Come Learn Rest Ministries

During Advent, we reflected on Mary’s words of exaltation that welled up from her soul.  She blessed God for blessing her.  This is a practice we can do as well.

Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and all that is within me,
bless his holy name.
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits.
Psalm 103:1-2

These verses reveal two things about blessing. First, it is the soul that blesses God. Second, when we bless God, we are not to forget his benefits.

In Jesus day, God’s people practiced reciting their own “Lord’s Prayer” called the Amidah. The benedictions in this prayer recall God’s benefits:

Blessed are you, O Lord, the shield of Abraham.
Blessed are you, O Lord, who revives the dead.
Blessed are you, O Lord, the holy God.
Blessed are you, O Lord, the gracious giver of knowledge.
Blessed are you, O Lord, who delights in repentance.
Blessed are you, O Lord, who is merciful and always ready to forgive.
Blessed are you, O Lord, the redeemer of Israel.
Blessed are you, O Lord, the healer of the sick of his people Israel.
Blessed are you, O Lord, who blesses the years.
Blessed are you, O Lord, who gathers the dispersed of his people Israel.
Blessed are you, O Lord, the King who loves righteousness and justice.
Blessed are you, O Lord, who smashes enemies and humbles the arrogant.
Blessed are you, O Lord, the support and stay of the righteous.
Blessed are you, O Lord, who rebuilds Jerusalem.
Blessed are you, O Lord, who causes salvation to flourish.
Blessed are you, O Lord, who hears prayer.
Blessed are you, O Lord, who restores his divine presence to Zion.
Blessed are you, O Lord, whose Name is the Beneficent One,
and to whom it is fitting to give thanks.
Blessed are you, O Lord, who blesses his people Israel with peace.

It is good for the soul to daily practice blessing God and to be thankful for the benefit of God’s presence. Taking time to write or recite “Blessed are you, O Lord, who … ” prayers, helps us recall that God is God and we are not. Moreover, a time of blessing God revives the soul and encourages us to go and bless others in the Lord’s name.

As 2016 ends, consider a new practice  of praying  “Blessed are you, O Lord, who …” prayers, and let your soul be revived.  Like Mary, may our souls exalt and bless God in 2017.

The open book in Nicolas Poussin’s 1857 painting of the Annunciation intrigues me and causes me to wonder about this moment.  What Scripture passages are on the pages of the book?  Consider Mary’s response again to the angel’s visitation:

And Mary said:
“My soul exalts the Lord,
And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
“For He has had regard for the humble state of His bonds leave;
For behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed.
“For the Mighty One has done great things for me;
and holy is His name.
“And His mercy is upon generation after generation
Toward those who fear Him.
“He has done mighty deeds with His arm;
He has scattered those who were proud
in the thoughts of their heart.
“He has brought down rulers from their thrones,
And has exalted those who were humble.
“He has filled the hungry with good things;
And sent away the rich empty-handed.
“He has given help to Israel His servant,
In remembrance of His mercy,
As He spoke to our fathers,
To Abraham and his descendants forever.”
~Luke 1:46-55 (NASB)

Above all else, is Mary overwhelmed by how holy is His name.  So perhaps the book is opened to these words from the prophet Isaiah:

In the year of King Uzziah’s death I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple. Seraphim stood above Him, each having six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called out to another and said,
“Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts,
The whole earth is full of His glory.”
~Isaiah 6:1-3 (NASB)

Or perhaps Mary is reflecting on these verses the Psalmist wrote:

The Lord reigns, let the peoples tremble;
He is enthroned above the cherubim, let the earth shake!
The Lord is great in Zion,
And He is exalted above all the peoples.
Let them praise Your great and awesome name;
Holy is He.
The strength of the King loves justice;
You have established equity;
You have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob.
Exalt the Lord our God
And worship at His footstool;
Holy is He.
~Psalm 99:1-5 (NASB)

In these final days of Advent as we prepare our hearts to worship our newborn King, may you and I take a few moments to consider the wonder of just how holy is His name.

As she stands alone in paintings of the Annunciation, the reality that Mary received God’s favor is portrayed. In Nicolas Poussin’s 1857 painting, God’s blessing upon Mary is reinforced by the dove descending from above. In her words of praise, Mary seems to be remembering this moment and the great things God has done for her. Yet in wisdom beyond her teenage years, she knows the birth that is months away is not just about her, but about all who fear God and hope in God’s promises.

Mary responded,
“Oh, how my soul praises the Lord.
How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!
For he took notice of his lowly servant girl,
and from now on all generations will call me blessed.
For the Mighty One is holy,
and he has done great things for me.
He shows mercy from generation to generation
to all who fear him.
His mighty arm has done tremendous things!
He has scattered the proud and haughty ones.
He has brought down princes from their thrones
and exalted the humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away with empty hands.
He has helped his servant Israel
and remembered to be merciful.
For he made this promise to our ancestors,
to Abraham and his children forever.”
~Luke 1:46-55 (NLT)

As you read these verses do you notice the shift from me to we? God has and continues to show mercy to all from generation to generation just as mercy was shown to “his lowly servant girl.”  Christmas invites each of us to make a shift from me to we. The Psalmist echoes the second part of Mary’s Praise.

Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him,
on those who hope in his steadfast love,
that he may deliver their soul from death
and keep them alive in famine.
Our soul waits for the Lord;
he is our help and our shield.
For our heart is glad in him,
because we trust in his holy name.
Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us,
even as we hope in you.
~Psalm 33:18-22 (ESV)

This Advent season, as you and I move from me to we,  may we share with others our hope in the Lord our Savior.

And Mary said,
“My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
And his mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
and exalted those of humble estate;
he has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
as he spoke to our fathers,
to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”
~Luke 1:46-55 (ESV)

As I continue this Advent to reflect on Mary’s words of praise, I cannot help but wonder about Mary’s rejoicing. She confirms for us that joy is a relational emotion because she is rejoicing in God her Savior. Moreover from her story, we grasp the reality that joy interrupts our lives when the unexpected descends upon us, as it did for Mary when God looked upon her humble estate.

Nicolas Poussin’s 1857 painting of the Annunciation depicts the Divine’s interruption and unexpected descent, which brought Mary so much joy she was eventually compelled to write about it. The desert father, St. Seraphim of Sarov wrote this about the Holy Spirit’s descent: When the Sprit of God descends on a man, and envelops him in the fullness of his presence, the soul overflows with unspeakable joy, for the Holy Spirit fills everything he touches with joy.

I would imagine that Mary’s pregnancy was touched with joy as she waited for the Divine’s interruption and the unexpected descent from heaven of the Son of the living God. In these days of Advent, we anticipate with Mary the birth of our Lord and Savior, in whom we experience true community and the fullness of joy.

I bless the Lord who gives me counsel;
in the night also my heart instructs me.
I have set the Lord always before me;
because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.
Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices;
my flesh also dwells secure.
For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,
or let your holy one see corruption.
You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
~Psalm 16:7-11 (ESV)

May our whole beings rejoice in Jesus the fullness of our joy.