The Pulpit Commentary — Luke — Volume 1 — Section 44

was the" cbiPf joy" of human hearts &llllerting hie marvellous power, The Holy Ghost conducts the humble womRn to t.he most entrancing joy. 4. Mary's faith~ recognized. and encour.1ged, The contrast between MRry's faith and Zacbarias's doubt must have ~en ver~ mRrked. The poor pri~t is stealing about_ the house dumb, while Mary is ID tbe enJoyment of all her faculties and powers. Elisabeth would rejoice that Me.ry through unhesitating faith, he.d escaped such a judgment aR her husband we.s enduring'. The blessedmiss of faiLh in God cannot be too emphatioally as,ertcd, It is the secret of real happiness just to take him at his word. As the "faithful Promiser" he- never disappoints 11.ny who put their faith in his promised e.id. Not only do we who believe enter into rest (Heh. iv. 3), but we e.lso enter into blesse,lness (cf. µri1to.plri of ver, 46). II. THE INSPffiATION OF MARY. (Vers. 46----55.) We have in the Magnificat of Mary the noblest of Christian hymns. There are tracos of such earlier efforts as Hannah's prayer; but this only brings out the continuity of the revelation, and in no way affects the originality of }.fary's inspiration. And here let us notice: 1. How God is the Soarr,e of ,Mary's joy. It is not in herself she rejoices, but in God as her Saviour, 'l'his is t11u great fa.et we have all got to realize-that our Saviour, not our state, is the fountain of joy. And when we consider his power, and his revealed purposes, e.nd the course of his redeeming love, we must acknowledge that there. is in him abundant reason for our joy. Mary felt in body, soul, and spirit the joy of her Lord. 2. Mary recognizu in her own selection the condescending love of God. It is not those the world would select as instruments whom God chooses. The world selects the rich. God chooses "the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he he.th promised to them that love him" (Jas. ii. 5); so here Mary signalizes her "low estate " as magnifying her Lord's condescending love. How beautiful a spirit to cultivate I Instead of the honour done her unduly exalting her, it only leads her to adore the Dhine condescension in stooping to such as she was. 3. She believes in her everlasting.fame. She knows tbat the Incarnation will prove such e. stupendous fact that all generations will call her blessed. As the mother of Messiah, she cannot but have the homage of all coming generations. She ought consequently to be with all of us " the blessed mother of the Christ of God." 4. She feels herself the subfect of great mercy from the Holy One. And is this not the acknowledgment which all God's peopl<' may make? Hath he not done great things for all bis people, whereof they are glad (Ps. cxxvi. l)? 5. She takes the wid,est views of God's dealings with others. '!'bus she recog,,izcs: (1) That those who/ear God receive his mercy in every generation. (Ver. 50.) '.J.'1is is the law of mercy-it is given to those who fear God. It was never meant to encourage men in recklessness or presumption. (2) 'l'he proud experience his dispersive power. (Ver. 51.) This is brought out in history. 1 The Jewish captivities, 1.heir present dispersion, " the decline e.nd fall of the Rome.n Empire," and many a judgment since, have been illustrations of this line of procedure on the part of the Most High. (3) The depositwn of rulers and the e=ltation of the humble. (Ver. 62.) Mary is here speaking of the usurpers in Palestine, e.nd the exaltation of those they despised. The law was marvellously i!lUBtrated in the case of Mary's Son, whose exaltation aho-.e all dynasties is the greatest fa.et in civilization (cf. 5uvda-nr of ver. 52). (4) The satisfaction of the needy, and the disappointment of the rich. (Ver. 53.) Here is another e.spect of the law of the Divine dealings. '!'hose who feel their need, and hunger after satisfaction, receive it from God. Mary experienced this, and so do all who really hunger after God and righteousness. They have a beatituile always in store for them (Matt. v. 6). On the other hand, those who are ri~b, that is, who_feel ind~- pendent aud will not look to the Lord for help, who have, ID short, "received their consolation," are sent empty away. Disappointment sooner or later becomes their portion. This was the experience of Pharisee and Sadducee and all the well-to-do and self-righteous classes in our Lord's time. And uadoubtedly the arrangement is just. (5) Tl;,efidelity of God to his covenant with Israel. (Vers. 54, 55.) In the Incarnation God was sending real help to his people. It was the crowniag act of mi,rcy, and the fulfilment of the promises made to Abraham and bis seed. Mary thus began with G,xi's holiness, and rasscd in review bis power, his mercy, and finally bis faithfulness, All these are illustrated pn,- eminently in the lacarnation. fil 'fllESE INSPI!!A TIONi., PRESENT TO US THE CIIAllACTEB OF THE GOSPEL, For 1 Cf. Li<ldon's 'Univerility Sermoas,' vol. ii. pp. 205-210. OJI. L 1-80.] THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. LUKE. 36