DECEMBER 18
LUKE 1:26–45

We sing today—and we will sing for all of
eternity—songs of the grace of Jesus.

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God hardwired us to sing. If you pay attention, you realize that

we humans sing all the time. We sing spiritual songs, polit-
ical songs, love songs, protest songs, happy songs, funeral songs,

painful songs, and joyful songs. Little children sing nursery rhymes

and elderly men hum age-old tunes. Once our five-year-old grand-
daughter told us, “I made up a song about kitties.” We said, “Let’s

hear it,” and off she went, singing the song she had made up on the
fly. Composing and singing songs are quintessentially human. Our
songs are expressions of the emotions and values of our hearts. Our
songs reveal more about us than we might think.
So, when we read and study Scripture, we should slow down

and pay attention to the songs along the way. The one who de-
signed us to sing recorded and preserved songs for us. These songs

are meant to focus our hearts, instruct us in the ways of the Lord,

motivate our joy, and put words to our worship. One of Scrip-
ture’s most wonderful songs was composed by Mary. An angel

had visited her and announced that she would give birth to the
promised Messiah. When Mary visited her cousin Elizabeth, Mary
sang this song:
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. (Luke 1:46–55)
Notice Mary’s humility. She knows she didn’t earn the blessing
of giving birth to the Messiah. She is but a humble servant, blessed
with the favor of the Lord. Then notice how she speaks of her Lord.

He is mighty in authority and strength, and at the same time ten-
derhearted in mercy. He deals with sin, while meeting the needs

of his people. He remembers and has been faithful in keeping his
covenant promises. Those promises will find their final fulfillment
in the life, death, and resurrection of the little one in Mary’s womb.
Holy is his name.
Mary’s gospel song has been preserved for us so that this joyful
and Godward expression of her heart would be the song of our
hearts as well.

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Prayer

My spirit rejoices in you, my God and my Savior. Indeed, your

name is holy, and your mercy is for those who fear you from gener-
ation to generation. You have shown strength with your arm; you

have scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. You have
exalted the humble and filled the hungry with good things. O Lord,
thank you for giving us every good thing in Jesus. In his name

I come before you, amen.