to you. I have provided a format, but modify it to fit your needs. For example, I usually combine my application and prayer together talking to God about the application to my own life. You can go through this devotion process mentally, speaking out loud, or in writing as you wish. Don’t worry if you are not following this process exactly. Sometimes, I add extra information and sometimes I emphasize one part more than others. However, you should always think about what you learn about God from this passage.
Step 1: Pray–Ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance first of all and that God may reveal the lessons that He wants you to have that day. Request that God protect you from Satan’s distractions (and the devil will try to distract you whether it is pinching the baby or putting you to sleep). Ask to see God more clearly as you read and think about the passage.
Step 2: Read the passage–Read to get an overview of the information first. Then start looking at specific parts after the first reading. You may read a larger or smaller section than I have here because you do not have to follow my organization at all.
Step 3: Understand the passage–You can summarize, ask and answer your own questions about the passage, visualize the story, analyze the characters, and relate this passage to other scriptures and personal experiences.
Step 4: What does this reveal about God?–What do you learn about the Father, Son, and/or Holy Spirit from this passage?
Step 5: Apply this to your own life.
Step 6: Prayer
My Example Devotion: June 12, 2018 Luke 1:46-56
Note: In the devotion examples, I leave my questions and thought processes in the text because I am trying to demonstrate that a devotional time is a dialogue with God about what you are reading from His word. As such, any questions or ideas that you have should be explored by talking it out with God. These example devotions are not my attempts to teach you what the meaning of a particular scripture is. They are an attempt to teach you the process of devotions, which is a combination of prayer and Bible study where you explore ideas with God as you read His word.
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.
(Understanding the Text / Revelation of God) Mary has a poem that she made about her emotions of being chosen as the mother of the Messiah. First, she said that her soul, her whole being, was filled with a desire to say how great and good God is. Then she said that her emotions and being were filled with joy. She called God her Savior. The reason for her joy and gratitude toward God was that He chose someone as lowly as her to be His servant. She said that she would be called blessed by future generations because God had chosen to do great things through her. Then, she starts enumerating characteristics and achievements of God. She spoke of God’s holiness and his mercy that is extended generation after generation to all. She talked of God’s strength. She told of how God took the proud, rich, and mighty down while raising the lowly and feeding the hungry. Then, she spoke of her country Israel and how in the past they had received His mercy and would continue to receive His mercy forever.
(Application) My application to myself is that one way to praise God might be to try to write poetry to and about Him. I think that maybe this teenager was so full of emotion that she felt compelled to write a poem of praise to God. Another application is to not take for granted the privilege and blessings that I receive from God, but to praise Him always.
(Understanding the Text) She is drawing primarily on Hannah’s song in 1 Samuel 2 according to F. F. Bruce’s commentary. “And Hannah prayed and said, “My heart exults in the LORD; my horn is exalted in the LORD. My mouth derides my enemies, because I rejoice in your salvation. “There is none holy like the LORD: for there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God. Talk no more so very proudly, let not arrogance come from your mouth; for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. The bows of the mighty are broken, but the feeble bind on strength. Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, but those who were hungry have ceased to hunger. The barren has borne seven, but she who has many children is forlorn. The LORD kills and brings to life; he brings down to Sheol and raises up. The LORD makes poor and makes rich; he brings low and he exalts. He raises up the poor from the dust; he lifts the needy from the ash heap to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor. For the pillars of the earth are the LORD’s, and on them he has set the world. “He will guard the feet of his faithful ones, but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness, for not by might shall a man prevail. The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; against them he will thunder in heaven. The LORD will judge the ends of the earth; he will give strength to his king and exalt the horn of his anointed.” (1Sa 2:1-10). While this may have been the pattern that she was thinking of, the words of her song do not come from these verses. I think that Mary was just steeped in Old Testament words, so her words came out sounding similar in pattern.
The commentaries act like this is a beautiful poem and maybe it is in Greek; however, I am having a hard time seeing it as any better than anything else I have read in the Bible. I see it as sincere heartfelt praise for the blessing and honor that God had given her and it shows that Mary was joyful at her pregnancy and conscious that she was not of the high position that many would have expected God to choose for the mother of the Messiah. It shows that Mary sincerely worshipped God. I think it also implies that Mary was looking at Israel being restored immediately in her lifetime, but she does not dwell on it. However, I don’t see it as a literary achievement in and of itself. It seems more important to show that Mary loved God and was joyful at being chosen to be the mother of the Messiah even if it meant hardship for herself.
(Prayer) Teach me to praise You instead of taking Your blessings for granted. Give me the joy of seeing Your actions in my life and the life of others and having automatic praise for You. Too often I ignore Your beautiful gifts that are all around me and focus on the evils that also abound. Teach me to focus on You and Your actions in my life and the little gifts that You are constantly giving. Give me the gift of gratitude to You.