1 Samuel 2:1-10
Hannah prayed:
I’m bursting with God-news!
I’m walking on air.
I’m laughing at my rivals.
I’m dancing my salvation.
Nothing and no one is holy like God,
no rock mountain like our God.
Don’t dare talk pretentiously—
not a word of boasting, ever!
For God knows what’s going on.
He takes the measure of everything that happens.
The weapons of the strong are smashed to pieces,
while the weak are infused with fresh strength.
The well-fed are out begging in the streets for crusts,
while the hungry are getting second helpings.
The barren woman has a houseful of children,
while the mother of many is bereft.
God brings death and God brings life,
brings down to the grave and raises up.
God brings poverty and God brings wealth;
he lowers, he also lifts up.
He puts poor people on their feet again;
he rekindles burned-out lives with fresh hope,
Restoring dignity and respect to their lives—
a place in the sun!
For the very structures of earth are God’s;
he has laid out his operations on a firm foundation.
He protectively cares for his faithful friends, step by step,
but leaves the wicked to stumble in the dark.
No one makes it in this life by sheer muscle!
God’s enemies will be blasted out of the sky,
crashed in a heap and burned.
God will set things right all over the earth,
he’ll give strength to his king,
he’ll set his anointed on top of the world!
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
The CBS Sunday Morning program for this week included a story about homeless people in Oregon – and a 9th Circuit Court of Appeals judgment that upheld their right to camp on city streets. The 8th Amendment to the US Constitution was cited, particularly where it says that this correction “protects against imposing excessive bail, excessive fines, or cruel and unusual punishments.” Those last four words were highlighted to contend that every human being is entitled to have a place to sleep – and to prohibit this amounts to “cruel and unusual punishment.”
I have said before that we can barely stand to watch or read the “news” today, because at every turn, people are behaving badly – and justifying their words and actions, sometimes by hiding behind God. Ultimately, their “reasoning” is unsound as they selfishly and arrogantly seek to serve their own personal interests – often at the expense of other human beings who also happen to be precious children of God. Doing the hard work of providing food and housing for the homeless is the tip of the iceberg. Even in my own community, I see evidence of people wanting to make decisions and take actions that benefit a select few – often at the expense of the feelings, and actual well-being, of others. And I am left to ask God, “Where does this end?”
Hannah offers an answer in this prayer. If you read 1 Samuel 1, you will see that Hannah was barren. She was dearly loved by her husband, Elkanah…but he favored another wife, Peninnah, because she bore him children. Hannah was distraught. Her inability to bear children made her a pariah, and she was truly heartbroken by how others treated her and her seeming “lack.” For women of her day, being able to bear children was everything! So Hannah prayed – so fervently that a priest thought perhaps she was drunk – and she begged God to give her a child. Hannah promised God she would commit her child to Him, if only He would bless her in this manner. And “the rest of the story” is that Hannah gave birth to Samuel…and this passage we read today is part of her prayer of praise.
Now, I am not saying that God will give us everything we ask Him to provide. Surely, God had big plans for Samuel and knew how this would happen all along. But I do think that sometimes we don’t humble ourselves enough before Him. We don’t trust God fully – and ask for things that might seem ridiculous or impossible. Why can’t the God of the Universe help us figure out affordable housing, put an end to gun violence, and help us to amicably figure out the border situation? Why can’t our amazing, omnipotent, supreme Heavenly Father work in us to bring about world peace and help us live together with grace, mercy, compassion and inclusion? Why do we throw up our hands rather than ask God to end wars, cure cancer and other diseases, and fix all the things that are beyond human capacity to do so on our own?
I needed this prayer from Hannah today. I needed the reminder that with God, all things are possible. I needed to be prodded to pray more fervently – and to believe that God will answer perfectly. I needed to hear that God will reward the humble and faithful…deal justly and fairly with those who are dishonest, selfish and deceitful…and restore dignity and respect to those who serve Him faithfully and selflessly.
We need to be “all in” with God – and trust Him…now more than ever. We need to surrender to God’s will and give Him room to work. And we need to begin to do all of this today. Alleluia!
©2024 Debbie Robus
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