AUGUST SONNET

Raise voices like the shrilling crickets make
in August, when they start to stridulate.
In summer heat, and for our season's sake,
match all the buzz cicadas resonate.

Crash cymbals through dark troubles, quick and sharp.
With louder tymbals, drum out jubilee.
Beat sistrums with an angel's ringing harp
and tap with Heaven's rhythmic tympani.

But, I know every tiny abdomen
will, one day, be a chamber passed away.
Yet, for my merry soul, a glad 'amen'
sings out the promise of eternal's day.

So long as Christ lets voices amplify.
So long as hearts are raised to glorify.

And David and all the house of Israel
played before the LORD on all manner
of instruments made of fir wood, even
on harps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels,
and on cornets, and on cymbals.
2 Samuel 6:5

AUGUST SONNET

Raise a voice in thankful praise.

Is prayer a list of requests only? Is there a list of praises to offer in prayer as well? Requests and praises go together much like the sounds of crickets and cicadas in the hot summer month of August. 

And Hannah prayed, and said,
My heart rejoiceth in the LORD,
mine horn is exalted in the LORD:
my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies;
because I rejoice in thy salvation.
There is none holy as the LORD:
for there is none beside thee:
neither is there any rock like our God.
1 Samuel 2:1-2

Hannah lifted praises to the one and only God. We, too, rejoice in God’s salvation. We know God seeks a personal relationship with us, His creation. He is not one to make us have a relationship with Him but wants us to come to Him of our own accord. 

Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength.
1 Samuel 2:3-4

As Hannah continued her prayer, she recognized that God doesn’t like pride. (‘Pride’ is not a good word. The word “pleased’, I think, is better.) Words of pride come from a heart that is not as good as it could be. Humility over selfish pride is the better choice. Hannah knew our actions are weighed by God. Wouldn’t the Creator be the one to measure what He created? Hannah knew that someone’s boasting of their own mightiness can be turned around for the one who had stumbled but trusted God.     

They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; and they that were hungry ceased: so that the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble.
1 Samuel 2:5

Hannah was a prayer warrior. Back in chapter one of First Samuel, we read how she, in bitterness of soul, prayed and made a vow to God. When a vow to God is made, you better be sure to keep it! Hannah did. God granted her prayer request to be able to have a baby and she gave her baby up as she vowed she would. Like Hannah, we know God can grant our requests. He can turn things around from impossible to possible. Those who were full could end up hiring themselves out in order to eat and those who were hungry could end up full. Hannah, once barren, went on to give birth to more children while Peninnah, the other wife with many children and who had provoked Hannah, grew feeble. God can turn things topsy-turvy because of a prayer request.

The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up. The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up.
1 Samuel 2:6-7

Hannah continued her prayer, making acknowledgments gained only by realizing God is all-powerful. She knew first-hand as we can know today. We sense God’s presence near as He dwells within us. God, the Holy Spirit, enables us to understand what we didn’t understand before. We can even glimpse an understanding of cosmic mighty power produced by a single spoken command— “Let there be light!”

He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD’S, and he hath set the world upon them. He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.
1 Samuel 2:8-9

Hannah continues her prayer. It made me think of Job. Job made these same kind of realizations. God doesn’t change. He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. We gain knowledge and wisdom in our time. It’s up to us in our generation to seek and find, to draw near, to believe, and to become children of God. 

Hannah’s prayer ends with this declaring verse:

The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the LORD shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed.
1 Samuel 2:10

The boy God gave Hannah would become Samuel who would anoint David as king. When I first read verse 10, I thought of Jesus Christ, the King of kings and God’s anointed. I think we are blessed in our generation to be able to see God’s Word across time. Our almighty Creator will judge the earth. Best be covered by the blood of the Lamb.

Hannah prayed both earnest requests and thankful praises. We can learn a lot from this smart, prayerful lady.

The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.
Lamentations 3:25-26

It’s the season of drawn-out summer days here in my neck of the woods. Let chirping crickets and buzzing cicadas remind you to make your requests known and to pray thankful praises for what God has done. He is able to turn sorrow into joy through having patience.