Monday, December 2, 2013

My Heart Exults in the Lord

Jesus and the Just Reign of God
God Sends Jesus

Mary's Song of Praise

1 Samuel 2:1-10

The Message
Hannah prayed:
I’m bursting with God-news!
    I’m walking on air.
I’m laughing at my rivals.
    I’m dancing my salvation.
2-5 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.
6-10 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!

For Reflection
How often have you danced your salvation?  What is it about salvation that smashes the strong to pieces?  It is God! The promise of God is that God will protect his creation.  God will teach us His sense of compassion.  God will lead us in the ways of justice.  God alone has the capacity to restore dignity and respect to the lives of all burdened people.  This is why we worship God.  In God is our salvation. 

Pray
Dance your prayer of thankfulness so that God will know your joy for living in the grip of the Holy Spirit.  Pray extravagantly in praise of our Creator.  Pray that you will be obedient to the way of salvation with compassion and humility.  Pray that your will be an instrument of God's compassion and justice.

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