Mary’s Magnificat and the Kingdom of God

Scott McKnight (SM) at Jesus Creed suggested I write my own takes on several of these Luke passages that indicate the Kingdom of God. His series can be found in his July 2005 archives.
He starts off his series with this
Today's post begins where we need to begin: with The Magnificat of Mary (Luke 1:46-55). Not only does it provide a plausible context for Jesus -- his mother's faith and vision (I sketch this in Jesus Creed, chp. 9), but it sets out the themes that will become consistent for Jesus.

So I chose the NASB for a more literal text to work from. And mix my comments with Scot’s.
Luke 1:46-55 (New American Standard Bible)
46And Mary said: "My soul exalts the Lord,

JU She lifts up God and gives him his rightful worship.

47And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.

JU This is not only worship but adoration. She has received the greatest blessing any mother could ever receive.

SM 1. God is Savior and Lord in redeeming his people (1:46-47).

48"For He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave; For behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed.

JU God once again has raised up someone not esteemed by society for an amazing mission, like David the youngest son of Jesse, or Deborah, the woman who would trust God when the military commander wouldn’t.

49"For the Mighty One has done great things for me; And holy is His name.

JU God has conceived in her the child foretold in Isaiah. This is what all Israel has been waiting for for 700 years.

2. God, finally, shows his promised mercy to the poor and humble (1:47). [The terms here speak of the Anawim, the pious poor, those whom Jesus is blessing in "blessed are the poor."]

JU I’m not sure where Scot is reading out of this the poor and humble. Anawim is a Hebrew word and is not the word Mary uses as she describes herself as a humble, TAPEINOSIN, slave, DOULEIS. This is the promised fulfilled to all of Israel, not just the poor and humble.

50" AND HIS MERCY IS UPON GENERATION AFTER GENERATION TOWARD THOSE WHO FEAR HIM.

JU Mary echoes Psalm 103:17 “But the lovingkindness of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, And His righteousness to children's children,”
She places herself in the category of those who fear Him, which is why she has received his mercy. She also affirms the promise of God’s mercy to the God fearers. So the kingdom of God is filled with those who fear Him.

SM 3. God shows mercy to those who fear God (1:50)

51" He has done mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their heart.

JU God is characterized by His might. He’s able to put the proud in their place.

SM 4. God's Kingdom is demonstrable in "mighty deeds" (1:51)

52"He has brought down rulers from their thrones, And has exalted those who were humble.

JU In fact, God brings about regime changes. But this same God who deals with kings also interacts with a young Jewish girl like Mary. Nothing is too great or too small for God.

SM 5. God's Kingdom involves stripping the mighty and proud from their lofty places (1:51-52).

53"HE HAS FILLED THE HUNGRY WITH GOOD THINGS; And sent away the rich empty-handed.

JU – A quote from Psalm 107:9. Perhaps a post-exilic Psalm, which in context could refer to the Jewish trek through the wilderness back to the land of Israel. It may be a reference to God’s provision for his people on their return journey. However, this echoes God’s provision with manna when God’s people wandered in the wilderness with Moses. So why does Mary bring this up? She is, literally, being filled up with something good. Young, humble Mary, with no power in society is found with a child that owns the universe, and in her eyes will assume the throne of David. What’s this say about God and his kingdom? It’s an upside-down kingdom. Those who are needy, who depend on God, who aren’t self-sufficient are the ones God gives special attention to.

54"He has given help to Israel His servant, In remembrance of His mercy,

JU – Mary expresses the hope of most Israelites at the time that the Messiah will throw off the oppression of Rome and restore Israel to her Davidic glory and to the world changing kingdom that the prophets detail. But the truth of her utterance is that the help God gives to Israel is not physical. This upside-down kingdom will be politically weak. It will be popular only temporarily, a three year flash in a pan. In fact, his arrival precipitates the physical destruction of Jerusalem and a million of its people, 70 years later. The oppressed people of Israel end up crushed. But the church he starts changes the world, as the Holy Spirit pours out.

55As He spoke to our fathers, To Abraham and his descendants forever."

JU – And so the Abrahamic covenant is consummated.

Genesis 17:1-8 Now when Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, "I am God Almighty; Walk before Me, and be blameless. 2 I will establish My covenant between Me and you, And I will multiply you exceedingly." 3 Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying, 4 "As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, And you will be the father of a multitude of nations. 5 No longer shall your name be called Abram, But your name shall be Abraham; For I will make you the father of a multitude of nations. 6 I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make nations of you, and kings will come forth from you. 7 I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your descendants after you. 8 I will give to you and to your descendants after you, the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God."

And as Paul points out, this promise is made to Abraham and to Jesus, Galatians 3:16. According to Paul, the tutelage of the law has been set aside by the arrival of the seed of Abraham, Jesus. Galatians 3 is very helpful here.

Galatians 3:6 Even so Abraham BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS. 7 Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham. 8 The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, "ALL THE NATIONS WILL BE BLESSED IN YOU." 9 So then those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer. …
16 Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, "And to seeds," as referring to many, but rather to one, "And to your seed," that is, Christ. …
22 But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. 23 But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. 24 Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. 26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's descendants, heirs according to promise.

AMEN. YAHOO.

SM
6. God's Kingdom involves giving justice to the oppressed (1:51-53).
7. God's Kingdom involves the people of God, Israel (1:54)
8. God's Kingdom is connected to the Abraham promises (1:55).
In short, Mary's vision is the realization of the long-expected hope when God will create the society he promised to his people and through his prophets. This society will marked by justice and peace, by fear of God and holiness and mercy/love.

JU – Mary was hoping this. All the Jews were waiting for the amazing Messianic kingdom where the lamb and wolf would lay down together.

Isaiah 11:6 And the wolf will dwell with the lamb, And the leopard will lie down with the young goat, And the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; And a little boy will lead them.

But this didn’t happen. They didn’t know that the Messiah, and the nation of Israel, had to die for the kingdom to take effect. And the idyll time of lambs and lions won’t happen until his return. Until his return God’s people are called to love Him and their neighbors and make disciples of all nations.

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