The weather turns slightly cooler. Work slows down. Christmas lights and décor start appearing at homes, along the roads, and even at workplaces.
These are all unmistakable hints that the Christmas season is upon us. But one of the most unmissable signs of Christmas is often the sound of Christmas carols filling the air.
Perhaps it may be on your Spotify playlist or perhaps you may hear them on the radio. If nothing else, you will very likely hear these familiar tunes ring out throughout shopping centres all over Singapore while you are with your family doing your Christmas shopping.
When reflecting on the joyous reason behind the singing of carols, we can also think back to two songs sung many Christmases ago (one that was sung a little while before the first Christmas, and another much much earlier than that).
In 1 Sam 2:1-10, Hannah praised God because He had blessed her with a child (Samuel) despite her years of barrenness. Whereas hundreds of years later, in Luke 1:46-55, Mary praised God for the child that He had blessed her with, who was to be called Son of God, and whose kingdom would never end (Luke 1:32-33).
Despite living in vastly different times, in both cases, God was being praised because of the great blessings that the ladies had each received. Let us briefly consider the contents of their praises.
1. There was immeasurable joy at what they had received, but the focus was entirely on God’s character and His works.
Both Hannah and Mary had received an incomparable gift from God, but they delighted most in Him, exalting in His deliverance (1 Sam 2:1; Luke 1:47) and in His holiness (1 Sam 2: 2; Luke 1:49).
2. One of the key themes of their adulation was God’s love and care for the meek and downtrodden.
In both songs, Hannah and Mary celebrated God’s great mercy towards the poor, the hungry and the humble (1 Sam 2:3-9; Luke 1:48-53). God values faithfulness, not earthly success nor riches.
3. Both songs are mindful of the blessings received in the wider context of God’s promised King and kingdom.
It is because of what follows – what the sons of Hannah and Mary were to do – that gave rise to the first two points. Samuel’s contributions were instrumental in the events that led to what was largely considered the peak of Israel’s Old Testament history (the reign of King David). However, we also know that despite all the good, David was still flawed and was not God’s final promised King.
It is only through Jesus that we have the true fulfillment of what Hannah and Mary had described of God’s blessings to the meek and humble. Regardless of your circumstances in life, through the birth of Jesus (and of course His sacrifice to pay for our sins), we can all truly experience the full blessings of God that “lift up the humble” (Luke 1:52) and allow the poor to “inherit a throne of honour” (1 Sam 2:8).
As we approach this Christmas season, may we also have in mind to look beyond our personal circumstances (whether things are going great or otherwise) to focus on praising God, because of the great Gift that humbled Himself to dwell among us so many years ago.
It is through Jesus that we can all share in God’s great inheritance. Let us never tire of telling others about the Reason for the season that allows the meek to be lifted and the proud to be humbled.
Brother Ernest Teh
Toong Chai English Presbyterian Church
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