Magnify the Lord

When the Virgin Mary spoke those wonderful words, My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour, what exactly was she saying? (Luke 1:46-47) What does it mean to magnify the Lord?

              Magnify--to make great, to deem or declare great,

              to esteem highly, to extol, laud, celebrate

How can we magnify God? How can we make Him great, declare Him great, esteem Him highly, extol, laud, and celebrate God?

I think we can safely say that Mary was celebrating Jesus. She was telling Elisabeth and everyone who would read her words the greatness of her Savior. She understood that this little Baby was the promised Messiah and that He would save her from her sins.

Let’s explore some other biblical passages where the term “magnify” is used:

• Psalm 34:3 O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together. (The word translated “magnify” means to promote or praise.)
• Psalm 35:27 Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.
• Psalm 40:16 Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified.
• Psalm 69:30 I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.
• Psalm 70:4 Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: and let such as love thy salvation say continually, Let God be magnified.
• Acts 10:46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. (The context of this verse is the conversion of Cornelius and his family. When the evidence of the Holy Spirit was seen in these gentiles, it was obvious that God had accepted the gentiles as He had the Jews. One of the evidences of these new believers’ real faith was that they magnified God.)
• Acts 19:17 And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.
• Philippians 1:20 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.

Mary magnified her Savior. The psalmists magnified God. Newly-saved believers in the early church magnified God, and the Apostle Paul desired to magnify God in his life—even if it meant death.

How can we magnify God? How can we show He is great, esteem Him highly, talk about His greatness, and even celebrate Him?

Here are some practical ideas:

• Make sure God is first. And he (Jesus) is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence (Colossians 1:18).
• Worship God. Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness (Psalm 29:2).
• Think about God. My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD (Psalm 104:34).
• Share your salvation testimony with others. Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul (Psalm 66:16).

O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.