1 2:1-11 – ’s Song

Background/Context

Hannah wept bitterly, asking God for a son. Hannah vowed that if God would give her a son, she would give him to the LORD all the days of his life. God granted her request. Hannah kept her end of the bargain. After bringing the boy Samuel to the house of the LORD at , Hannah breaks out in song/prayer. This time her prayer is one of joy instead of bitter tears.

After Hannah left her three-year-old son with , she could have gone off alone and had a good cry, but instead she burst into a song of praise to the Lord. The world doesn’t understand the relationship between sacrifice and song, how God’s people can sing their way into sacrifice and sacrifice their way into singing.

The is full of examples of godly men and women worshiping through tears (whether they be tears of joy or tears of sorrow). Before He went to the garden where He would be arrested, Jesus sang a hymn with His disciples (Matt. 26:30), and Paul and Silas sang hymns to the Lord after they had been humiliated and beaten (Acts 16:20-26). Frequently in the psalms (the songbook for Israel) you find David praising God in the midst of difficult circumstances. After being beaten by religious leaders in Jerusalem, the apostles “departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name” (Acts 5:41 NKVJ).

Read 1 Samuel 2:1-11

Themes Presented

The prominent idea in Hannah’s prayer song is that the Lord is a righteous Judge. He had brought down the proud (Peninnah) and exalted the humble (Hannah).

The prayer song has four sections:

1) Hannah prays to the Lord for his salvation (2:1-2); 2) Hannah warned the proud of the Lord’s humbling (vv. 3-8d); 3) Hannah affirmed the Lord’s faithful care for his saints (vv. 8e-9b); 4) Hannah petitioned the Lord to judge the world and to prosper his anointed king (vv. 9c-10e).

This prayer song has a lot of similarities to other prayer songs in Scripture, but most significantly, it resembles David’s prayer song in 2 Sam. 22:2-51 and Mary’s Magnificat in :46-55. Hannah’s prayer sets the theological tone for the . It speaks of God’s grace going to the underserving, God’s victory over the enemy, and the unexpected ways God turns things upside down in order to accomplish His purposes. Verse-by-verse Walkthrough

Verse 1 – “And Hannah prayed and said, ‘My heart exults in the LORD; my strength is exalted in the LORD. My mouth derides my enemies, because I rejoice in your salvation.”

After receiving the son of her deepest prayer, Hannah fulfills her promise and brings Samuel to the Lord via Eli the priest. Far from being despondent at the reality of giving up her son, Hannah assumes a heart-posture of worship. She prays a beautiful prayer that gives glory to God. Her heart exults in the LORD; her strength is exalted in the LORD. While she lifts high the LORD in her heart, the LORD lifts her up as well. The Hebrew word for “strength” here is “horn,” which is a symbol of strength and power (see Deut. 33:17).

The song both starts and ends with the declaration that the Lord exalts. The verb translated as “exalt” or “raise up” appears also in vv. 7, 8, and 10 and expresses the theme of the song. To have your “horn exalted” meant to receive new strength from God and be especially helped by Him at a time of crisis. It is God who exalts the strength of the righteous but cuts off the strength of the wicked (Ps. 75:10).

Who are the “enemies” Hannah mentions? Peninnah? Doubt? A cultural concept of shame and disfavor attributed to barrenness? The evil one? With the expression “my enemies,” Hannah is not making a personal attack on Peninnah (one person) but is speaking against God’s enemies. His enemies are also Hannah’s enemies, because his enemies attack her trust in God and his dealings with her (see Ps. 139:21-22).

Hannah was praying and rejoicing in song at the same time! She was thinking of God’s blessing to the nation of Israel as well as to herself and her home. When prayer is selfish, it isn’t spiritual, and it does not honor the Lord. Hannah knew in her heart that God was going to do great things for His people and that her son would play an important part in accomplishing God’s plan. Her worship came from her heart and was saturated with joy of the Lord.

“I rejoice in thy salvation” suggests more than Hannah’s being delivered from barrenness. Hannah sees this miracle as the beginning of new victory for Israel who time after time had been invaded, defeated, and abused by their enemies. But the word “salvation” is yeshua—Joshua—one of the names of the promised Messiah. King David would be God’s yeshua to deliver Israel from her enemies, and Jesus, the Son of David, would be God’s yeshua to deliver all people from the bondage of sin and death.

Hannah knows where true salvation comes from. I rejoice in your salvation – God is the source of salvation, ultimately through the Person of Jesus Christ, God the Son (see Acts 4:12).

