Four questions to ponder

James Cathcart December 09, 2025 1 1

Playlists

Add to Favourites

Save for later

Listen to this daily worship

1 Samuel 2: 1-11 (NIVUK)

1 Then Hannah prayed and said:

‘My heart rejoices in the Lord;
    in the Lord my horn is lifted high.
My mouth boasts over my enemies,
    for I delight in your deliverance.

2 

‘There is no one holy like the Lord;
    there is no one besides you;
    there is no Rock like our God.

3 

‘Do not keep talking so proudly
    or let your mouth speak such arrogance,
for the Lord is a God who knows,
    and by him deeds are weighed.

4 

‘The bows of the warriors are broken,
    but those who stumbled are armed with strength.

5 

Those who were full hire themselves out for food,
    but those who were hungry are hungry no more.
She who was barren has borne seven children,
    but she who has had many sons pines away.

6 

‘The Lord brings death and makes alive;
    he brings down to the grave and raises up.

7 

The Lord sends poverty and wealth;
    he humbles and he exalts.

8 

He raises the poor from the dust
    and lifts the needy from the ash heap;
he seats them with princes
    and makes them inherit a throne of honour.

‘For the foundations of the earth are the Lord’s;
    on them he has set the world.

9 

He will guard the feet of his faithful servants,
    but the wicked will be silenced in the place of darkness.

‘It is not by strength that one prevails;

10 

    those who oppose the Lord will be broken.
The Most High will thunder from heaven;
    the Lord will judge the ends of the earth.

‘He will give strength to his king
    and exalt the horn of his anointed.’

11 Then Elkanah went home to Ramah, but the boy ministered before the Lord under Eli the priest.

The boldness and energy of Hannah’s song leaps off the page, or screen, thousands of years later. 

In the midst of deeply patriarchal times — this woman is an incredible testament to what God values and what God cares about. 

For God there is always room for Hannah at the table.

Four questions to ponder:

What verse in this reading most energises, excites, or inspires you?

What song is bursting out of you this Advent? What do you long to sing out loud to God?

If you had Hannah round for Christmas dinner what do you think she would want to talk about?

Where do you see Hannahs today — singing out the truth in the midst of sometimes deeply patriarchal, combative, and unsettling times?

Prayer:

Dear God,

We ask you this Advent to energise, excite, and inspire us through Scripture.

Dear Holy Spirit,

We ask for your help to find our song and sing it this Advent.

Dear Jesus Christ

We ask for your help to invite and include others.

Father, Son and Holy Spirit, help us to find and elevate the voices of Hannahs today in the 21st century.

Amen.