One of those mornings where a few words in a pretty well known bible story just grab me. Just five words. Each word, when alone, easily defined. But when those words are combined, the phrase stretches my ability to articulate what they even mean. Though I think I know what it looks like in action, I’m hard pressed to fully understand the dynamics behind this phrase. Five words that ignite something in me. Five words that I want to know, more and more, experientially. Five words that create a sense of awe when I think of the privilege of participating in the experience. Five words spoken by another long, long ago. But five words I claim as my own this morning.

“My soul magnifies the Lord,
       and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for He has looked on the humble estate of His servant.”

(Luke 1:46-48a ESV)

The scene? Two women sharing a moment. Cousins connecting over a common condition. Both of them “great with child.”. One is an older lady, and, for all intents and purposes, she has no business being pregnant because she is “advanced in years” (1:7). Yet, she is expecting, for prayer prevailed and God had removed her barrenness (1:13). The other woman is a much, much younger lady. She also has no business carrying a child as she is yet a virgin (1:34). But the Holy Spirit has come upon her, the power of the Most High has overshadowed her, and she has conceived the Son of God (1:35). And as they come together, belly to belly, the older, filled with the Spirit, confirms the prophetic word spoken to the younger (1:41-45). Then the younger, unable to constrain the Spirit, breaks forth in praise (1:46-55).

My soul magnifies the Lord . . . those are the five words I’m chewing on this morning.

What does it really mean for one’s soul to magnify the Lord? How does it work? What does it look like? What does God think when He beholds a human soul magnifying His divine being?

Literally the word “magnify” means to “enlarge”, to “make great.” Makes sense. When I use a magnifying glass, I’m making something appear larger so that it can be seen more easily and clearly. I’m bringing it into better view. So how does the soul “enlarge” God?

Not that God needs to be enlarged. Not that I need to or can make Him any greater than He in essence already is. And yet, it would seem my soul is able to bring that greatness into clearer view. How does it shine the light and increase the focus on the magnificence of a great God?

Through praise? Yeah, that’s the audible articulation. But it’s more than just the fruit of the lips being offered (Heb. 13:15). There’s something deeper, a fount from within which gives rise to the words spoken without.

With a profound sense of what God is doing in her life –“He has looked on the humble estate of His servant”, the younger lady, Mary, praises God from an inner wellspring pouring out into her whole being. She sings from the seat of her emotion, intellect, and will. She sings from her soul. A pump within her spirit is primed by a deep, deep joy and the water that flows is the joyful declaration of who this great God is and all that He has done.

She lifts her voice and declares that God is mighty and that His name is holy. His mercy is known by those who fear Him as He makes known His power. He scatters the proud, brings down the mighty, and exalts those who humble themselves before Him. He fills the hungry. He helps His servants. He remembers His mercy. And, praise God, He follows through on His promises (Luke 1:49-55).

While such an inventory of God’s blessings should be tell’t, it brings God more clearly in view when it is felt. The mouth speaks, the spirit rejoices, but it is the soul which magnifies.

And it strikes me that I too can participate in this privileged experience of being a magnifier.

I know of His greatness from what has been revealed from His word, from the illumination graciously provided by His Spirit. But I also know of His greatness from the favor shown to this “humble servant” within my own sphere. Whether through times of feasting or through times of famine, I’ve known what it is to be in His presence. And I know the priming of the pump as joy gushes forth, and my spirit rejoices. I know what it is to want to praise and worship Him from my most inner being. I know what it is for my soul to magnify the Lord.

Oh, blessed experience! What a holy privilege to be a magnifier of the Lord!

“Oh, magnify the LORD with me,
       and let us exalt His name together!”

(Psalm 34:3 ESV)

Only and always by His grace.

Always and only for His glory.

Amen?