Verse 2 – “There is none holy like the LORD; there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God.”

God is to be praised and worshiped, for He is holy. Hannah knew the character of God and exalted His glorious attributes. She began by affirming His holiness and uniqueness. The two go together because in both Hebrew and Greek the word “holy” means “wholly other, set apart, separated.” Hannah recognizes the holiness of God, part of true worship. We cannot worship God rightly unless we are gripped by His holiness and our unworthiness. He is completely other, unique, different than anything and everything in His creation, singular.

Hannah recognizes the singularity of God. There is no other. There is no god but our God. His reign is absolute and unchallenged, He alone is God. He is one. He is God, and there is none else.

Hannah says that there is no rock like our God. “Rock” is a metaphor for God that emphasized his strength and the security of those who trust in him (see Deut. 32:4; Ps. 18:1-2). He is “the rock that is higher than I;” He is the stronghold, firm foundation, solid ground. God is a rock in the sense that He is strong, sturdy, unmovable, impregnable, solid.

Here the focus is on the uniqueness of the one true God as opposed to false sources of security. We would do well to make sure that our source and sense of security is in God, and not anything else. With “our God,” Hannah speaks as a member of the covenant community, whom she addresses in the next verse.

Verse 3 – “Talk no more so very proudly, let not arrogance come from your mouth; for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.”

Hannah recognizes that the pride of man is folly. Proud talk is foolish. God knows all things and weighs every action. She warns the proud, especially those who boast with their mouths. The majestic and powerful God humbles all those who vaunt themselves against him. Humility should follow naturally after contemplating the holiness of God. Humility is essential in our relationship to God, for God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6).

The warning is tied to the fact that God knows everything; He knows what you’ve said and done, and He know your motives. The Lord is also “a God of knowledge” (1 Sam. 2:3), so people had better be careful what they say and how they say it. There’s no place for pride and arrogance when you stand before a God who knows you through and through, everything you’ve thought, spoken, and done. God heard all of Peninnah’s haughty words spoken against Hannah, and He also heard Hannah’s prayer from her heart. God is omniscient and knows all things, and He is omnipresent and beholds all things.

Hannah rejoiced because this holy God is a just judge of the actions of His people. Unlike the people involved in human judicial proceedings, the Lord knows everything and is able to weigh us and our actions accurately. Like Hannah, we may be misunderstood and maligned by people, but the Lord will always act justly.

Verse 4 – “The bows of the mighty are broken, but the feeble bind on strength.”

Hannah begins a contrast between those who receive God’s favor and assistance and those who are punished. The mighty are brought low; that is, their bows are broken. The source of their “strength” is destroyed by the God of true strength. The mighty lose their strength, but the weak/feeble gain strength. This strength is not from themselves, but rather from God. The “mighty” are only given their might for a certain time and purpose, then they are broken, mighty no more. It is those who wait upon the LORD that have their strength renewed (Is. 40:31).

Verse 5 – “Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, but those who were hungry have ceased to hunger. The barren has borne seven, but she who has many children is forlorn.”

Those who were full, well-fed, having plenty of food, are now hiring themselves out for bread, being in want. Those who were hungry have ceased to hunger, being filled with good things from God above. This is reminiscent of Jesus’ parable of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31).

The one who was barren has now borne seven (possibly referring to completeness). Implicitly, we see that Hannah is joyful over a complete blessing of children. Note: This is not a personal testimony since Hannah bore only six children (2:21). By contrast, the one who has many children is forlorn; there is no joy (possibly because of the loss of the children). The Hebrew usually means “becomes a widow,” but here it means “becomes childless.”

Verse 6 – “The LORD kills and brings to life; he brings down to Sheol and raises up.”

It is the LORD that determines the length of days for all of life, especially for the crown jewel of His creation – people. The order here is meaningful: kill/death then life. Not only does God institute physical life, give life to living things, He also is the source of the new birth, spiritual life, for those He has regenerated. He shows some modicum of mercy to all, but also judges justly and delivers appropriate recompense. Again, the order is meaningful: down to Sheol (the grave) then raises up. “Sheol” here refers to the place of the dead. Because He is sovereign, the Lord is in charge of life and death and everything in between (v. 6). He can rescue us from the grave or permit us to die. God literally brought Jesus down to Sheol and then raised Him up, and so He will do with us (not just a spiritual resurrection, but a physical one as well).

Verse 7 – “The LORD makes poor and makes rich; he brings low and he exalts.”

