City Life Starter

Written by Megan Meier

The Word

50 And his mercy is for those who fear him
    from generation to generation.
51 He has shown strength with his arm;
    he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
52 he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
    and exalted those of humble estate;
53 he has filled the hungry with good things,
    and the rich he has sent away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
    in remembrance of his mercy,
55 as he spoke to our fathers,
    to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”

56 And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home.

Luke 1:50-56 ESV

Reflection

Before continuing on, be sure to read Calah’s analysis of the first part of Mary’s Song, also known as The Magnificat, Mary’s praise to God.

Despite the hardships Mary and her family were going through, what her ancestors have experienced, and what she will go through, she still has faith in God. Obedience to God will lead to being His treasured possession (Exodus 19:5) and those who love God will be loved by Him along with their descendants (Exodus 20:6).

Mary compares the arrogant vs humble, the rich vs poor. Why does Mary make these comparisons in her praise to God? She lived in a very classist society with a very strict social structure, not just within Jewish Israel, but among the entire Roman empire. The Roman world was a dictatorship, and the Jews were one of the groups they oppressed. If a Roman soldier told a Jew to carry his pack for a mile he had to do it.

Many people groups were humbled at this time: Jews, women, Samaritans, and people with handicaps such as blindness or crippling were a few. Mary had been raised with the stories of the Old Testament and incorporated its lessons in her praise: God had scattered the proud people of Babel who wanted to exalt themselves (Genesis 11:1-9). No earthly king is above God, and He brought down those who were arrogant enough to think they were (Saul (1 Samuel 15:7-23, 31:1-4), Ahab (1 Kings 16:29-17:1, 22:34-35), Manasseh (2 Chronicles 33:1-20)). She would have remembered that God provided manna and quail in the desert (Exodus 16:1-18) and Elijah, the widow, and her son with ingredients for bread (1 Kings 17:13-16).

God had done all of these things, and Jesus will do these as well. Jesus will scatter the proud Pharisees and bring them down from their thrones (Matthew 23), exalt the humble (Mark 12:41-44, John 8:1-11, 9:1-7 are just a few examples), fill the hungry with good things (Matthew 14:15-21), and help His children and remember them (Mark 15:37-38).

In verse 54, the word “remember” in Hebrew is zakar, which means to keep a person in mind and act on their behalf. After 400 years of silence, God zakar His children and has shown mercy by sending the long-promised Savior (Genesis 3:15). Mary had not forgotten God’s promise to His people, and what God promised Abraham, and she kept zakar as well (Genesis 12:2-3).

Application

God has not forgotten you or your situation, those who fear God will be shown mercy and He will zakar you. Think about your current mindset, and be honest with yourself. If you are proud, change your ways before God takes certain measures. If you are being humbled, God will lift you up. The first will be last, and the last will be first (Matthew 20:16).

Prayer

Dear Lord, I know You zakar me, You keep me in mind and act on my behalf. Help me to continue to keep You in mind and act on Your Behalf. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.