Reading this reminded me of first time I engaged w/ the Magnificant in any meaningful way (despite having grown up in church that taught me to love Scripture)
I was writing a paper for college class (Bible as Lit) when I 1st saw connection btwn Hannah's prayer (recorded in I Samuel 2 & Psalm 113) & Mary's
As controversial as Mary's prayer is (what w/ the proud cast down & rich sent away empty), Hannah's prayer is even more so, especially given the immediate context
Hannah is explict about her enemies being brought low & how God responds to the proud.
I Samuel 2: 3 gets me everytime:
"Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed."
"Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed."
Here's the thing, we know who this verse is directed toward b/c I Samuel 1 tells us that part of Hannah's grief was caused by her "adversary" who "provoked her sore" (to quote the KJV)
Hannah's adversary was another woman: Peninnah.
Peninnah habitually mocked Hannah's infertility & was jealous of Elkanah's generosity to her.
Peninnah habitually mocked Hannah's infertility & was jealous of Elkanah's generosity to her.
So Hannah's basically praising God for humbling a "mean girl." For overturning female social dynamics & hierarchy based in fertility & sexuality.
I can't tell you how liberating this was when I first read it in context. (If you've ever been close to inside workings of female groups, you'll understand what I mean.)
Now carry all that context forward the Magnificat. Both Hannah & Mary's prayer are centered in context of miraculous pregnancy, social rejection, & God's justice. Particularly His justice for women.
When we discuss gender injustice, we often talk about men vs. women. But as a woman who's been on outside of female groups most of my life, I need a God who sees the injustice that women can perpetuate against each other.
Scripture doesn't record Mary's particular enemies, but it places the Magnificat immediately after Elisabeth's blessing in which she confirms that the baby Mary's carrying is the Lord.
This & the fact that Mary stays with Elisabeth for 3 months hints to the rejection she likely faced from her own community.
For some reason, *this* Psalm was the Psalm Mary chose to sing. For some reason, Hannah's prayer resonnated w/ her in ways others didn't.
Given the larger context, the Magnificat, Psalm 113, & Hannah's prayer are a particular comfort to women. Yes, God used Hannah & Mary to give these texts to the world, but they are speaking out of the particular pain that women carry in it.
I remember when I first realize this. And I've never read those texts the same way since. This is the glory of a God who sees the pain of His daughters & fights for them.
