But there was risk connected with everything, and we were hard men bred to a hard life in a hard land, and the lives that we lived were lonely, yet rich with the voice of our singing, and with tales told of an evening by the campfire.”
–Louis L’Amoure (Killoe)
“Lift up your spear and javelin and block the ways of my enemies. Let me hear you say, ‘I am your salvation!'”
–Psalm 35:3 (NLT)
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I have often tried to think of the days of Mary and Joseph. What extraordinary people they were. No, that’s not right, they were ordinary people who had faith, used it, and obeyed. That is something we all can do. But there is more to it. I once told a friend of mine who has a large church in Brooklyn, I said, “Bill, I could not do what you do.” He looked straight at me, I can still see it though it happened back in the late 1970s, and said, “You could if God called you to do it.”
The calling! I won’t say much regarding it now, but it is vital. Today, we look at Mary. A young girl, possibly as young as fourteen, was visited by an angel and told that she would become pregnant by the Holy Spirit and would bear the Son of God. Wow! When you think of it, it sort of boggles the mind. There it is again, that mystery of the Incarnation. Mary hears, listens, and gives herself over to the will of God and then sings a song. I like what R.V.G. Tasker said, “Mary sings of a God who is not bound by what men do. He turns human attitudes and orders of society upside down.” This song is found in Luke 1.
46 — And Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord,
47 — And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
48 — For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; for behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.
49 — For He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name.
50 — And His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation.
51 — He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
52 — He has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted the lowly.
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 seed forever.” (NKJV)
Mary must have known the Scriptures, and it is clear that she had a relationship with her heavenly Father. She knew of His great power and wondrous mercy. However, there is more–the song burst forth for several reasons, the promise, the visitation, the recognition of God, but even more–she was to be the vessel in which the covenant, the promise of God would be fulfilled. God would bring the Messiah to Israel (and to all men) through her. Thrilled, excited, and maybe a little fearful, but she bursts out into praise.
Here is a good question and thought raised by William Petersen. “When God asks you to do something, how do you respond? Are you scared stiff, or do you follow Mary’s example, praising God that He has chosen to use you to accomplish His will? He has chosen some unlikely people in the past to do His bidding, so don’t be too surprised if He chooses you.” Hmm, are you ready for the call?
“Hear the glad sound, the Savior comes, the Savior promised long!
Let every heart prepare a throne, and every voice a song.
He comes the broken heart to bind, the bleeding soul to cure,
And with the treasures of His grace to raise the humble poor.”
–Philip Doddridge