1 Samuel 2

New International Version (NIV)

1 Samuel 2

Hannah’s Prayer

 ¹Then Hannah prayed and said:

   “My heart rejoices in the LORD;
   in the LORD my horn^[a] 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 has them inherit a throne of honor.

   “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.

GOD PROVIDES

I Samuel 1 & 2 feature the story of a barren woman, Hannah, who receives a son from the Lord because of her diligent prayer, humbleness, and sacrifice.

Hannah had lived for many years in the shadow of her husband Elkanah’s first wife, who had borne many sons. It was important in this time in Israel’s history for a woman to produce children to bless her home, as it has been important for all time.  Hannah was barren, therefore she was subject to the teasings of her sister, and while Elkanah worked in the temple as a priest, Hannah prayed to ask GOD for a son. She covenated with GOD that if he would grant her desire for a son that she would give him to the temple priests to raise in the House of The LORD.

In due time, GOD gave Hannah a son whom she named Samuel, and when she had weaned him, she presented him to Eli, the Head Priest,as a gift before GOD, to live his life in the temple and to serve GOD all of his days.

My concentration today is on 2 Samuel 2:1-11. This is called ‘Hannah’s Prayer’ much like we find the ‘Song of Mary’ in the Book of Matthew. In this prayer, Hannah teaches us about the fruit of longsuffering and how diligence in petitioning the LORD will bear Godly fruit.  She speaks of overcoming her enemies through God’s intervention, and how those who seem to prosper will be brought to accountability in Him. She acknowledges the Sovereignty of the LORD GOD, and how he who owns all things will be the one to raise up and to put down.

In our everyday lives, we are bombarded by many plots and ploys of Satan to bring us down and to destroy our dedicated work in Christ. If we can just take the advice and example of Hannah, who GOD truly blessed, we will stay the course through many trials, and emerge victorious on the other side. We can only be defeated by our own inability to lean and depend on Jesus. 

Scripture is for edifying the body of Christ, and fellowship and community are there to shore us up and to support us through the hard times. Time is running out, and if we do not gain an understanding of the Holy Trinity, we will be lost.

                                                                                                                Charlene