Nashville, Tennessee, United States - The Upper Room Daily Devotional “4th Sunday of Advent” for Sunday, 21 December 2014 - Scripture: 1 Samuel 2:1-10

Nashville, Tennessee, United States - The Upper Room Daily Devotional “4th Sunday of Advent” for Sunday, 21 December 2014 - Scripture: 1 Samuel 2:1 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!
[The Lord] seats [the poor] with princes and has them inherit a throne of honor.[1 Samuel 2:8 (NIV)]
Three songs that are recorded in the Bible tell of God’s great reversal. Hannah rejoiced, liberated from her barrenness. Moses and Miriam led the singing when the Israelites escaped from Egypt (Exod. 15:20-21). Mary, the mother of Jesus, celebrated the deliverance her son would bring (Luke 1:46-55).
From these songs, we can learn much about God’s nature and will for us. Hannah sang about God’s exalting the poor, whom we regard as helpless and unworthy of honor. We find new purpose as we learn to value people who are not considered important.
Moses saw the great reversal in the way the Lord leads with love (Exod. 15:13). No longer was power found in brute strength, but in the love of God. We find new purpose in discovering that no good comes from violence and retaliation, but only from love.
Mary described the great reversal in terms of God’s mercy (Luke 1: 50). God exalts the lowly, who recognize their need for God. Our purpose does not depend on our own power, but on the strength of a love that comes from the Lord and in community with one another.
The Author: Eleanor Shepherd (Quebec, Canada)
Thought for the Day: What is the theme of my song of praise to God today?
Prayer: Dear Lord, attune our lives to your great reversal, established in your grace and justice. Amen.
Prayer focus: Female clergy
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