Reversal of fortune

A number of years ago when I was teaching at a Bible Institute I discovered an interesting thing about the literature of First and Second Samuel. These two Old Testament books are full of reversal of fortune accounts. What I mean by a reversal of fortune account is a story that begins with the protagonist in a desperate situation while the antagonist seems to be doing very well. As you continue to read through the story there comes a point where a reversal takes place and the antagonist situation goes down and the protagonist is brought up from desperation to a much better place.

A good illustration of this is the story of Hannah and Peninnah. Both women are married to one man by the name of Elkanah. Hannah has Elkanah’s love, but Peninnah has given birth to his children. Hannah is without children and in those days being barren was a terrible thing. Hannah is constantly taunted by Peninnah about her barren state until Hannah is in tears. So what happens? Hannah prays in the temple that she could bear children. The old priest Eli sees her praying in such a desperate situation that he thinks she is drunk and tells her she needs to dry up and live a better life. Hannah explains that her heart is heavy because of her situation and Eli,upon understanding the woman’s desperation, tells her to go home and says may God grant you your the request. The Lord answers Hannah’s prayer and she winds up having six children, four sons and two daughters. Her first son Samuel winds up becoming a great prophet and a leader of Israel. In Hannah’s prayer of praise in Chapter 2 of 1st Samuel she says, “the bow of the mighty is now broken, and those who stumble are now strong.” (1st Samuel 2:4) She knows that the God of Israel loves the reversal of fortune and He performs it often. She also understood that the reversal of fortune comes from the hand of God and not from our power or strength.

In the New Testament I have found this same theme throughout its pages. God raises the downcast and lowers the proud. Mary’s Magnificat in Luke chapter one verses 51 and 52 expresses it like this, “His mighty arm has done tremendous things! He has scattered the proud and haughty ones. He has brought down princes from their thrones and exalted the humble.” In many ways this is the story of the world we live in. We are all part of a big reversal of fortune. The Bible says that all we (mankind) like sheep have gone astray (Isaiah 53:6). In other words we have wondered away from the one that created us and desires to live in a relationship with us. Notice it says, “all” we. Not just one or two but all mankind has gone astray and turned away from God. The great reversal of fortune is found in what God did for us by sending Jesus to die on the cross in our place. Paul writes in Romans 5:10-11, “For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.”