All Things Christmas by E. G. Lewis Read Free Book Online Page A

spent occasionally visiting churches or answering prayers when and if he’s invited to do so.
     
    Chapter Nine
    A TALE OF TWO MOTHERS

    Elizabeth Greets Mary
    “ It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us …”
    Rather than A Tale of Two Cities , this is A Tale of Two Mothers — Hannah of the Old Testament and Mary of the New Testament. Interestingly enough, the words Charles Dickens wrote about the French Revolution describe the circumstances of these earlier times quite well.
    Hannah lived at a time of uncertainty and transition. The children of Abraham left Egypt and wandered in the desert forty years before Joshua led them into the Promised Land. There they established themselves as a nation, a nation ruled not by Kings, but by Judges. Now, after 350 or more years of life under Judges, the Israelites had begun grow ing restive. They look around and see Kings at the head of every other nation and say, “Give us a king to govern us.”
    Mary, a virgin in Nazareth betrothed to a man named Joseph, lived a thousand years after Hannah. But she, too, lived in an era of uncertainty and transition. The remnant had come back from Babylon and rebuilt their nation only to see it fall under the control of the Seleucids. A revolt by the Maccabees established an independent Jewish nation for a time, but now the Romans and their client king, Herod, ruled the Jews. Despite these dire circumstances a feeling of expectancy bubbled beneath the surface, animating the nation. The time in Daniel’s prophecy of the 70 weeks was nearing fulfillment; the day of restoration would soon be at hand.
    Appointing a King for the Jews
    It was the Judge Samuel who anointed Saul the first King of the Jews and later, when Saul faltered, he anointed a young shepherd boy, David, to replace him. Clearly Samuel had a special place in God’s plan for Israel. Samuel, son of Hannah, instituted great changes that affected the lives of all Jews.
    We meet Elka’nah and his two wives, Penin'nah and Hannah in 1 Samuel. Penin'nah had borne him many children and Hannah had none. Consequently, when they went to Shiloh Elka’nah gave Penin'nah many portions to make offerings for herself and all her children. Hannah, meanwhile, got only a single portion. To add to Hannah’s pain, Penin'nah ridiculed her becaus e of her inability to conceive.
    Desperate, Hannah offers the Lord a deal: Give me a son and I will give him back to you for all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head. (A reference to the Nazarite vow.) Eli the priest promises the Lord will answer her prayer. Sure enough, Hannah’s prayer is answered and she names the boy Samuel — I have asked him of the Lord .

    Hannah Prepares Samuel for the Temple
    When Samuel is weaned, she takes him to the Temple as promised and gives him to Eli to raise and mentor. It is at this point, 2 Samuel 2:1, that we hear her prayer of praise and thanksgiving to the Lord.
    HANNAH’S SONG
    My heart exults in the Lord; my strength is exalted in the Lord. My mouth derides my enemies, because I rejoice in thy salvation.
    There is none holy like the Lord, there is none besides thee; there is no rock like our God.
    Talk no more so very proudly, let not arrogance come from your mouth; for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.
    The bows of the mighty are broken, but the feeble gird on strength.
    Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, but those who were hungry have ceased to hunger. The barren has borne seven, but she who has many children is forlorn.
    The Lord kills and brings to life; he brings down to Sheol and raises up.
    The Lord makes poor and makes rich; he brings low, he