Hannah Praises God

Creation: A Divine Cycle
The Savior Has Been born

The Affirmation of the Promise

1 Samuel 2:1-10  The Message

2 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

The Christ event turned the world upside down. Thousands of years of dependence on violent retribution was condemned and displaced by non-violent peace-making as the alternative.  Thousands of years of following religious rules was ended in favor of of love and forgiveness which extended the intent of God's law.  Thousands of years of corrupt governance was threatened by calls for justice.  In Christ, the hopeless found hope.  The hungry found sustenance.  The lifeless found an extraordinary new life, a rebirth into dignity and freedom.  YES!

Pray

prayers of praise.  Sing songs of joy.  Thank God for God's extravagance.