Neither poor nor rich are what they are apart from God’s hand. Wealth or poverty is not a sure sign of favor or disfavor with God. God orchestrates the providence of people. We have all been on both ends of that equation – poor/rich, low/exalted. The Lord controls not only birth and death, but also the whole of life in between. If He allows us to live, He can make us rich or poor, exalted or abased, for He knows what’s best. And He can work all things for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.

Verse 8 – “He raises up the poor from the dust; he lifts the needy from the ash heap to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor. For the pillars of the earth are the LORD’s, and on them he has set the world.”

God has concern for the poor and needy, both physically and spiritually. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 5:3). Those who are desperately poor and powerless, seated in the ash heap, can be transformed by God into powerful princes. Believers are those who acknowledge their spiritual poverty and neediness and who are looking unto Christ to meet that need. We who have recognized our poor and helpless estate and who have trusted in Christ are now seated with the King of kings in heavenly places and are co-heirs with Him.

How can God do this? He is the One who has created and sustains the world. It is His; He owes it. He can do whatever pleases Him to do with it. The Lord is sovereign over life. “For the pillars of the earth are the LORD’s, and on them he has set the world.” The reference to the foundation or support (“pillars”) of the earth is meaningful here, for the Lord upholds both the place where his people live as well as the moral order of this world; he protects his faithful, while he destroys the wicked (1 Sam. 2:9). The earth belongs to God, and God alone is in control.

Verse 9 – “He will guard the feet of his faithful ones, but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness, for not by might shall a man prevail.”

He guards the feet of his faithful ones. God keeps His faithful ones from wandering astray too far (not that we can’t nibble ourselves off the narrow path/way, but God, our Good Shepherd, will not leave us or forsake us; He will come after us and get us on the right path again). How does He guard our feet? In a multitude of ways: Scripture (Thy word is a lamp unto my feet; Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against Thee); the Holy Spirit (our Counselor, Advocate, and Intercessor); the Community of believers (God uses other people to encourage and exhort us); and circumstances (we are put in situations that drive us to our knees and back into His arms).

In contrast, the wicked shall be cut off in darkness. “Darkness” functions here as a metaphor for the silence It is God’s presence that brings success, brought upon the wicked in death (Ps. 35:6-8). This is the rather than physical prowess. just punishment for their continued misdeeds (see John Examples from 1 Samuel: 3:19-21). For, Hannah recognizes, it is not by might that a • The ark narrative (chs. 4-6) man shall prevail. “Not by might, nor by power, but by • The Lord’s victory though my Spirit says the LORD” (Zech. 4:6). Man’s “might” is Samuel (ch. 7) not what allows him to prevail; only faith and obedience, • The contrasting successes of given and empowered by God, will prevail. But in this the Saul and David (chs. 13 and 14) faithful do not boast, since it is a gift of God. • The choice of David, the God has established the world so that it can’t be youngest of Jesse’s sons (ch. 16) moved, and what happens on our planet is under His • David’s victory over Goliath watchful care. We may think that God has abandoned (ch. 17) the earth to Satan and his demonic powers, but this is still our Father’s world (Ps. 24:1-2), and He has set His King on heaven’s throne (Ps. 2:7-9). As God’s people walk on this earth and walk in the light, the Lord will guard and guide their steps, but the wicked will walk in spiritual darkness because they depend on their own wisdom and strength. It may seem that the wicked “have it made,” but one day the storm of God’s wrath will burst upon them in fierce judgment. God is long-suffering with those who resist Him, but their day is coming (2 Pet. 3:9-10).

What counts is obedience to and trust in God. It is not by strength that one prevails, at least not by human strength, and opposition to God will lead to shattering disaster. Verse 10 – “The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; against them he will thunder in heaven. The LORD will judge the ends of the earth; he will give strength to his king and exalt the power of his anointed.”

The might of wicked men will be broken, whereas the powerless will receive power from God. None shall stand against the LORD, their power/strength is as nothing. God is actively against the wicked. This destroys the faulty view that everybody’s basically good and God wouldn’t punish them because God is love. “The LORD will judge the ends of the earth.” The Lord will impose his righteous rule upon all the nations and peoples (see Isa. 2:2-4). No one is excluded from God’s righteous judgment; all will stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

There are only two sides in this conflict. One is either on the side of the King, the LORD’s Anointed, and thereby given strength and exalted in His power, or one is on the side of the wicked, the adversaries of the LORD, who are broken to pieces in thundering judgment. Which side are you on?

But while the adversaries will be broken to pieces, “he will give strength to his king.” This foreshadows David, and ultimately, Jesus, the King of kings. Moses had already predicted the coming of a king who would exercise God’s rule over all the nations of the earth (Gen. 49:8-12; Num. 24:7-9, 17- 19). It was this future, victorious king whom Hannah anticipated, and whom Saul and David prefigured.

