Mary’s Song

God is one who flips scripts. By nature, humans are self-sufficient and we aggrandize those who seem to have it all together and are able to make a name for themselves. But God loves the ironic twist in the story. He loves using those the world despises to put to nothing those that the world thinks are something (1 Cor 1:27-28). When Gabriel announced to Mary that she would give birth to the Messiah, she was amazed by how God was exalting her in spite of her low position. This became the theme of her song: “[The Lord] has done mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down rulers from their throne, and has exalted those who were humble. He has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty handed (Lk 1:51-53).” And this has been the way God has always worked. He chose Israel because He loved them, not because they were the greatest of any of the peoples (Dt 7:7). He used David the forgotten, youngest, and least of Jesse’s boys to be king (1 Sm 16:11-12). He used two prostitutes, a Moabitess, and an adulteress in the Messiah’s line (Mt 1:3-7). These examples are evidence of James’s claim that “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble (Jm 4:6).” God uses circumstances in our lives to bring us to the end of ourselves so that we’ll rely more on Him; it is then that God can use us. It is then that instead of scattering our plans, bringing us down from our lofty positions, and sending us away empty handed, He does mighty deeds on our behalf, exalting us, and feeding us with good things. When we’re huddled in a corner with our head between our knees, God picks us up and like the father of the prodigal, clothes us and gives us a feast in order to destroy the idea that only the best and brightest are useful. This is what God does, and it’s what we expect Him to do going forward as He builds His church and eventually rescues Israel and brings in the kingdom in His return. This is our anticipation: God flipping the script. –Pastor Rory

Sunday at Liberty