Hannah and the Many Amazing Women in the Bible; 1 Samuel 2:1-8

 

Rev. George Miller

Oct 13, 2024

1 Samuel 2:1-8

 

For the past 6 weeks we have been journeying through the Narrative Lectionary, and we hope that you are experiencing the sacred texts in a vibrant way.

 

We have gone from cool breezes to starry skies; Joseph bringing healing to the family and the Israelites learning how to navigate what it means to be free.

 

As Denee, our Communications Coordinator would say, we are “Exploring God’s Story.”

 

As such, we are seeing how each scripture builds upon the other, leading us closer and closer to the Good News of Jesus Christ.

 

Today, I am excited because we arrive at a part of the Narrative Lectionary that can be a big “a-ha! moment” for many people.

 

Today, we hear the words and the story of a woman, and in doing so, we begin to realize that there are way more Biblical stories and appearances by women than we may have realized or been taught.

 

Hannah is our focus today, and what a powerful person she is.

 

It’s been centuries since the Israelites were set free.  Though they are finally in the Promised Land, they’re still trying to figure things out.

 

Because they are still figuring things out, they are making many mistakes; having moments of chaos and not so good choices.

 

But God is still with them, and they are still pressing through.

 

In today’s reading, we meet Hannah, a woman who wants nothing more than to have a child.

 

Though she has bouts of sadness and doubt, though she refers to herself as a woman deeply  troubled, she has strong wings of faith that keep her flying forward.

 

Even when facts seem to go against her, even when she is disrespected by the local clergy, Hannah does not lose her focus, she does not lose her faith.

 

Through a series of events, Hannah has a child, who she names Samuel, and in an act of unselfishness, she offers him up to be a Nazirite.

 

After 3 years, Hannah brings her son to the House of the Lord, where he will be raised under the guidance of the priest.

 

Then, Hannah offers a prayer.  And it is a prayer for the ages.

 

She says her heart is exalted in the Lord; she finds her strength in God. 

 

She rejoices in her victory, referring to the Lord as a God of knowledge.

 

Hannah’s prayer celebrates the feeble who put on strength; the hungry who are fed; the defeat of enemies, poor who become rich, and the lowly who are raised up.

 

Do you hear the power in her prayer?  Can we verify the victory in her voice?

 

This woman, this Hannah, is not passive.  She is no victim, she is not helpless, hidden, or invisible.

 

She is loud, she is proud, she is present, and she is HERE!

 

Hannah becomes a role model for anyone, any place, any time, who has faced insurmountable odds in which they were laughed at, scorned, or told to give up.

 

Hannah is as victorious as any warrior, any King, as any man we have read about in Scripture.

 

And Hannah is not the only one.

 

The Bible is filled with rich stories about women who speak up, act up, laugh, cry, imagine, make tragic mistakes and usher in great victories.

 

Hannah joins the likes of Sarah, who had the audacity to laugh at something God said, which ushers in the opportunity for God to say “Is anything too wonderful for the Lord?,” one of the most important statements in the Bible.

 

Hannah joins Hagar, who in Genesis 6, runs away into the wilderness, has an angelic experience, and becomes the first person in the Bible to give God a name.

 

Hannah joins the likes of Miriam, the sister of Moses, who sings a song of success in Exodus 15:20.

 

After crossing the Red Sea, Miriam leads the women in taking tambourines, and with song and dance, sing to the Lord for giving them victory and defeating their enemy.

 

Some scholars say that Miriam’s song may have been the first part of the Bible ever written down.

 

We see how Sarah’s laughter inspires one of the greatest statements about God.

 

Hagar’s heartbreak leads her to be the first to give God a name.

 

Miriam and the women may have inspired the first written words of Scripture.

 

And Hannah prays a prayer that sounds like a mighty warrior, exulting the Lord, focusing on strength, celebrating wisdom, and showing concern for the poor and hungry.

 

These are all women; these are all stories about women.

 

They have always been there, right here, in the Bible, to give every one of us courage and strength, focus and vitality,

 

regardless if we are female or male, old or young, educated or new to the faith.

 

And this legacy of Hannah, this legacy of women like Hagar and Miriam, they continue into the New Testament.

 

In Luke chapter 1, when the angel visits Mary, she may ask “How can this be?”

 

But it allows the angel to remind her “Nothing will be impossible with God.”

 

And when Mary realizes the role she will play in Salvation, what does she say?

 

Mary says “My soul magnifies the Lord.  God’s mercy is for those who show reverence.”

 

“God has lifted up the lowly, fed the hungry, helped God’s people and remembered the promises made to the ancestors.”

