Burke County
“And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.” Luke 1:46-47
After Mary receives the stunning news from the angel Gabriel that she will birth the Messiah, she hastens to her cousin’s home. Arriving at Elizabeth and Zachariah’s in a small town in Judah, Elizabeth greets her excitedly. Her own baby, John, leaps in her womb when He senses Jesus in Mary’s body. Mary bursts into glorious praise to the Lord.
Many scholars consider her words in Luke 1:46-55 an inset poem. The term, inset poem, describes Mary’s song (and many other passages in the Bible) because they exhibit certain characteristics that set them apart from the surrounding context. The verses of an inset poem, rhythmical because of its poetry, also emphasize emotion, imagery, and God’s actions. Mary’s words, using these emphases, contribute their own central theme to the overall narrative. They also offer extra insight into the surrounding narrative. Drawing the listener in by using the literary device of an inset poem adds vivid and intriguing layers to her story.
Mary’s song has been researched extensively by biblical scholars, although I will only mention a few here. In his article for the Stellenbosch Theological Journal, David R. Seal, PhD,[i] discusses the work of James W. Watts, PhD[ii] , and Jean-Pierre Sonnet, who call Mary’s words an inset poem. According to Seal’s article, “Sonnet proposes five functions of inset poetry in a biblical narrative. All these functions are evident to some degree in the Magnificat.”[1]
- Inset poetry connects to us by stretching the time span into the distant future.
(cf. Lk 1:48).
- It emphasizes divine action and includes the speaker’s experience with God, often resulting in gratitude (cf. Lk 1:46-47).
- God’s actions are intensified (cf. Lk 1:51-52).
- Inset poetry foreshadows later themes in the narrative.
- Internal dialog is present in an inset poem (cf. Lk 1:46-47).
Because an inset poem has meter and rhythm, it can easily be called a song. Seal goes on to say in his article, “Even though Luke does not use any of the more common Greek words indicating that Mary sang her lyrics (e.g., ᾄδω, ᾠδή, ψάλλω, ψαλμός, ὑμνέω, ὕμνος), writers recognized that speech, especially when pronounced in the resonant and rhythmical way that orators and actors used, had all the properties of song.”[2] In this sense, Mary’s words can be called a song.
To help us connect how Mary’s song is important to us, I turned to my daughter’s expertise as a credentialed and experienced music teacher. Her explanation affirmed my research. During our discussion, she asserted that a song must have rhythm. The lyrics determine the rhythm. Then, a composer adds a melody that fits the rhythm. She observed that the rhythm of Mary’s Magnificat sounds different than the surrounding words, beckoning the hearer in by using an obvious contrast. Typically, memorable songs flow with a theme and a purpose, and Mary’s song richly illustrates the concept. The overarching result of her music pointed to the Lord, lessening her anxiety.
Mary’s Magnificat is complex, and a lover of music and Scripture rotates its facets and explores its musical patterns to open doors of truths. Its musical layers of nuances, figures of speech, and unparalleled beauty offer us the gift of music to lessen anxiety.
The next time you feel battered by life, try Mary’s music to lessen your anxiety. Remember to use words that focus on the Lord’s power, past victories, and His plan for your life.
[1] ibid
[2] https://www.scielo.org.za/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S2413-94672021000100015#top_fn16
[i] David R. Seal (PhD, Regent University) is an adjunct Professor at Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids, MI USA, specializing in biblical studies research and writing.
[ii] James W. Watts, PhD (Hebrew Bible/Old Testament, Yale University)
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Marlene is an author and teacher of Bible studies. She may be reached at [email protected]
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