First thoughts toward Sunday’s message:

1 Samuel 1:4-20; 1 Samuel 2:1-10

The books of 1 and 2 Samuel tell of the early years of the Israel’s monarchy, and Samuel himself serves as a transitional figure between the judges and the kings. This is the story of the birth of Samuel. His mother, Hannah, had prayed for years for a child, to no avail, so when she finally conceives and has a son, she is overjoyed.

This is a pattern, by the way, that is repeated over and over again in the Bible: A formerly barren women gives birth, and the child grows up to be an important figure in the history of Israel. Can you think of other examples? Hannah is in good company here.

Have you noticed that the scriptures from the last three Sundays all feature a dramatic reversal of fortune? Lazarus comes out of his tomb after being dead for 4 days. Ruth and Noami find abundance and family after great tragedy. Hannah has a son after years of hoping for one. God is amazing, huh?

The tough thing, though, is that most of the time we don’t live at the end of this story. We live somewhere in the middle of it, not always sure how things are going to work out, hoping against hope for just that kind of great reversal but knowing that life doesn’t always work that way.

But I am becoming increasingly convinced that the work of the church is to be the keeper of these good-news stories, to keep singing those celebration songs, and to remind a hurting world that there is hope.