 

Mary’s prayer is much like Hannah, with echoes of strength and faith, social justice and concern for others.

 

Mary, Hannah, Miriam, Hagar, and Sarah are but a few of the women we meet.

 

Mary, Hannah, Miriam, Hagar, and Sarah are great role models for us, all of us, as we Explore God’s Story, as we learn together

 

-what does faith look like?

 

-what can faith do?

 

-how do we lean upon God with wisdom and action, words and wonder?

 

The people of God, the women and the men, have lived such full full lives, and their stories are here to inspire us.

 

For that we can say “Amen.”

God is Here, Even When Facing Chaos; Sermon on Exodus 32:1-14

 

Rev. George Miller

Oct 6, 2024

Exodus 32:1-14

 

Many years ago, when much younger, I was seeing a psychologist who referred a book about being addicted to chaos.

 

The premise was simple- doctors were noticing patients who were in constant crisis mode.  The doctors began to wonder if there are those who unintentionally bring chaos onto themselves.

 

Things like people in the hospital who seem to be doing well, but on the day of discharge, came down with a new ailment.

 

There is a good reason why the psychologist gave me that book- I was always dealing with chaos.

 

For example, constant car issues, and every time something car related occurred, I reacted as if it was hurting my soul.

 

Every 2 months, something happened- a flat tire, fender bender, broken tape deck.

 

Reading this book made me question my experiences. 

 

So, when my engine went, instead of immediately going into chaotic, victim mode, a brand-new thought came to mind-

 

“Cars are technical objects.  Technical objects have technical issues.  So take care of it now and start saving for when something technical happens.”

 

This thought process still cost $250, however, somehow, some way, it would be many months before another car issue emerged, and I responded differently.

 

Was the book right?  Was the psychologist onto something?

 

Had I been so addicted to chaos that my energy, my actions were creating swirls of angst that unnecessarily surrounded me?

 

Since then, I have developed a theory- if a pastor does not need chaos to be happy, then chaos is greatly reduced.

 

Now- ya’ll make think “chaos to be happy?- that’s insane!”, but-don’t we all have that one friend, that one family member that if they don’t have chaos to talk about, there’s nothing for them to say?

 

One of the biggest heartbreaks in my life is watching how, as my Mother aged, she was actually happy being unhappy, and because of this she, she died at the very young age of 73.

 

Being addicted to chaos can sound so foolish, but perhaps that is part of what is going on in today’s reading.

 

Here we have a story about Moses, God, Aaron, and the Israelites, and they have all been through some thangs.

 

After over 400 years of slavery, the Israelites are set free. 

 

But before that takes place there is a series of plagues and disasters.  They dedicate their first born to God; make bread without yeast.

 

Then they flee the Pharaoh, come against the Red Sea, and amidst dark skies, the sea parts…

 

…and the people are expected to walk between those walls of swirling, uncertain waters…

 

We have seen the images from Asheville of what water can do.

 

Who would want to be the first person to step through that Red Sea wall, trusting that it would not close in on you?

 

Then, the Israelites wander the wilderness for 3 months, before setting up camp by Mt. Sinai.

 

And you know what God decides to do?

 

God decides that after allll that, God and Moses are going to have a 40-day pow-wow where it is just the 2 of them, on top of the mountain, with God giving Moses instruction to write down.

 

And the Israelites?  They are left alone for those 40 days with no word from God, and no Moses to lead them, guide them.

 

It's just them, their earrings, Moses’ sister Miriam and his brother Aaron.  So the Israelites get antsy; anxious. 

 

And what do anxious, antsy people do?  They come up with a plan to take away some of those antsy, anxious feelings.

 

However, their plan brings a new chaos into their lives and their journey to the Promised Land.

 

Perhaps God should’ve been more worried about their gold then the yeast in their bread.

 

But you know what?  As I grow older, I feel different about today’s reading.

 

Used to be a time I looked down upon the Israelites; chastised them for their impatience; accused them of being unfaithful.

 

But now that I’m no longer 20, or 30, or even 40, I have lived some things, experienced some things, done some things, so my views about the Israelites has changed.

 

Now there is space for grace.

 

As former slaves who endured great trauma, they had become too accustomed to bad things happening to good people.

 

After all that time fleeing the Pharaoh, walking between water, wandering in the dessert, perhaps the last thing they needed to experience was abandonment.

 

Perhaps the last thing they needed was zero access to God, zero access to Moses for 40 days. 

 

To go through 6 weeks of uncertainty, not knowing what was happening, or going to happen next is a lot.

