Luke 1:46-47 (WEB)
Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord.
My spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior…”
These beautiful words are the opening lines of a poetic, Holy Spirit inspired song by Mary. They are words filled with majesty and praise. And throughout the following ages, they would be recited and sung by countless generations.
Yet, if I am honest, some of these words can also be a bit intimidating. What does it mean to “magnify the Lord”? And what if my praise is not as poetic and formal as Mary’s?
Well, let’s begin our answer by taking a look at the word “magnify”. In both the Greek and the Hebrew languages, magnify means “to make great”. In the Hebrew, it can also mean “to make large,” “to grow”, or “to boast”. So, in one sense, Mary is proclaiming the greatness of God. She is boasting about His excellence and the great things He has done.
For he who is mighty has done great things for me.
Holy is his name. ( Luke 1:49 WEB)He has shown strength with his arm. (Luke 1:51 WEB)
Then Mary goes on to list some of the things God has done. It’s as though she is taking a magnifying glass and focusing it on God’s mercy (vs. 50, 54), provision (vs. 53), and faithfulness (vs. 54-55). Also, notice in the opening verses of her song how she says it is her soul that is magnifying God. And it is her spirit that is rejoicing in God her Savior. This praise is coming from a place deep within her. She has first made God great and big within her own thoughts and spirit. This then comes forth in her faith and proclamations.
So, in practical terms, how does this relate to us? Here is an example:
I recently had a day in which my troubles and problems seemed to be growing so much bigger than my resources. I was feeling swamped under by it all. My problems seemed very big without a way to solve them.
And then I came across this Scripture verse:
The Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea. (Psalm 93:4 KJV)
Throughout my day, I had been focusing on the “noise” of my problems, my own “troubled waters.” All I could see were my problems. But Psalm 93:4 reminded me that God is bigger than my problems! Instead of magnifying my problems, I needed to re-adjust my focus and magnify God in my thoughts. Mary did this by recalling God’s goodness and mercy. I can do the same.
By changing my focus from the waves of my problems to the big God who is greater than my problems, my faith and peace grew, and my anxiety diminished. My spirit within me grew calm. Now this is the frame of mind from which praise can flow.
Which leads us to our second question: “What if my praise seems small when compared to the grandeur of Mary’s song?” What matters most is our heart attitude. Praise coming from a heart full of thankfulness and love is far more pleasing to God than the most beautiful words, if they are not sincere.
If I speak with the languages of men and of angels, but don’t have love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. ( I Corinthians 13:1 WEB)
Give God your most joyful praise as you focus on His greatness and you will be magnifying the Lord. The beauty of the words is less important than the attitude of your heart. And even if your words are not as poetic as Mary’s words, they will bring joy to God’s heart.
Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: and let such as love thy salvation say continually, Let God be magnified. (Psalm 70:4 KJV)
“Song of Mary (Magnificat) by Liturgical Folk
Scripture verses are taken from the World English Bible (WEB) and the King James Version (KJV), Public Domain.