Bible Study Notes for Lord’s Day, February 21, 2010
Luke 1:39-56
He Who is Mighty Has Done Great Things
Introduction The Song of Mary. Mary is rejoicing in the Lord, that
the Messiah is within her, waiting for the time of His birth, and
she is rejoicing in the things He will do when He comes into His
own.
39 Now Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with
haste, to a city of Judah, 40 and entered the house of Zacharias
and greeted Elizabeth. 41 And it happened, when Elizabeth heard
the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth
was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 Then she spoke out with a loud
voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is
the fruit of your womb! 43 But why is this granted to me, that the
mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For indeed, as soon as the
voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my
womb for joy. 45 Blessed is she who believed, for there will be
a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.”
46 And Mary said: “ My soul magnifies the Lord,
47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
48 For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant;
For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.
49 For He who is mighty has done great things for me,
And holy is His name.
50 And His mercy is on those who fear Him
From generation to generation.
51 He has shown strength with His arm;
He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
52 He has put down the mighty from their thrones,
And exalted the lowly.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things,
And the rich He has sent away empty.
54 He has helped His servant Israel,
In remembrance of His mercy,
55 As He spoke to our fathers,
To Abraham and to his seed forever.”
56 And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to
her house.
1. Mary is Rejoicing
a. Her soul magnifies the Lord v46
46 And Mary said: “ My soul magnifies the Lord,
b. Her spirit has rejoiced v47
47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
c. She has been considered and blessed v48
48 For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant;
For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.
2. She is rejoicing in “God my Savior”
a. Her baby is the Lord, the Messiah v43-45
43 But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should
come to me? 44 For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting
sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. 45 Blessed
is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things
which were told her from the Lord.”
b. The Lord v46
46 And Mary said: “ My soul magnifies the Lord,
c. God my Savior v47
47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
d. He who is mighty v49
49 For He who is mighty has done great things for me,
e. Holy is His name v49
49b And holy is His name.
3. She is Rejoicing in His Ministry
a. He regards the lowly v48
48 For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant;
For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.
b. He does great things v49
49 For He who is mighty has done great things for me,
And holy is His name.
c. He shows mercy v50
50 And His mercy is on those who fear Him
From generation to generation.
d. He demonstrates His power v51
51 He has shown strength with His arm;
e. He scatters, puts down and exalts v51-52
51b He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
52 He has put down the mighty from their thrones,
And exalted the lowly.
f. He fills v53
53 He has filled the hungry with good things,
g. He helps v54
54 He has helped His servant Israel, In remembrance of His mercy,
h. He speaks promises v55
55 As He spoke to our fathers, To Abraham and to his seed forever.”
So, Mary is rejoicing in the Lord, that the Messiah is within her,
waiting for the time of His birth, and she is rejoicing in the things
He will do when He comes into His own.
4. Mary Focuses on One Aspect of Jesus’ Ministry v51-54
51 He has shown strength with His arm;
He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
52 He has put down the mighty from their thrones,
And exalted the lowly.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things,
And the rich He has sent away empty.
54 He has helped His servant Israel,
In remembrance of His mercy,
Jesus came to save us individually, in body, soul and spirit. But
He also came to heal relationships between people so that they live
in mutual respect and peace, and that entire societies are transformed.
10 Commandments. 4 are vertical, our relationship to God. 6 are
horizontal, our relationships with each other.
Some have read this passage and said, “Wow, Mary didn’t
like wealthy people. Maybe she was poor herself.” Some have
even said that Jesus favored poor people. That is a shallow and
short sighted interpretation.
Who creates wealth and power and gives it to the people He chooses?
God does. Who has established financial principles by which we can
prosper financially? God has.
But when He gives wealth and power to someone, He expects them to
use it wisely and beneficially. In the time of Mary and Jesus, and
throughout world history, people have not used wealth and power
as God designed. They have become proud (v51) and mighty (v52) over
other people.
So instead of blessing, there has been oppression and violence -
by governments, unfair economic systems, power hungry dictators,
those bent on conquest, by those who have gained financial advantage
over others.
