Luke 1:50-52 — And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.

What was it like living in Israel, the daughter of a not particularly wealthy family, betrothed to a poor carpenter, when Mary’s song gave such glory to God?

Since some sixty years before the birth of Jesus when it was taken by Pompey, Israel had been part of the Roman Empire. Under Rome, it was directly ruled by the non-Jewish Herodians. The people were savagely taxed and subject to arbitrary decrees like the one that would soon require Joseph and Mary to travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem for the census.

Living on the outskirts of the Roman Empire, under the thumb of the Herodians — and the religious authorities who, centered in Jerusalem, were also not above exploiting the yokels from Galilee — how did Mary see God?

Mary, it seems, had a very proper view of God — and a perspective that might have escaped many of today’s believers.

The first thing to see about Mary’s view of God is that she was completely clear about who was in charge:

And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her. (Luke 1:38)

The word the King James Bible translates as “handmaiden” indicates slave, or bonded servant. Strong’s Enhanced Lexicon says about it, “All the words in this group serve either to describe the status of a slave or an attitude corresponding to that of a slave.” Mary saw God as her owner and Lord — surely the right attitude for every believer.

The second thing to see about Mary’s attitude to God is that she took a long, historical, view. The proud Herodians were still in charge in Israel They took their orders from the mighty Romans. How then could Mary say, “He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seats”? Mary knew her history. She knew of the proud Egyptians and Babylonians and Assyrians — scattered. She knew of the mighty kings of Israel from Saul onwards — put down from their seats. Every Christian should have that long, historical view. After all, we have the ultimate history book. It covers the beginning of history to the end!

Did you forget who God is today? Look up. Look back. Look forward. He is Mighty God. He is Lord and Master. He always was, He is, and He always will be. Mighty!