Upliftment

UV 1646/10000 Upliftment
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
I Samuel 2 v 8
The pillars of the earth are not physical structures but the principles of righteousness found in the word of the Lord. He has set the world to run upon them. If we keep them, we prosper. If we break them, we suffer the consequences much like what happens when we break the laws of physical science or the laws of man. The principle of humility and faith before the Lord had raised Hannah as a mother and a forebear of one of the greatest of prophets and the last judge of Israel- Samuel. She was on the dunghill of contempt and scorn due to her barrenness but when she lowered herself to the dust and sought the mercy, peace and grace of the Lord, she was lifted up and set among princes. She had inherited the throne of glory- an eternal seating at the right hand of the Lord, a position as judge and ruler in the kingdom of God. Though she was not a princess by earthly standards and reckoning, she is honoured in biblical history as a woman of great faith.

The thorn in our flesh that causes us most pain may be the indicator of where our throne lies, of where we invite the Lord to sit and rule in our lives. The Lord had closed the womb of Hannah for a higher purpose. If she had become a mother by natural means and not through supernatural intervention and blessing, she would have not known the Lord or tasted of His goodness, love, mercy, peace and grace. Our greatest source of pain is the indicator of where our greatest victory or success lies in life. The mustard seed of faith though it be tiny when it is sown in the area of our greatest need becomes the largest of trees where many birds or many lives can find shelter from the storms in their lives.

When we humble ourselves, the Lord exalts us. When we exalt ourselves, the Lord will humble us. Those who are poor in spirit are those who have little to gloat about or boast about in their lives. The princes or those who hold high rank and position of this world are arrogant but the children of God are meek. Eli’ sons misused his position and influence as the priest of the Tabernacle and the anointing and mantle of leadership that should have been theirs by virtue of natural descent was transferred by the Spirit of the Lord to the young lad Samuel.

Prateep V Philip