from my missional father on the field

It is amazing how that recognizing the blessings of God in ones life also brings a recognition of the Glory of God and makes ones heart turn to song which celebrates the God of Glory. The two songs that follow are an indication of that. Out of the confusion of their present and the uncertainty of the future both Hannah and Mary praise God.

1 Samuel 2 Hannah’s Triumphant Prayer
1 Hannah prayed: My heart rejoices in the Lord; my horn is lifted up by the Lord. My mouth boasts over my enemies, because I rejoice in Your salvation. 2 There is no one holy like the Lord. There is no one besides You! And there is no rock like our God. 3 Do not boast so proudly, or let arrogant [words] come out of your mouth, for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and actions are weighed by Him. 4 The bows of the warriors are broken, but the feeble are clothed with strength. 5 Those who are full hire themselves out for food, but those who are starving [hunger] no more. The barren woman gives birth to seven, but the woman with many sons pines away. 6 The Lord brings death and gives life; He sends [some] to Sheol, and He raises [others] up. 7 The Lord brings poverty and gives wealth; He humbles and He exalts. 8 He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the garbage pile. He seats them with noblemen and gives them a throne of honor. For the foundations of the earth are the Lord’s; He has set the world on them.

Mary’s Praise

46 And Mary said: My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, 47 and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior, 48 because He has looked with favor on the humble condition of His slave. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed, 49 because the Mighty One has done great things for me, and His name is holy. 50 His mercy is from generation to generation on those who fear Him. 51 He has done a mighty deed with His arm; He has scattered the proud because of the thoughts of their hearts; 52 He has toppled the mighty from their thrones and exalted the lowly. 53 He has satisfied the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty. 54 He has helped His servant Israel, mindful of His mercy, 55 just as He spoke to our ancestors, to Abraham and his descendants forever.

The story is told of a young man from Ontario, Canada, who went to Chicago to make his fortune. He started with sixty dollars, with which he purchased a cheese wagon and a horse named Paddy. He bought cheese on credit from a wholesale merchant and tried to sell it. He would wake up at three in the morning and worked hard all day. At the end of his first year he found himself three thousand dollars in debt and with no one who would give him credit.
He thought the only one that he could talk to about his difficulty was his horse, Paddy. To his surprise he seemed to hear a voice saying, “You are trying to work without God.” The young man looked around to discover where the answer had come from but saw no one. He again addressed his horse saying, “Paddy, get up. If God can do any better with this cheese business than we have done, we will let him.”
The young man entered a partnership with God, and for the rest of his life he continually asked God for guidance. When he discovered a way to preserve cheese, his business grew fantastically and with God’s guidance James Kraft made Kraft a household name.
Before Hannah composed her song of praise to God, she experienced great struggles. But when her heart was at it’s lowest and her self-esteem was all but gone because of her childlessness, Hannah prayed to the Lord and He granted her request for a son. In what ways can you sing Hannah’s song today?

Just when I am disheartened, just when with cares oppressed,

Just when my way is darkest, just when I am distressed,

Then is my Savior near me,

He knows my every care;

Jesus will never leave me;

He helps my burden to bear.

J Bruce Evans

“What we win by prayer, we may wear with comfort, And must wear with praise.”

Matthew Henry

This entry was posted on 27. March 2007 at 14:53 and is filed under Carpe Java. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site.