It has been said by a well-known writer that “it is remarkable that we are not told that Mary was full of the Holy Spirit. It appears to me,” the writer proceeds, “that this is an honorable distinction for her. The Holy Spirit visited Elisabeth and Zacharias in an exceptional manner. But, although we cannot doubt that Mary was under the influence of the Spirit of God, it was a more inward effect more connected with her own faith, with her piety, with the more habitual relations of her heart with God (that were formed by this faith, and by this piety), and which consequently expressed itself more as her own sentiments. It is thankfulness for the grace conferred on her, the lowly one, and that in connection with the hopes and blessing of Israel.” These remarks will help us in our consideration of this striking song of praise—a song which has been well described as “the proper celebration of Israel’s joy in the gift of Christ.” For while it is the utterance of the feelings which had been produced in Mary’s heart by the Holy Spirit, and feelings which were suited and responsive to the distinguishing grace bestowed upon her, Mary herself was lost, so to speak, in her being a type of Israel. (See vs. 54.)
As may be seen at a glance, the song is Jewish in its character; that is, it does not go beyond Abraham and his seed. In this respect it has often been compared with that of Hannah, for she also, without going back as Mary did to God’s promises to Abraham, surveys the whole of His dealings with His people, and triumphantly anticipates their complete deliverance, through Jehovah’s intervention, as she says, “The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall He thunder upon them: the Lord shall judge the ends of the earth; and He shall give strength unto His king, and exalt the horn of His anointed.” Mary, on the other hand, regards the deliverance as already effected—effected in the One who was about to be born—and thus she says that God has “holpen His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy; as He spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed forever.”