The Savior is Going to Make Everything Right: Hunger, Poverty, Everything
46 And Mary said,
“My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
49 for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. 50 And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.
51 He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; 52 he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate;
53 he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, 55 as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”
Remember how Mary is seeing this whole “You’re going to have a baby and He’ll sit on David’s throne forever and ever” thing as a fulfillment of all of the promises of God. Everything God ever said He would do for His people and for all of the nations, God is going to do in Mary’s baby.
- He will show His full strength
- He will bring down those that claim to be mighty
- He will lift up the humble and the poor to a good position
- He will fill the hungry with good things
- He will send away the rich people with nothing
Compare those last few things with the beatitudes in Matthew 5:3–12:
[3] “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
[4] “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
[5] “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
[6] “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
[7] “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
[8] “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
[9] “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
[10] “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
[11] “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. [12] Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (ESV)
The whole point is what God intended in Eden — that people would draw who they are from God. That the source of their life would be God Himself. That’s why the hungry, poor, and meek are going to be filled and full and inherit the earth. They didn’t get satisfied on the delights of the world.
Those that were full of themselves, the world, and it’s fading glory will find themselves empty and with nothing because all of the things they trusted in will be gone.
Mary acknowledges that for all of the oppression, poverty, sexism, sin and shame she’s ever experienced or that her people have suffered, a savior is coming to save them from all of that and more. God, the source of life from the beginning, is coming to take back what is His.
1 Corinthians 1:27–31
[27] But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; [28] God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, [29] so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. [30] And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, [31] so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
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