December 16, 2009
General Bible Study Information
One way to use this study: Read the scripture(s) from your Bible. Read the commentary included here. If you have additional study information, you might want to look at it. Consider the Discussion questions. Post comments or additional questions. Return during the week (two weeks this session) to read other comments and add additional thoughts.
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Luke 1:46-53 - The Magnificat
After Mary received the visit of Gabriel and accepted the calling to be the mother of Jesus, she went to visit her cousin, Elizabeth. Elizabeth was older, had never had children and by that time of life had not expected to ever have them. Yet now she was six months into her pregnancy.
Elizabeth recognized what had happened to her young cousin. The Magnificat, as it is called, is the ecstatic song of praise that Mary spoke at that time.
Scholars generally call upon readers to compare Mary’s Magnificat with the Song of Hannah in I Samuel 2:1-10. Both songs open with a couplet exalting the Lord.
(A couple is a unit of poetic verse, consisting of two successive lines, usually rhyming and having the same meter)
Mary said:
Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord,
Rejoice, rejoice, my spirit, in God, my savior
Hannah prayed:
My heart rejoices in the LORD,
In the LORD I now hold my head high;
Hannah and Mary were in somewhat similar circumstances. Both were early in their pregnancies and neither woman had necessarily had cause to believe they would be expecting at that time. However, Mary was young and no doubt believed she would bear children at some time. Hannah had been married for many years to a man who dearly loved her, but their love had not resulted in the sons or daughters she desperately wanted.
Hannah’s husband, Elkinah, was also married to Peninnah (this being legal at the time) for whom he had less affection. Yet this union had produced children, and the wife of this marriage was not always gracious to Hannah. (Remember that Elkinah loved Hannah and not Peninnah, which must have seemed terribly unfair to the woman who had been able to give him children.)
Hannah prayed desperately for a child and she did become pregnant with Samuel. This gave rise to her song of praise.
It may been seen as a reflection of the times and of the rivalry between Hannah and Peninnah that Hannah’s next words were less “elevated” than those of Mary. Both praise God, but Mary goes on in beautiful words to speak of how God has blessed her. Hannah expresses derision at her “foes.” Yet she quickly leaves that theme and returns to praising God.
Both songs suggest that human pride is foolish in face of the one who is really in charge of the universe.
Both songs point at the reversal of fortunes that human beings can experience. Strength is sometimes embarrassed, while the weak find strength. The rich may become hungry and the hungry can receive sustenance. As Hannah is acutely aware, being barren is not always an irreversible condition, while having children is not a guarantor of happiness. The powerful may be cast down and the lowly lifted up.
Both songs end with confidence in God’s providence for the future.
The overall stories of Mary and of Hannah are both different and similar. Hannah was a woman with experience of life and the world. Mary was a girl on the verge of entering the adult world.
Hannah came to God, pleading, begging for a child. The prophet, Eli, thought she was intoxicated as she spoke without sound in her prayers. But when she spoke, he recognized her faith and sincerity. He expressed his hope that her prayer would be granted.
We don’t know what Mary was doing when Gabriel came to see her. She is often pictured at prayer, but she could have been helping around the home or perhaps walking on a hillside. She was startled by the news, troubled by what it all meant. But she was willing to accept the task ahead.
Both Hannah and Mary bore sons with special gifts and who did important things. Hannah gave her son to be raised by Eli—giving up that which she had wanted so badly. Mary was able to raise her son, but had to surrender him in the end, first to his great calling, finally to the cross.
Discussion Questions:
What life lessons arise out of the stories of Hannah and Mary?
If Mary remembered her “Magnificat” at the time of the crucifixion, how might she have reflected on those words?
In uncertain times (truthfully, all times are uncertain), how do we express faith in God’s providence for the future?
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