What Old Testament passages connect with Mary's expression of praise in Luke 1:46? Opening Words to Israel’s God Mary: “My soul magnifies the Lord.” (Luke 1:46) Old Testament echoes of that exact heart-cry: • 1 Samuel 2:1 – “My heart exults in the LORD; my horn is exalted in the LORD.” • Psalm 34:2-3 – “My soul will boast in the LORD… Magnify the LORD with me.” • Psalm 35:9 – “My soul will rejoice in the LORD and exult in His salvation.” • Psalm 69:30 – “I will praise God’s name in song and magnify Him with thanksgiving.” • Psalm 103:1 – “Bless the LORD, O my soul; all that is within me, bless His holy name.” • Isaiah 61:10 – “I will rejoice greatly in the LORD; my soul will exult in my God.” • Habakkuk 3:18 – “Yet I will exult in the LORD; I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.” Hannah’s Song—The Primary Template 1 Samuel 2:1-10 (BSB selections) • v. 1 “My heart exults in the LORD…” • v. 4 “The bows of the mighty are broken, but the feeble are equipped with strength.” • v. 8 “He raises the poor from the dust; He lifts the needy… to set them among princes.” Parallels: rejoicing in God, reversal of human status, God’s faithful covenant love—all woven directly into Mary’s Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55). Psalms of Personal Praise • Psalm 34 – deliverance for the humble (cf. Luke 1:52). • Psalm 35 – God vindicates the righteous poor (cf. Luke 1:53). • Psalm 98 – a new song for the Lord’s salvation, echoed in Mary’s declaration that “He has done great things” (Luke 1:49). • Psalm 103 – blessing the Lord for covenant mercy; mirrored in Mary’s rehearsal of God’s mercy to “those who fear Him” (Luke 1:50). Prophetic Notes of Joy and Reversal • Isaiah 41:8-10 – God’s help for His servant Israel (cf. Luke 1:54). • Isaiah 61:10-11 – garments of salvation and righteousness springing up, the seed-bed for Mary’s joy. • Micah 6:8 and 7:18-20 – the Lord delights in mercy, fulfilling promises to Abraham (Luke 1:55). • Habakkuk 3:17-19 – rejoicing in God even in want, akin to Mary’s praise amid humble circumstances. Key Themes Threading the Testaments • Magnification of the LORD’s name • Joy springing from personal experience of salvation • Reversal of human fortunes by divine grace • Faithfulness to covenant promises reaching back to Abraham The Magnificat’s opening note in Luke 1:46 is therefore a rich tapestry of earlier Scriptures, especially Hannah’s prayer, multiple psalms of praise, and prophetic celebrations of God’s redeeming, covenant-keeping love. |
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