March 20, 2021
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My Soul Magnifies the Lord
The final chapters of Deuteronomy show how the Lord will continue to care for His people as the leadership of Israel passes from Moses to Joshua. Moses blesses the twelve tribes of Israel in a way that mirrors the blessing that the patriarch Jacob gave right before his death in Genesis 49.
When blessing the tribe of Levi, Moses highlights the two main jobs of priests: to teach the law and oversee the sacrificial system. In a similar way, the Lord’s purpose for Israel is to serve as a kingdom of priests to all nations (Exodus 19:6).
After Moses died, the narrator notes that the prophet like Moses prophesied in Deuteronomy 18:15-19 has not yet come. Later, the book of Acts (Acts 3:22-24, Acts 7:37) will show how Jesus fulfills this prophecy as the new and greater Moses.
“The beloved of the Lord dwells in safety. The High God surrounds him all day long, and dwells between his shoulders.” - Deuteronomy 33:12
Luke moves from announcing the birth of John the Baptist to foretelling the birth of Jesus. Everything in John’s future life and ministry will serve the purpose of preparing the way for Christ.
When Mary visits her relative Elizabeth, she responds to Elizabeth’s Spirit-filled blessings with a song of praise of her own. Mary’s song of praise has been called the “Magnificat,” from the Latin translation of its opening line, “My soul magnifies the Lord” (Luke 1:46).
Mary’s song is reminiscent of Old Testament hymns of praise, such as Hannah’s prayer after giving birth to the prophet Samuel in 1 Samuel 2:1-10. Mary concludes her song by showing how God is fulfilling His promise to Abraham (Genesis 17:19) through the birth of Jesus.
Make It Personal
- In the time of Deuteronomy, the role of the priests was to teach the law and to oversee the sacrifices for the rest of the people. In the New Testament, Peter writes that we are now that kingdom of priests and are called to be ministers of the Gospel. How can you teach the Word of God and bless others with the sacrifice of Jesus?
- Mary’s response to overwhelming news was to praise the Lord and seek counsel from a trusted friend. When you receive overwhelming news, how do you respond? As you pray today, thank God for his goodness in your life, and reach out to a trusted friend to share it with.