48 For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant;
We are presently discussing the divine song of joy that
Mary in singing as she shares with Elizabeth the wonderful news that she is miraculously
pregnant with the Messiah! Elizabeth is rejoicing, John is “leaping for joy”
in Elizabeth’s womb (v. 44), and Mary joins them with her praise to the Lord!
In John 10:10, Jesus said that “the thief (the devil),
has come to steal, kill, and destroy, but I Am come that you might have life,
and that you might have it more abundantly!” For sure the devil is at work
even today to steal and destroy your joy! Real life and joy come only by a
relationship with Jesus Christ! There is a major difference between earthly
happiness and heavenly divine joy! God wants us to live fulfilled, complete,
and joyful lives.
Mary’s “spirit” was rejoicing because she had found
her joy in God, and had experience Him as her Savior (v. 47). She can’t help
but respond with praiseful joy and “magnify the Lord” (v. 46). Now in
verse 48, Mary expresses her grateful joy and teaches us a great lesson about what
stands between us and this heavenly, divine joy. Mary proclaims, “For He
has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant.” My friend, the one thing that keeps from experiencing
this kind of joy is pride.
Mary reveals the humility of her heart as she declares that
she is a maidservant, and pictures herself as a slave to God, as a servant to
the Lord. She is deeply conscious that she could never merit the exceptional honor
that has been conferred upon her. We do not deserve or in anyway merit God’s
love and grace and the great salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ. Everyone who truly knows God and lives in the
light of His presence cannot but be conscious of his or her utter unworthiness
of such love and favor.
It is only when, like Mary, we are in the low estate of
humility that the Lord will lift us up. James 4:6 reminds us that “God
resist the proud but gives grace to the humble”. I believe this verse summarizes
the message of the whole Bible and everything about our lives! God stands
against the proud and gives grace to the humble. Over and over again we find
verses that teach us this truth!
Psalm 138:6, “Though the LORD is on high, Yet He regards
the lowly; But the proud He knows from afar. It might be that Mary had this
verse in mind as she sings her song! The wisdom Book of the Bible, Proverbs,
has numerous verses on this subject! Proverbs 11:2, “When pride comes, then
comes shame; But with the humble is wisdom.” Proverbs 16:5, “Everyone
proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD; Though they join forces, none
will go unpunished.”
Proverbs 16:18-19, “Pride goes before destruction, And a
haughty spirit before a fall. Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly,
Than to divide the spoil with the proud.” Proverbs 18:12, “Before
destruction the heart of a man is haughty, And before honor is humility.” Yes,
the middle letter of sin is I, the middle letter of pride is I. It is pride
that keeps us from experiencing the grace of God that we desperately need every
day. We need to know that it is only by the grace of God that we can receive
His salvation, or anything good from His hand! Paul proclaimed, “By the
grace of God, I am what I am!” (1 Corinthians 15:10).
It is when we humble ourselves that we receive God’s grace
for salvation! It is when with grateful hearts that we humbly submit to the Lord’s
will for our lives, that we experience divine joy that the devil can’t steal or
destroy!
God bless!
