Following Elizabeth’s greet and praise to God for Mary carrying in her body her Lord, Mary breaks out into praise signifying just how scripture-laden her young mind really was. Her praise is rich in Old Testament allusions and quotations, and mirrors the response of Hannah upon news of her miraculous birth. Her response is a model for every believer.
She opens with rejoicing over her Lord and savior:
My soul exalts the Lord,
And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior (Luke 1:46-47)
She declares to God the basis for her praise:
“For He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave;
For behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed.
“For the Mighty One has done great things for me (Luke 1:48-49a)
She acknowledges the holy nature of her God:
“And holy is his name” (Luke 1:49b)
She goes on in the rest of the song to praise God for his many mercies to his people as well as his faithfulness to Abraham and his descendants.
What is amazing is that she is a very young woman and yet she is steeped in biblical knowledge of the words and works of God. She was clearly raised in a godly home and she was righteous before God. She was set apart to her “Lord and savior” and as a result, she was chosen by God to bear in her body, the body of her “Lord and savior.” Age is not an issue when God wants to use someone for his glory.
Gospel Meditations 