Big Idea: God is to be magnified because he looks upon the humble and acts on their behalf. The greatest act that God has ever done on behalf of mankind is the sending of Jesus to be the Savior of the world.
Psalm 113
Mary ______________________ the Lord
Luke 1:46 And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior
Mega-luno:
Psalm 34:1–3 (ESV) — 1 I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. 2 My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad. 3 Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together!
1Kings 18:26-29, 36-39 (279)
Exodus 2:23–25 (ESV) — 23 During those many days the king of Egypt died, and the people of Israel groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help. Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God. 24 And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. 25 God saw the people of Israel—and God knew.
God is not merely one who looks upon the state of humanity, God acts toward that state. God takes the initiative. God swoops down and picks us up. He does not let us continue to wallow in the mud, He bends down and takes us in His arms and wipes off our faces. It is not only that God knows us, it is not only that takes interest in us, it is that God acts our behalf.
The Lord __________________ __________ the Humble
Luke 1:50 (ESV) — 50 And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.
The fear here is one that is not incited by harm necessarily (not to say that isn’t completely inappropriate), but one that is brought on by the greatness of our God.
Psalm 33:13–22 (ESV) — 13 The Lord looks down from heaven; he sees all the children of man; 14 from where he sits enthroned he looks out on all the inhabitants of the earth, 15 he who fashions the hearts of them all and observes all their deeds. 16 The king is not saved by his great army; a warrior is not delivered by his great strength. 17 The war horse is a false hope for salvation, and by its great might it cannot rescue.
18 Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love, 19 that he may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine. 20 Our soul waits for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. 21 For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name. 22 Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you.
It is the Lord that saves. God looks down, from his high and lofty throne in the heavens of heavens and He looks upon those who look to him. He looks to those who look away from themselves, and trust in his mighty and saving hand.
Luke 5:31–32 (ESV) — 31 And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”
Questions to Consider
What is your response to knowing that God takes an interest in you? In what ways have you seen God act on your behalf?
In what ways is the Lord calling you to humble yourself before Him and to seek His good provision for your situation?
Take time this week to magnify the Lord and to tell of all the things He has done for you.
