Get Ready!
1 Samuel 1:21-2:10 (NLT)
The next year Elkanah and his family went on their annual trip to offer a sacrifice to the Lord and to keep his vow. But Hannah did not go. She told her husband, “Wait until the boy is weaned. Then I will take him to the Tabernacle and leave him there with the Lord permanently.”
“Whatever you think is best,” Elkanah agreed. “Stay here for now, and may the Lord help you keep your promise.” So she stayed home and nursed the boy until he was weaned.
When the child was weaned, Hannah took him to the Tabernacle in Shiloh. They brought along a three-year-old bull for the sacrifice and a basket of flour and some wine. After sacrificing the bull, they brought the boy to Eli. “Sir, do you remember me?” Hannah asked. “I am the very woman who stood here several years ago praying to the Lord. I asked the Lord to give me this boy, and he has granted my request. Now I am giving him to the Lord, and he will belong to the Lord his whole life.” And they worshiped the Lord there.
Then Hannah prayed:
“My heart rejoices in the Lord! The Lord has made me strong. Now I have an answer for my enemies; I rejoice because you rescued me. No one is holy like the Lord! There is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God.
“Stop acting so proud and haughty! Don’t speak with such arrogance! For the Lord is a God who knows what you have done; he will judge your actions. The bow of the mighty is now broken, and those who stumbled are now strong. Those who were well fed are now starving, and those who were starving are now full.
The childless woman now has seven children, and the woman with many children wastes away. The Lord gives both death and life; he brings some down to the grave but raises others up. The Lord makes some poor and others rich; he brings some down and lifts others up. He lifts the poor from the dust and the needy from the garbage dump. He sets them among princes, placing them in seats of honor. For all the earth is the Lord’s, and he has set the world in order.
“He will protect his faithful ones, but the wicked will disappear in darkness. No one will succeed by strength alone. Those who fight against the Lord will be shattered. He thunders against them from heaven; the Lord judges throughout the earth. He gives power to his king; he increases the strength of his anointed one.”
“Whatever you think is best,” Elkanah agreed. “Stay here for now, and may the Lord help you keep your promise.” So she stayed home and nursed the boy until he was weaned.
When the child was weaned, Hannah took him to the Tabernacle in Shiloh. They brought along a three-year-old bull for the sacrifice and a basket of flour and some wine. After sacrificing the bull, they brought the boy to Eli. “Sir, do you remember me?” Hannah asked. “I am the very woman who stood here several years ago praying to the Lord. I asked the Lord to give me this boy, and he has granted my request. Now I am giving him to the Lord, and he will belong to the Lord his whole life.” And they worshiped the Lord there.
Then Hannah prayed:
“My heart rejoices in the Lord! The Lord has made me strong. Now I have an answer for my enemies; I rejoice because you rescued me. No one is holy like the Lord! There is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God.
“Stop acting so proud and haughty! Don’t speak with such arrogance! For the Lord is a God who knows what you have done; he will judge your actions. The bow of the mighty is now broken, and those who stumbled are now strong. Those who were well fed are now starving, and those who were starving are now full.
The childless woman now has seven children, and the woman with many children wastes away. The Lord gives both death and life; he brings some down to the grave but raises others up. The Lord makes some poor and others rich; he brings some down and lifts others up. He lifts the poor from the dust and the needy from the garbage dump. He sets them among princes, placing them in seats of honor. For all the earth is the Lord’s, and he has set the world in order.
“He will protect his faithful ones, but the wicked will disappear in darkness. No one will succeed by strength alone. Those who fight against the Lord will be shattered. He thunders against them from heaven; the Lord judges throughout the earth. He gives power to his king; he increases the strength of his anointed one.”
Twenty days ago on Nov 10 we celebrated my son Grant’s fifth birthday. As some know, we are an adoptive family. Much like Advent, our season of preparation for Grant’s arrival five years ago was filled with great hope, joy, love, and anticipation.
For a dozen years or more, before Grant arrived, I frequently leaned on this passage of scripture detailing the story of Hannah and Samuel, and especially on 1 Samuel 1:27. When Grant joined our family, at two days old, a great peace came to my heart.
And, oh the joy – deep, wondrous joy – that Grant has brought to me and my entire family!
As we approach Christmas, I wonder how we are all preparing for the arrival of the Christ-child. Are we praying for hope, peace, love, and joy? Are we truly anticipating with excitement the arrival of the Messiah?
Unlike preparations for a new baby in our lives, we do not have a baby shower to plan, a crib to assemble, diapers to gather, or gender reveal parties to attend. However, there is still much to do. We have to get ourselves ready for the celebration and coming of the Prince of Peace!
I pray you have entered into Advent with a heart, mind, and spirit ready to receive the hope, peace, love, and joy of Jesus, our Savior. In the midst of trimming the Christmas tree, baking cookies, wrapping presents, and singing carols, find some time to pray and ponder the arrival of this baby.
There is Good News to share with the world and a celebration coming in just a few weeks. Are we ready to welcome the incredible gift we are about to receive, the Son of God, the word made flesh?
Prayer: Almighty God, as Hannah said, we know .
For a dozen years or more, before Grant arrived, I frequently leaned on this passage of scripture detailing the story of Hannah and Samuel, and especially on 1 Samuel 1:27. When Grant joined our family, at two days old, a great peace came to my heart.
And, oh the joy – deep, wondrous joy – that Grant has brought to me and my entire family!
As we approach Christmas, I wonder how we are all preparing for the arrival of the Christ-child. Are we praying for hope, peace, love, and joy? Are we truly anticipating with excitement the arrival of the Messiah?
Unlike preparations for a new baby in our lives, we do not have a baby shower to plan, a crib to assemble, diapers to gather, or gender reveal parties to attend. However, there is still much to do. We have to get ourselves ready for the celebration and coming of the Prince of Peace!
I pray you have entered into Advent with a heart, mind, and spirit ready to receive the hope, peace, love, and joy of Jesus, our Savior. In the midst of trimming the Christmas tree, baking cookies, wrapping presents, and singing carols, find some time to pray and ponder the arrival of this baby.
There is Good News to share with the world and a celebration coming in just a few weeks. Are we ready to welcome the incredible gift we are about to receive, the Son of God, the word made flesh?
Prayer: Almighty God, as Hannah said, we know .
Kristi Wilkerson, 1st UMC, Buckhannon, WV lay.leader@wvumc.org, Conference Lay Leader and Director of Upshur Parish House
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