Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable.
Psalm 145:3
We have minds created by God, whose mind is limitless. We are able to glimpse His greatness but do not have the capacity to comprehend how great and glorious He is. We study galaxies and stars, which were created to sing His praise, and we use powerful tools to magnify them in order to bring them close enough to see. Our telescopes bring close things that are lightyears away. They magnify space.
Likewise, we study atoms and the invisible world of intricate energy that they make up. Our human senses can’t detect or comprehend this creation of God, but with instruments, we are able to magnify their activity and peek into the wonders that God spoke into existence.
We can’t fully understand creation, how much more are we overwhelmed and humbled by the Creator? At best, we believe His word, and by faith in Jesus Christ, we magnify or shorten the distance between ourselves and the unsearchable, infinite, all-powerful God.
46 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,
When Mary entered into Zacharias and Elizabeth’s house, the baby growing in Elizabeth’s womb leaped for joy. Elizabeth began to praise the Lord. The Holy Spirit filled the room. Mary, filled with the Spirit of God, began to speak the truth of God. God would be magnified, praised, and revealed through what God was doing. She was carrying Jesus, to be delivered into a world in desperate need of HIm.
47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
When Gabriel spoke to Mary months ago, he called her “highly favored.” She recognized the honor of being part of God’s plan. She called herself “the handmaid of the Lord.” She believed in the promises made by God through the prophets about the Messiah to come. She is rejoicing at the affirmation of Elizabeth about these promises. Her baby, she understands, will be her Savior. She couldn’t know all that this would require, but by faith, she recognized the Truth.
48 For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
49 For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.
She was doubted by Joseph at first. She would be required to make a long and painful journey in her ninth month of pregnancy. She would give birth in a stable with little help. She would face threats from Herod during Jesus’ early years, and yet she rightly understood that what God was doing through her was a “great thing.” Holy, meaning dedicated and consecrated, sacred and full of purpose. The name of God is to be revered, honored, uplifted, and most of all believed above all of our feelings and over the opinion of any man. He is high, and He is holy.
50 And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.
51 He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
The mercy of God is impossible to comprehend. He’s given us chance after chance and miracle upon miracle. Mankind continually ignores and rejects his love and truth. But for those who fear Him, and respect His position and person, the mercy abundantly flows. He is strength, He is might, and He is able to perform all that the Word of God promises. The arm of God is Jesus. He is the right hand of the Father.
All human beings are ruled by pride and foolishness. “All we like sheep have gone astray, everyone into his own way.” The simple, honest, truth of God, lived out through Jesus His Son, has overcome all the temporary powers on Earth. You barely know of the authorities that existed on the day that Jesus came to Bethlehem’s stable. The world cares little about what they did. Jesus has changed the world forever. Time itself is measured by His coming. Every nation on the globe has been impacted by his arrival and will be impacted by His return.
52 He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.
Jesus said, “If you suffer with me, you will reign with me.” His disciples were 12 ordinary men. They were also the ones who “turned the world upside down.” Christ has given us the ability to be “sons of God.” He has eternally leveled the playing field. Despite their best efforts, the mighty men and women of this Earth will never enter into Heaven without the blood of Jesus Christ. If we make it to Heaven, we’ll all come the same way.
“Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.”
Zechariah 4:6
53 He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.
54 He hath helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;
55 As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.
It seems impossible that a young Jewish girl would be able to prophesy with such wisdom and truth about the plans and purposes of God. It is impossible, unless you understand that it is the Holy Spirit of God speaking through her. You see, He was bringing Jesus close enough to see. The life of Christ is the most powerful instrument, it enables us to examine up close how God loves, how God works, and how God thinks. The God of Abraham was Mary’s God, Israel’s God, and our God. Those who seek him will be filled. Those who think they already know everything will leave hungry.
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Proverbs 3:5-6