 

If one dark night of the soul can seem to last forever, image what 40 days in the dessert can be like.

 

Without a word from God, or a mention from Moses, the people take matters into their own hands, and create the idea of crafting a calf.

 

There is a a sense of immediacy; a sense of being abandoned, that the people just want something, anything that can remind them they are not alone, they are not forsaken, they are not deserted. 

 

At least, unlike God, they can see this golden calf.  At least, unlike Moses, the calf can’t go up a hill.

 

So the people, just needing some assurance, wanting to somehow, some way praise and have hope and to sing and dance, eat and drink, have Aaron make an idol.

 

And once again, we can only imagine how, like in the Garden, this must’ve broken God’s heart.

 

Instead of walking in cool breezes or under starry skies, the people have turned to an image made of their own earrings….

 

But maybe, maybe if God had not been so distant, maybe if Moses had just come down from the mountain every few days, they would not have felt so abandoned, they would not have felt so alone, they would not have to turn to chaos.

 

There are at least two things we can take from today’s story.  The first, is an understanding about the Resurrection and why it is so important.

 

Today we saw what happens to God’s people when they feel abandoned or alone.  Imagine how Mary Magdelene, Mary, Peter, and all the disciples felt after Jesus was crucified.

 

Imagine how horrible and lonely that Friday and Saturday felt, how long those nights lasted. 

 

What would’ve happened to all the people following Jesus if the Resurrection had not been experienced, if there was no Good News that Christ is raised?

 

Second, we experience another answer to the question “Why?”

 

Why does St. Lucas matter?  Why do we come here to gather?  Why do we worship? 

 

Why do we faithfully give to the mission, ministry and the building that is St. Lucas?

 

Because St. Lucas is one way we get to experience God. 

 

St. Lucas is one place we get to come together after all the Red Seas and wildernesses of the week before so chaos does not take over or to take control.

 

St. Lucas is where we are reminded that we are not alone, we are not forsaken, we are not abandoned.

 

St. Lucas reminds us that God is not far away or distant or up on some hill for 40 days, but that God is right here, right now.

 

With us; besides us. 

 

Seeing us.

Hearing us.

Speaking to us.

 

Speaking with us.

 

Reminding us of who we are, and where we belong.

 

We do not need a golden calf; we do not need to break God’s heart.

 

Because here we know that Christ is resurrected;

 

God is forever present,

 

and no matter what chaos we face, no matter what Seas we walk through,

 

God is here; God is now.

 

For that, we can say “Amen.”

Holding On, Letting Go; Sermon on Exodus 13:1-8

 

Rev. George Miller

Sept 29, 2024

Exodus 13:1-8

 

This week was a milestone in the moving-in process. 

 

While continuing to make my house more homey with a rug here and an appliance there, I unpacked my CD collection.

 

It felt like seeing old friends who have taken me through so much. 

 

Beyonce who brings me joy.  Janet Jackon who shaped my youth.  Lalah Hathaway who brings great calm.

 

But there was a Carrie Underwood CD I totally forgot about, and some Usher CDs that quite frankly, I’ve grown out of.

 

It’s probably time to take them to Vintage Vinyl to be sold.

 

But, I came across an old dishcloth that really should’ve been thrown away in the move.

 

I’m so glad I didn’t.  It’s 8 years old, faded, with images of fish, and reminds me of good times and memories, people, and places. 

 

How many of us have an item like that?  Something so worn, torn and raggedy, but we see it, hold it, we feel good and smile?

 

But then we have items that used to mean something, but now they are just taking up space, so it’s probably best to let it go.

 

This has indeed been a week of adding, holding, and releasing.

 

How did our ancestors do it?  The ones who came to Ellis Island; those who came to Louisiana, traveling up the Mississippi?

 

How did they decide what to keep?  What to let go?  What to sell?  What to give away?

 

What about our immigrants and refugees, or those who are currently serving our country?

 

What about when our youth go to Camp Moval or the Mission Trip and they have to decide what to pack; what they can do without?

 

It’s not so easy to leave your hairdryer, razor, or favorite pair of PJs.

 

What about all of us at places like Friendship Village and Tower Groves who made the decision to downsize, sell their home, and move into a 1 or 2 bedroom apartment?

 

Now, there can be great joy in throwing and giving things away, especially when it is by choice, when you know it is time.

 

It creates space to breathe, relax, and welcome the next moment and blessing to come along.

 

But there is the sadness when we must leave things behind because either we have no choice or there is simply no other way.

 

This is just a small portion of what today’s reading is about.

