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The God of reversals
Reflecting on 1 Samuel Chapter 2:1-10
This passage has its roots in the book of Judges—in the chaotic time when “there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes” (Judges 17:6). Samuel, the baby born to Hannah, will become a kingmaker, the one who will anoint Saul (9:16; 10:1) and David (16:12-13).
Israel, under these kings and David’s son, Solomon, will rise to a prominence unmatched in its history. 1 Samuel 2 is the second chapter of the Books of Samuel in the Hebrew Bible (or the “First Book of Samuel” in the Christian Bible). It recounts the Song of Hannah, the corruption of the priests descended from Eli, Samuel’s ministry to God ‘even as a child’ and the prophecy of a “man of God” against Eli’s household.
Hannah describes her prayer as pouring out her soul in grief and great anguish. And when she is finished praying, she leaves in peace. Hannah demonstrates her faith through obedience, even when it means an extreme personal sacrifice. She has longed for this child, and she loves him as only a mother can love a child. Hannah’s heart rejoiced, not in Samuel, but in the Lord.
She looks beyond the gift and praises the Giver. She rejoiced in the salvation of the Lord, and in expectation of His coming, who is the whole salvation of his people. The strong are soon weakened, and the weak are soon strengthened, when God pleases. Are we poor? God made us poor, which is a good reason why we should be content and make up our minds to our condition. Are we rich? God made us rich, which is a good reason why we should be thankful, and serve him cheerfully, and do good with the abundance he gives us. He respects not man's wisdom or fancied excellences, but chooses those whom the world accounts foolish, teaching them to feel their guilt, and to value his free and precious salvation.
This prophecy looks to the kingdom of Christ, that kingdom of grace, of which Hannah speaks, after having spoken largely of the kingdom of providence. And here is the first time that we meet with the name MESSIAH, or his Anointed. The subjects of Christ’s kingdom will be safe, and the enemies of it will be ruined; for the Anointed, the Lord Christ, is able to save, and to destroy.
Brothers and sisters, do you have any concern/concerns in your life that you would refer to Our God to Reverse them. If you are that person that doesn’t have any concerns in life, WELCOME to my WORLD full of concerns that I lift up to God in daily basis for REVERSAL.
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