Throughout history, the abuse of wealth and power has caused oppression,
massive human suffering, poverty, even violence and death.
So it’s in the context of the brutality of the Roman Empire,
and the harsh rule of the Jewish king Herod, and the Pharisees and
Sadducees that Mary gives this prophecy of one aspect of the ministry
of her Son, the Messiah.
51 He has shown strength with His arm;
He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
52 He has put down the mighty from their thrones,
And exalted the lowly.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things,
And the rich He has sent away empty.
54 He has helped His servant Israel,
In remembrance of His mercy,
Jesus didn’t come just to save us individually, in body, soul
and spirit. He also came to heal relationships between people so
that we live in mutual respect and peace, and that entire societies
are transformed.
Isaiah 9
4 For You have broken the yoke of his burden
And the staff of his shoulder,
The rod of his oppressor,
As in the day of Midian.
5 For every warrior’s sandal from the noisy battle,
And garments rolled in blood,
Will be used for burning and fuel of fire.
6 For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of His government and peace
There will be no end,
Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,
To order it and establish it with judgment and justice
From that time forward, even forever.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
And we say, AMEN.
But until that time, as God’s people, we have a responsibility
with our wealth and power.
Isaiah 58
1 “Cry aloud, spare not;
Lift up your voice like a trumpet;
Tell My people their transgression,
And the house of Jacob their sins.
2 Yet they seek Me daily,
And delight to know My ways,
As a nation that did righteousness,
And did not forsake the ordinance of their God.
They ask of Me the ordinances of justice;
They take delight in approaching God.
3 ‘ Why have we fasted,’ they say, ‘and You have
not seen?
Why have we afflicted our souls, and You take no notice?’
“ In fact, in the day of your fast you find pleasure,
And exploit all your laborers.
4 Indeed you fast for strife and debate,
And to strike with the fist of wickedness.
You will not fast as you do this day,
To make your voice heard on high.
5 Is it a fast that I have chosen,
A day for a man to afflict his soul?
Is it to bow down his head like a bulrush,
And to spread out sackcloth and ashes?
Would you call this a fast,
And an acceptable day to the LORD?
6 “ Is this not the fast that I have chosen:
To loose the bonds of wickedness,
To undo the heavy burdens,
To let the oppressed go free,
And that you break every yoke?
7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,
And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out;
When you see the naked, that you cover him,
And not hide yourself from your own flesh?
8 Then your light shall break forth like the morning,
Your healing shall spring forth speedily,
And your righteousness shall go before you;
The glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.
9 Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer;
You shall cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’
“ If you take away the yoke from your midst,
The pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,
10 If you extend your soul to the hungry
And satisfy the afflicted soul,
Then your light shall dawn in the darkness,
And your darkness shall be as the noonday.
11 The LORD will guide you continually,
And satisfy your soul in drought,
And strengthen your bones;
You shall be like a watered garden,
And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.
12 Those from among you
Shall build the old waste places;
You shall raise up the foundations of many generations;
And you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach,
The Restorer of Streets to Dwell In.
13 “ If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath,
From doing your pleasure on My holy day,
And call the Sabbath a delight,
The holy day of the LORD honorable,
And shall honor Him, not doing your own ways,
Nor finding your own pleasure,
Nor speaking your own words,
14 Then you shall delight yourself in the LORD;
And I will cause you to ride on the high hills of the earth,
And feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father.
The mouth of the LORD has spoken.”
Conclusion Luke 1
46 And Mary said: “ My soul magnifies the Lord,
47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
48 For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant;
For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.
49 For He who is mighty has done great things for me,
And holy is His name.
50 And His mercy is on those who fear Him
From generation to generation.
51 He has shown strength with His arm;
He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
52 He has put down the mighty from their thrones,
And exalted the lowly.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things,
And the rich He has sent away empty.
54 He has helped His servant Israel,
In remembrance of His mercy,
55 As He spoke to our fathers,
To Abraham and to his seed forever.”
Pastor Steve Boggan
Living Waters Christian Fellowship
Heritage Ranch by Lake Nacimiento, CA
Website - livingwaters.cc