 

Here we are in Egypt, so far from the cool breeze of the Garden or starry skies of Sarah and Abraham.

 

Joseph and his family have been buried for at least 400 years.

 

A terrible thing has happened- the people were so prosperous, so plentiful that the Pharaoh felt threatened, so he enslaved them.

 

For centuries all the people knew was harsh treatment, hard work; breathing bitter lives of bricks and back breaking field work.

 

But God has heard their cries, God knows their pains, is aware of their suffering, so God acts.

 

How God acts is through the person of Moses, a most unlikely individual with a checkered history, a great fear of public speaking, and some insecurity.

 

But you know- when God has a plan, and God calls who God calls, anyone can accomplish great things.

 

So God empowers Moses to engage with the Pharaoh, to seek release of the people.

 

There are signs and wonders, plagues and finally, Passover.

 

God is ready to set the people free; God is fixin’ to pry them away from the Pharaoh and bring them into the Promised Land.

 

But first- there is instruction.  Consecrate your first born.  Remember this moment; remember this day.

 

Make sure to tell your children and your children’s children what God is about to do.

 

And for yourselves, make unleavened bread; bread that has no yeast. That is what you will eat as you prepare to enter into the land of Milk and Honey.

 

We may wonder- why no yeast?  Why can’t the bread be big and airy like the artisan loaves seen at the Kirkwood Farmer’s Market?

 

Because, back then yeast was seen as symbolic.  Yeast was used to represent decay, dysfunction, unnecessary weight.

 

As one theologian stated, when God tell the people to not have leaven bread in their possession, God is saying-

 

“Leave behind the bad residue.  As you prepare to leave behind the past, prepare to leave behind the bad mojo.”

 

This is God saying to the people “It is time to celebrate; it is time to experience a new way of life, so leave behind what you no longer need, leave behind what no longer benefits you.”

 

“Leave whatever is going to hold you back, hold you down.”

 

It is such a wonderful, timeless message.

 

There is a reason why this story has been remembered, retold and written down.

 

Because every one of us knows what it is like to move forward; every one of us knows what it is like to have to “leave behind.”

 

Everyone here has had moments in which we were given the opportunity to let go and let God.

 

But of course, letting go is never as easy as it sounds.

 

Letting go is not like a switch in which one moment you have and the next you have not.

 

Letting go is rarely rarely easy.

 

CDs that bring us joy; dishtowels that have memories.

 

Letting go is rarely easy.

 

Behaviors we adopted to adapt to harsh situations.  Ways of doing things that got us through tough times. 

 

Ideas and world views that served their purpose, but are not the most visionary now.

 

We all, we ALL have things we hold on to that bring us joy and bring us more life.

 

Then there are things we hold onto that can keep us enslaved or bring us sorrow.

 

That is what God is talking about when God says “Leave the leaven behind.”

 

God is speaking to people who have spent centuries being told what to do, how to do it, when to do it, and if done incorrectly, they would be punished.

 

God is speaking to people who have been oppressed for so long, that God does not want them to bring that pain into their next experience, into their new life.

 

God is saying “As you prepare to say goodbye to your past, leave behind that which can ruin your future.”

 

And the future God is talking about?  It is so beautiful. 

 

Don’t you just love the mention of a “land flowing with milk and honey”?

 

We can only imagine that’s how the ancestors felt as they traveled up the Mississippi and saw all the green grass, rolling hills and places to build sturdy homes and grow gardens and grapes.

 

To say the land is flowing with milk and honey is to say that the soil is rich; the soil is good;

 

the soil is full of nutrients needed to sow seeds, grow fruit, and bring forth abundant harvest.

 

A Land flowing with milk and honey is full of grass and flowers for goats to munch on and bees to pollinate and buzz about.

 

The people have been suffering.  The people have been crying out.  God has seen.  God has heard.

 

God has a plan and God has a Promised Land.

 

To get there people there, 2 things have to happen.

 

First- a person has to come forward, answer the call, and be willing to lead the Team. 

 

Second, the people have to be willing to leave behind the bad residue, the mojo,

 

the things that weigh them down and hold them back from celebration and new creation.

 

Will the people be able to do that?  Will they be able to leave the leaven behind? 

 

Will their feet touch the Promise placed before them?

 

Time will tell.

 

But for us, today, as their descendants, as their seeds, we get to remember, we get the chance to retell their story.

 

And we each get a choice, today and every today, to think about:

 

-what it is we would like to leave behind?

 

-what we would like to let go?

 

-and how we can each “Let God”?

 

For that, let us say “Amen.”