From son to Son

“Then Hannah prayed and said, “My heart exults in the LORD; My horn is exalted in the LORD, My mouth speaks boldly against my enemies, Because I rejoice in Your salvation. There is no one holy like the LORD, Indeed, there is no one besides You, Nor is there any rock like our God.”
‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭2:1-2‬ ‭NASB‬‬

“And Mary said: “My soul exalts the Lord, And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. For He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave; For behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed. For the Mighty One has done great things for me; And holy is His name. A ND H IS MERCY IS UPON GENERATION AFTER GENERATION T OWARD THOSE WHO FEAR H IM.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭1:46-50‬ ‭NASB‬‬

From son to Son

Age to age, God is shown to be faithful. He has shown Himself to be the epitome of dependability, as what He has said would be done, was done according to His word. I remember the first time I encountered Hannah’s prayer. I could imagine her joy as she gave thanks to God for the good thing she had done for her. I was struck by the similarity to Mary’s Magnificat, where she exalted the name of God as she carried Jesus. One held the promise of foretelling, the other fulfillment.

Hannah was selected by God to carry the one who would be His first prophetic voice. From her barren body, the Lord brought blessing. In her devotion, she dedicated Samuel to God. Her first born belonged to the Lord, and she abandoned her claim to her baby boy. I can’t fathom the feelings she must have had, as she said goodbye to him, with only visits once per year. In his early youth, God called him and he began his ministry. “Here I am Lord.”

Mary was selected by God, to carry the One who would be the fulfillment of all the prophecies of those who had proclaimed His coming. From her virginity, He brought conception, and she brought Jesus into the world. On a fateful day he as left behind and as found In the temple going about His Father’s business. God prophesied through one son, and fulfilled the prophecy in Another. Mary watched her baby boy, now a man, reviled and hated, brutalized and hung on a cross.

Two boys called to the service of Almighty, God, one grows to be a man, and the other God/Man. God keeps His promises.

I take great joy and comfort in that fact. I have great confidence in His ability to keep promises. Right now, we need that assurance. Thanks to the consistency of God, I can go through life with a spirit of peace and no fear.

Sadly, fear is dominating lives of too many people of all kinds. People are driven by fear of the loss of jobs, livelihood, health and life. Some would rather die, than go broke, and others would rather go broke, than die. Few are experiencing peace as we go through this season of pain and inevitable change. I have even seen division in the body of Christ. That should not be. Regardless of what we do, change is coming.

I know I can face that change when I consider the two women above. Both were walking by faith, both doing hard things in the face of a culture where judgement was always present. Yet they submitted to the Lord.

Believers, in this time of world wide disruption, make an effort to seek after the Lord. Take pleasure in the knowledge that God is for you, and proclaim Christ to everyone you meet. I find great joy when I see all the posts of people who are seeking the Lord in this time of uncertainty.

In my life, I am one living on borrowed time. I have little time for disputing, and even less energy for conflict. I do have an endless drive to tell the world of my salvation in my great God, Jesus Christ.

May I, like Hannah and Mary, exalt the Lord God of my salvation! He has been faithful all the time and has never let me down.

Hannah and Mary: a tale of two mothers and two sons, and a promise fulfilled.

Exalt the God of your salvation today!

THE PRAYER CHAIR IS OPEN! Send me your requests!