Reading: 1 Samuel 2:1-10

"The Lord raises the insignificant from the dust and lifts the lowly from the rubbish" (1 Sam 2:8)
 
The childhood of Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) was spent in poverty. One day a Bible was given to him. He started reading it under streetlights with passion. He trusted that God, who crowned David a shepherd boy as King, was able to uplift him also. God made him the President of the United States of America.

David was despised by the members of his family. But God made him King over Israel. God said to him, "I took you from following the flock to be ruler over My people Israel... I made your name great, like the names of the greatest men of the earth" (2 Sam 7:8,9). A shepherd boy became a Supremo!

Esther was beautiful but she was an orphan. Her uncle Mordecai adopted her. Fearing God, she obeyed Mordecai in all things. There was a hectic competition to replace Vashti the ousted Queen. But "the King loved Esther above all the women" (Es 2:17). An orphan became a Queen!

Joseph was sold to traders out of hatred by his brothers. Unjustly he was thrown behind the bars by his boss' wife. The ripe time came. The clouds dispersed. Showers of blessing fell down! A bonded slave and the jailbird was elevated to the Throne!

We, who were dead in trespasses and sins, were redeemed through the Blood of Jesus Christ. He "loved us and made us kings and priests to serve God and His Father" (Rev 1:6). God, who crowned us with lovingkindness and tender mercies, "has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realm" (Eph 1:3). The King of kings has decorated us, the Bride to be, with the shawl of salvation, and jewellery made of the fruits of the Holy Spirit.

Shall we praise God who has remembered us in our lowly state (Psa 136:23)? Together with David we can only exclaim, "Who am I, O Sovereign Lord, and what is my family, that You have brought me this far?" (2 Sam 7:18).

Praise, my soul, the King of Heaven;
To His feet thy tribute bring;
Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven,
Who like thee His praise shall sing?
Alleluia! Praise the Everlasting King!
(Henry F. Lyte, 1793-1847, the author of "Abide with me")

R. Stanley