AUGUST SONNET

Raise voices like the singing 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 our troubles, quick and sharp.
With louder tymbals, drum out jubilee.
Beat sistrums with the angel’s ringing harp
and tap a tune with Heaven’s tympani.
For we know every tiny abdomen
will, one day, be a chamber passed away.
Yet for our merry souls, 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

The drawn-out season of summer lingers here in my neck of the woods. Let singing crickets and buzzing cicadas remind you to make your requests known and to pray thankful praises for the specific things God has done.

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

Praying specifically brings specific joy. Specific joys acknowledge God’s specific work in our lives. Remember Hannah? She lifted praises to the one and only God for granting her specific prayer request. I think it’s a good habit to bring specific praises before God and then the requests. Take time to recognize God’s provision before presenting more requests.

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.

I Samuel 2:3-4

As Hannah continued her prayer as recorded here in 1st Samuel, she expressed that thing we know God doesn’t like—pride. She states that our actions are weighed by God. Hannah must have been a smart lady to say that! I think she was meek too. She knew someone’s boasting would be their downfall. She knew those that stumble but still trust God are strengthened. In our weakness, God sustains. In our meekness, God provides.

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

In bitterness of soul, Hannah prayed and made a vow to God. God granted her prayer request to be able to have a baby and she gave her baby up as she vowed. God turned things around for Hannah 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.

Once barren, Hannah, now overjoyed, went on to give birth to more children while Peninnah, the other wife with many children and who had provoked Hannah, grew feeble. God turned 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 our all-powerful God. She knew first-hand. Today, we sense God’s presence as He dwells within us. God, the Holy Spirit, enables us to understand what we didn’t understand before. The list of granted prayers is as important as the list of requests, showing God’s work. Acknowledge those granted requests!

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

God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. In our time, we know this too. It’s up to our generation to seek and find, to draw near, to believe, and to become children of God. Prayer life should be noisy and active. Requests and praises go together much like the sounds of crickets and cicadas in the hot summer month of August.

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 and who is in the genealogy of Jesus, God’s anointed. We are blessed in our generation to be able to see God’s Word across time. And God’s Word, as you know, is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. When our almighty Creator will judge the earth, be covered by the blood of the Lamb.

From her heart, Hannah prayed both earnest requests and joyful praises. We can learn much from this smart, prayer-warrior lady.

Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: let the children of Zion be joyful in their King. Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp. For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation.

Psalm 149:2-4

By prayer, trust God to turn sorrow into joy and adorn salvation from a heart of meekness.