Luke 1:54
 He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, even as he said to our fathers.

Up to this point Mary has been praising God in song for His actions. Now, in this closing stanza, she points out, still in song, what these deeds mean in relation to Israel and the promises made to the forefathers.

“He has helped his servant Israel.” This had happened again and again in the past. The Old Testament records many, many instances in which God had taken sides with Israel against its enemies.

The words “He has helped his servant Israel.” are in the same verb tense as the previous verses; this is a future event so certain it is mentioned in the past tense. It absolutely will happen!

This “help” for Israel is the Messiah, who will come according to the promise (God) made to our ancestors.

God kept his promise to Abraham to be merciful to God’s people forever (Genesis 22:16-18).

Jesus’ birth fulfilled the promise, and Mary understood this as the Spirit revealed it to her.

What Mary was saying was something along this line: Just as in the past God has so often helped Israel when she was in distress, so He is helping us now. He is sending the promised One to Israel!

The statement “Even as he said to (promised) our fathers” takes us back in thought to Abraham. To him God had said, “In you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”

That this blessing to Abraham remained in force for Isaac is clear from Gen. 26:3, 4, where not only the same message is repeated but it is even distinctly stated, “I will establish the oath which I swore to Abraham your father.” In the time of Isaac’s son Jacob this same covenant promise is still in effect (Gen. 28:14). It is even called a covenant “with Abraham and with Isaac and with Jacob” (Exod. 2:24). “I will be your God” holds, in fact, for Israel, viewed as God’s covenant people (cf. Gen. 17:7 with Lev. 11:45; 26:12, 45).

This song clearly shows Mary saw what was happening as a realization of the ancient promise to Abraham.

God always keeps His promises!

He will keep them in our lives as well!