1 Samuel 2:1-10
Hannah prayed
and said,
“My heart exults in the Lord;
my strength is exalted in my God.[a]
My mouth derides my enemies,
because I rejoice in my[b] victory.
my strength is exalted in my God.[a]
My mouth derides my enemies,
because I rejoice in my[b] victory.
2 “There is no
Holy One like the Lord,
no one besides you;
there is no Rock like our God.
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.
4 The bows of the mighty are broken,
but the feeble gird on strength.
5 Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread,
but those who were hungry are fat with spoil.
The barren has borne seven,
but she who has many children is forlorn.
6 The Lord kills and brings to life;
he brings down to Sheol and raises up.
7 The Lord makes poor and makes rich;
he brings low, he also exalts.
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.[c]
For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s,
and on them he has set the world.
no one besides you;
there is no Rock like our God.
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.
4 The bows of the mighty are broken,
but the feeble gird on strength.
5 Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread,
but those who were hungry are fat with spoil.
The barren has borne seven,
but she who has many children is forlorn.
6 The Lord kills and brings to life;
he brings down to Sheol and raises up.
7 The Lord makes poor and makes rich;
he brings low, he also exalts.
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.[c]
For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s,
and on them he has set the world.
9 “He will
guard the feet of his faithful ones,
but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness;
for not by might does one prevail.
10 The Lord! His adversaries shall be shattered;
the Most High[d] 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.”
but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness;
for not by might does one prevail.
10 The Lord! His adversaries shall be shattered;
the Most High[d] 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.”
Hannah was the mother of Samuel. She had suffered for years as a barren woman in a time when child bearing was synonymous with worth. Upon delivering her first child, she fulfilled a promise to God and turned him over to the temple priest to be raised apart from her. Hannah’s song of thanksgiving speaks to her story of being raised from her suffering and given status through her faithfulness. She examines how God humbles the haughty and exalts the humble. She recognizes that God works within and among those who are downcast and left out, but long for righteousness. Her words foreshadow the words of Jesus in his sermon on the mount, “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the kingdom of God.” Surely, Hannah did.
Reflection Questions:
Morning: How have you experienced suffering?
Noon: Did you appeal to God in the midst of your suffering?
Evening: Looking back, can you find a blessing in the midst of your suffering?
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