Hannah goes on to say that the LORD will “exalt the power of his anointed.” Previously in the OT, both the tabernacle and its utensils along with the priests (Aaron and his sons) had been anointed with oil. This pictured their consecration and holy status before the Lord (Ex. 30:26-30). In Samuel, first Saul (1 Sam. 10:1), and then David (16:13; 2 Sam. 2:4; 5:3) were anointed as they were inaugurated for the kingship. From this point in the OT, it is usually the king who is referred as “the anointed (of the Lord)” (1 Sam. 12:3; 24:6; 26:9, 11, 16; 2 Sam. 1:14, 16; 19:21). The kings of Israel, particularly David, foreshadowed the Lord’s ultimate anointed king. The English word “Messiah” represents the Hebrew word used here meaning “anointed.” Thus, this ultimate King who would rule over the nations of the earth, came to be referred to as “the Messiah,” as here and 1 Sam. 2:35; cf. 2 Sam. 22:51. (In the New Testament, “Christ” represents the Greek word Christos, also meaning “anointed.”)

God’s ultimate control had transformed Hannah’s position, turned her bitter tears into strong rejoicing, and resulted in her horn being lifted high. Similarly, God’s ultimate control would also lead to the horn of his anointed being exalted—first David, then, ultimately, Jesus. Hannah and Elkanah left their son in Shiloh and returned to Ramah with joyful hearts and great expectation to see what the Lord would do.

Verse 11 – “Then Elkanah went home to Ramah. And the boy ministered to the LORD in the presence of Eli the priest.”

How gut-wrenching, heart-rending would that have been for Hannah to leave her son? But she left him in the hands of the LORD who had given him to her. The young Samuel stayed with Eli in Shiloh and worshiped and ministered to the LORD. What does this passage tell us about God?

He is Savior, sovereign, holy, singular, omnipotent, omniscient, discerning, merciful and gracious, benevolent, a Warrior, a Strengthener, the Provider, the Creator, a just Judge, the Guardian of our souls.

What does this passage tell us about Man?

Man is poor and needy, and in need of salvation. The strength and pride of man is utter folly, and God will break them. Man must walk in humility, and trust only in God, not in himself.

The Gospel Connection

Hannah’s story and her prayer song reflect key truths of the gospel. First, God must be at the center! When he is, even life’s greatest battles can become the ground of blessing (Rom. 8:28), for God delights to embrace and encourage His own even in the midst of severe trial (cf. Isa. 40:11). Hannah took her troubles to the Lord, whom she knew and worshiped, and He acted mightily on her behalf. Likewise, we must fix our eyes on Jesus (Heb. 12:2) and cast our cares upon Him, for He cares for us (1 Pet. 5:7).

Second, Hannah’s story and her prayer song reflect the gospel truth of God’s strange reversal of what the world holds dear and counts significant. God delights to show favor to the weak and socially marginalized. His power interlocks with human weakness and resists flaunted human strength (2 Cor. 12:9). An example of this principle is the gospel itself—where God delights to accept and approve of those who trust in his Son by faith, rather than those who bring the strength of their own performance to the table. Ultimately, it is seen in the reversal of fortunes in the Son of God. He despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows acquainted with grief (Isa. 53:3). He was pierced for our transgressions and crushed for our iniquities (Isa. 53:5), and it looked as if He was defeated on the cross. But on the third day, He rose again, having conquered death by His death! His resurrection declares His victory!

Conclusion

It is right to thank and praise God when He gives us the desires of our heart. It is also right to praise Him when we must lay down those fulfilled desires at His feet, to be used as He decides. In this, we show that the real, true, deepest desire of our hearts is God Himself and His glory, not merely the good things He gives us.

Resources used in the lesson:

Chapell, Bryan, ed. The ESV Gospel Transformation Bible. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2013.

Dennis, Lane T. and Wayne Grudem, eds. The ESV Study Bible. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2008.

Evans, Mary J. New International Biblical Commentary: 1&2 Samuel. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 2000.

Hamilton, Victor P. Handbook on the Historical Books. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2008.

MacArthur, John. The MacArthur Bible Commentary. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2005.

Sproul, R.C., ed. The Reformation Study Bible. Lake Mary, FL: Ligonier Ministries, 2005.

Wiersbe, Warren W. The Bible Exposition Commentary: History. Colorado Springs: David C. Cook, 2003.