Read Psalm 136:17-26. 17to him who struck down great kings, for his steadfast love endures forever; 18and killed mighty kings, for his steadfast love endures forever; 19Sihon, king of the Amorites, for his steadfast love endures forever; 20and Og, king of Bashan, for his steadfast love endures forever; 21and gave their land as a heritage, for his steadfast love endures forever; 22a heritage to Israel his servant, for his steadfast love endures forever. 23It is he who remembered us in our low estate, for his steadfast love endures forever; 24and rescued us from our foes, for his steadfast love endures forever; 25he who gives food to all flesh, for his steadfast love endures forever. 26Give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures forever.
Mary will echo these same truths in her glorious song of praise, the Magnificat.
Luke 1:46-48. 46“My soul magnifies the Lord, 47and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; 49for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.”
Just as God saw Mary in her humble estate and rescued her from her foes, God sees us in our low estate, our humiliation, our degradation, and he does great things for us as well.
For Mary it was literally the placement of her savior into her flesh. She would carry the Son of God in her womb. For you and I it is the placement of our Savior into our hearts, the inner being.
Through Mary, Christ put on his own flesh in order to deliver her and all mankind. For you and I Christ puts on our flesh, taking up residence in our bodies, delivering us from ourselves by transforming us from the inside out.
This is what our union with Christ accomplishes for us. The one who in his lowest estate, the cross, was not remembered by God. The one who on the cross was not delivered from all his enemies, the one who the Mighty One did not save on that Good Friday, the one whose steadfast love would propel him into our own darkness, is the one who has done this great thing for us.
Substitution. Deliverance. Rescue. Exaltation. Holy is his name.
To live is Christ must bring such rejoicing to the God of Heaven who has seen us, remembered us, and delivered us.
You: Why must our salvation begin with knowing our low estate?
You in Christ: How does your union with Christ allow you to trust him even in your low estate?
Christ in you: How can you rejoice over your rescue today?
Pray: Father, continue to look upon my low estate and bring me out of my daily darkness. Amen.
To Live is Christ 