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 dark 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.

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

The drawn-out season of summer lingers here in Veery Glade, 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. Raise your heart to glorify!

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 can bring specific joy. Remember Hannah? She lifted praise to God for granting her specific prayer request. It’s a good prayer habit to bring specific praises before God and then prayer requests. How often do we go right to asking for more help without acknowledging what God has already done for us? Consider taking time to recognize God’s provision before presenting additional 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 in First Samuel, she expressed that thing we know God doesn’t like—pride. She states that actions are weighed by God. She knew someone’s boasting would be their downfall. She knew those that stumble but still trust God are strengthened. There is something to confidence in God, even when weak. In our weakness, God shines!

I imagine Hannah also knew about repentance. She knew to turn away from sin and turn to God for forgiveness. She loved God and had a sincere desire to obey His commandments.

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 had prayed and made a vow to God. God granted her prayer request to be able to have a baby and she gave her baby back to God as she vowed. God turned things around for Hannah from impossible to possible! Those who were full end up hiring themselves out in order to eat and those who were hungry end up full. Stay firm in the Lord.

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. Today, we sense God’s presence as He dwells within the faithful. God, the Holy Spirit, enables us to understand what we didn’t understand before.

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 that by our own strength, salvation is not obtained. We cannot earn our salvation by doing good works, or maintaining church membership for years, or by supporting the organ fund. Only through faith in God's anointed is salvation made possible. Only by faith in Jesus Christ is anyone able to become a child of God. 

Prayer life should be noisy and active. Requests and praises go together 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 became Samuel who anointed David as king, and David is in the genealogy of Jesus Christ, God’s anointed.

We are blessed in our generation to see God’s Word across time. When our almighty Creator will judge the earth, be covered by the blood of the Lamb. Repent of your sin and be saved.

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

So they went out and preached that people should repent.

Mark 6:12

In prayer, trust God for the forgiveness of sin by the decision to repent.