S is for Servant

So God's regard will lead us to that alternative, happier outcome. But on what basis can we hope for God's regard? We will see two factors as Luther explains Mary's singing, "He has helped His servant Israel in remembrance of His mercy." First, with this, says Luther, "she divided Israel into two parts and refers only to that part that is God's servant. Now, no one is God's servant unless he lets Him be his God and perform His works in him." "The Israel that is God's servant is the one whom the Incarnation of Christ benefits. That is His own beloved people, for whose sake he became man, to redeem them from the power of the devil, of sin, death and hell, and to lead them to righteousness, eternal life, and salvation. . . . These are the riches of the boundless mercy of God, which we have received by no merit but by pure grace. Therefore she sings: 'He has remembered His mercy.' She does not say: 'He has remembered our merit and worthiness? . . . That is the basis of His praise and glory, . . . there was nothing for Him to regard that could move Him except His mercy." God's mercy, as the sole cause for the boundless goods we receive, is the first factor, why we can hope for God's regard.

The second factor is that this mercy of God is to create trust in us. If we do not trust and become His servants who let Him be our God and perform His works in us, then we are no better off, despite all his mercy. This faith is precious! For true faith "believes that God has not only the power and know-ledge but also the hearty desire to do such great things. . . . It is not even enough to believe that He is willing to do them for others but not for you." Such faith is bold: "It is indeed necessary that we make a trial, and venture out on His words. . . . 'He has filled the hungry and exalted those of low degree.' You must feel the pinch of poverty in the midst of your hunger and learn by experience what hunger and poverty are, with no provision on hand and no help in yourself or any other man, but in God only. . . . You must . . . actually come to be in a low estate and caught in it, without any human aid, so that God alone may do His work. Or if it should not come to such a pass, you must at least desire it and not shrink from it."

Such faith will have to be--and can be!--based on God's pure mercy, which is not fickle but sure to those who trust it. Mary sang, "He has regarded the low estate of His handmaiden." "This should comfort us and teach us that though we should willingly be humbled and despised, we ought not despair as though God were angry at us. Rather we should set our hope on His grace, concerned only lest we be not cheerful and contented enough in our low estate."