might and mercy

In music the moment of rest is as important as the sounding of the note.  The space to breathe is as important as the sound filling the atmosphere.  The suspension is as important as the resolution.  And the adverse is true as well.  In the Magnificat, Mary represents two arms of God’s activity, mercy and might.  Indeed, three names are given for God in this song – the Lord in verse 46, God my Savior in verse 47, and the Mighty One in verse 49.  God’s might is holy, strong, and just, showing preference to the poor and oppressed.  God the Mighty One in verse 49 juxtaposes with ‘the powerful’ in verse 52.  In other translations, ‘powerful’ is translated as ‘mighty’ with an almost dismissive and dissident opinion of these earthly rulers.   But not only is God the Mighty One, but God is also the Merciful One in Mary’s song.  ‘The thought of God’s might is qualified by that of his… compassion and mercy to the unforunate.’   In the NIV, verse 50a says that God’s mercy extends…  This image is helpful in comparing and contrasting God’s might with an ‘arm’ that ‘scattered the proud.’  The ‘arm’ of God extends in might and extends in mercy.  Mary ‘gives thanks to God for the mercy which he has shown to her personally, and which corresponds with his practice of helping and vindicating the poor and needy, while at the same time bringing their proud, rich oppressors to nought.’   Mercy and might are caught in balance, in tension.  They are two notes harmonizing.  They are two melodies in a fugue.  They play together, extending and contracting, pointing to the virtue of the other.

Comments

[Wes Roberts]

...excellent posts, my friend!

...keep em' coming!!!

[wendi]

that's been one of my biggest epiphanies over the past several years...just how much tension exists throughout the Bible, a healthy, disturbing, contemplative tension. thanks for the Advent posts