Mary’s Song: A Model of Motherhood and Worship

In the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, it's easy to lose sight of what truly matters.  As we reflect on Mother's Day, let's take a moment to consider a remarkable mother from the Bible - Mary, the mother of Jesus. Her story offers us profound insights into motherhood, faith, and the power of worship.

Luke 1:46-55 captures Mary's beautiful song of praise, often called the Magnificat. This heartfelt expression of joy and reverence provides us with a model of true worship and a glimpse into the heart of a woman chosen for an extraordinary purpose. We see how Mary views herself and how she views God.

This young woman, chosen to be the mother of the Messiah, had clearly spent time steeping her heart and mind in God's Word. Her song reveals a profound understanding of Israel's history and God's covenant promises. It's a powerful reminder that our worship is enriched and deepened when we root ourselves in Scripture.

One of the most striking aspects of Mary's song is her clear recognition of her need for a Savior. She rejoices in "God my Savior," revealing that she understood her own sinfulness and dependence on God's mercy. This is not the prayer of someone who saw herself as sinless or perfect, but of a humble believer grateful for God's grace.

In a world that often pressures mothers to be perfect, Mary's example is refreshing and liberating. She reminds us that it's not about our perfection, but about God's mercy and grace in our lives. As mothers, fathers, or individuals, we can find freedom in acknowledging our imperfections and resting in God's love and forgiveness.

Mary's song is a beautiful exploration of God's attributes. She praises Him as Lord, Savior, Mighty One, Holy, Merciful, and Strong. Her words paint a picture of a God who is both transcendent in His power and immanent in His care for His people.

She celebrates God's mercy, declaring that it extends to those who "fear him from generation to generation." This theme of God's faithfulness across time is woven throughout her song, reminding us of the enduring nature of God's love and promises.

Mary also praises God's justice and His care for the humble and needy. She proclaims that He "He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away." These words echo the themes of reversal found throughout Scripture, where God often works in ways that confound human expectations.

While Mary's role as the mother of Jesus was unique, her response to God's call offers valuable lessons for all of us, especially mothers. She demonstrates that true greatness comes not from our own perfection or achievements, but from our willingness to be used by God in whatever way He chooses. And he deserves praise for it, Mary has a song of praise as soon as she finds out she’s pregnant.

Her song wasn’t one of self glorification but humble worship to our perfect God. It was rooted in the fear of God instead of pride in herself. She knew firsthand that God exalted the lowly. A poor teenager from a small village was chosen to be the mother and to carry the savior of the world.

Mary was not the perfect mother, and she knew that, and neither are you. Mary was extraordinary, because God used her in an extraordinary way. She clearly saw herself as ordinary, portrayed in the word as an instrument to fulfill his plan formed before the foundation of the world. You too are an instrument God is using in an extraordinary way.

Mom’s feel a lot of pressure to be the perfect mom, and some feel like losers because their not the perfect mom. There’s even children who resent their mom’s because they aren’t. But there is no such thing as a perfect mom. YOU ARE NOT PERFECT, and that’s ok.

Mary understood this, its one of the things that made her a model mother. She knew herself, but more importantly she knows who her God is.

Jesus said, "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:32). Mary's song is a beautiful expression of this freedom that comes from knowing and embracing God's truth. She found liberation in recognizing who she was - a humble servant blessed by God - and who God is - the mighty, holy, and merciful Savior.

The Genesis of Mary's Praise was her love for the Lord and fear of God. She was a humble sinner who hungered and thirsted for the righteousness of God.

Mary's song didn't emerge from a vacuum. It was born out of a deep well of faith, nurtured by her immersion in Scripture. As Romans 10:17 reminds us, "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. " Mary's words echo the prayers of Hannah in 1 Samuel, resonate with the Psalms, and draw from the rich tapestry of Old Testament prophecies and history.

At its core, Mary's song is about magnifying the Lord. She begins by declaring, "My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. " This focus on exalting God, rather than herself, is the essence of genuine worship.

Mary's humility shines through her words. She acknowledges her "low estate" and refers to herself as God's "handmaiden" or servant. This attitude of lowliness before God is key to true worship. As James 4:10 teaches us, "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up."

As we reflect on Mary's example, we're invited to find this same freedom. Whether we're mothers feeling the weight of societal expectations, children grappling with resentment towards imperfect parents, or individuals struggling with our own shortcomings, the truth of God's Word offers liberation.

We're freed from the burden of trying to be perfect when we recognize that we serve a perfect Savior. We're liberated to worship authentically when we understand both our lowliness and God's greatness. We're released to serve joyfully when we grasp the depth of God's mercy and love for us.

Mary's song challenges us to cultivate hearts of worship in our daily lives. It invites us to look beyond our circumstances, whether joyful or challenging, and focus on the unchanging character of God. It encourages us to let our knowledge of God's Word overflow into praise, just as Mary's did.

As we reflect on Mother's Day, let's take inspiration from Mary's example. Whether we're mothers, children, or simply individuals seeking to deepen our faith, we can all learn from her humble, Scripture-saturated, God-centered worship.

Let's strive to know God's Word deeply, to recognize both our need for a Savior and the incredible grace we've received, and to lift our voices in praise to the God who has done great things. In doing so, we'll find that what brings God the greatest glory also brings us the greatest joy and freedom.

May our lives, like Mary's song, be a continuous magnification of the Lord, echoing her words: "My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour."