Comforting The Downcast, And The Song Of Mary

[Mr. M]

Consider Mary's state of mind here in the words of the Magnificat. 

Luke 1:46 And Mary said:

My soul magnifies the Lord,
47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
48 For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant;
For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.
49 For He who is mighty has done great things for me,
And holy is His name.
50 And His mercy is on those who fear Him
From generation to generation.
51 He has shown strength with His arm;
He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
52 He has put down the mighty from their thrones,
And exalted the lowly.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things,
And the rich He has sent away empty.
54 He has helped His servant Israel,
In remembrance of His mercy,
55 As He spoke to our fathers,
To Abraham and to his seed forever.

This is echoed later by her son James:

1:9 Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, 

10 but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower

of the field he will pass away. 

11 For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat

than it withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beautiful

appearance perishes. So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits.

And later,

James 4:6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says:

“God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

This is ordinary people facing difficult circumstances.

We recall that Mary came under intense scrutiny and hostility over her pregnancy.

The matter was clarified for Joseph, and he protected her against the social pressures she was under.

So we see people brought to a point of public humiliation crying out to God, and receiving grace.

No one knew this better than Paul! He endured endless trials.

2 Corinthians 7:

5 For indeed, when we came to Macedonia, our bodies had no rest,

but we were troubled on every side. Outside were conflicts, inside were fears. 

6 Nevertheless God, who comforts the downcast (tapeinos),

comforted us by the coming of Titus, 

7 and not only by his coming, but also by the consolation with which

he was comforted in you, when he told us of your earnest desire,

your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced even more.

Edited January 24, 2024 by Mr. M

[Mr. M]

So what Paul is teaching is that we are to recognize others

in a lowly, downcast state, and come beside them (paracletos)

and offer them comfort (paraclesis).

2 Corinthians 1:

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 

4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able

to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort

with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 

5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us,

so our consolation also abounds through Christ.

2 Corinthians 9:

12 For the administration of this service not only supplies

the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through

many thanksgivings to God, 

13 while, through the proof of this ministry, they glorify God

for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ,

and for your liberal sharing with them and all men, 

14 and by their prayer for you, who long for you

because of the exceeding grace of God in you. 

15 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!

This is our fellowship in the Spirit!

We come along side others when they are downcast and lead 

them away; from despair, from hopelessness, from crisis.

When we are lead by the Spirit, we become His Comforter

for others in their low estate.

Within the Body of Christ, we should be tuned in to the state of mind of those around us,

and come along side quickly for a brother or sister who is feeling down.

[TheBlade]

Gifts of the Spirit  word of wisdom, word of knowledge, faith, gifts of healing, working of miracles, prophecy, distinguishing spirits, various kinds of tongues, and interpretation of tongues