HANNAH PRAISED THE LORD

Passage: 1 Samuel 2:1-11

Key verse: 10

NIV

Hannah’s Prayer

2 Then Hannah prayed and said:(A)

“My heart rejoices(B) in the Lord;
    in the Lord my horn[a](C) is lifted high.
My mouth boasts(D) over my enemies,(E)
    for I delight in your deliverance.

2 “There is no one holy(F) like(G) the Lord;
    there is no one besides you;
    there is no Rock(H) like our God.

3 “Do not keep talking so proudly
    or let your mouth speak such arrogance,(I)
for the Lord is a God who knows,(J)
    and by him deeds(K) are weighed.(L)

4 “The bows of the warriors are broken,(M)
    but those who stumbled are armed with strength.(N)
5 Those who were full hire themselves out for food,
    but those who were hungry(O) are hungry no more.
She who was barren(P) has borne seven children,
    but she who has had many sons pines away.

6 “The Lord brings death and makes alive;(Q)
    he brings down to the grave and raises up.(R)
7 The Lord sends poverty and wealth;(S)
    he humbles and he exalts.(T)
8 He raises(U) the poor(V) from the dust(W)
    and lifts the needy(X) from the ash heap;
he seats them with princes
    and has them inherit a throne of honor.(Y)

“For the foundations(Z) of the earth are the Lord’s;
    on them he has set the world.
9 He will guard the feet(AA) of his faithful servants,(AB)
    but the wicked will be silenced in the place of darkness.(AC)

“It is not by strength(AD) that one prevails;
10     those who oppose the Lord will be broken.(AE)
The Most High will thunder(AF) from heaven;
    the Lord will judge(AG) the ends of the earth.

“He will give strength(AH) to his king
    and exalt the horn(AI) of his anointed.”

11 Then Elkanah went home to Ramah,(AJ) but the boy ministered(AK) before the Lord under Eli the priest.

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Footnotes
  1. 1 Samuel 2:1 Horn here symbolizes strength; also in verse 10.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Hannah's Prayer

2 And Hannah prayed and said,

(A)“My heart exults in the Lord;
    (B)my horn is exalted in the Lord.
My mouth derides my enemies,
    because (C)I rejoice in your salvation.

2 (D)“There is none holy like the Lord:
    for there is none besides you;
    there is (E)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 (F)The bows of the mighty are broken,
    but the feeble bind on strength.
5 Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread,
    but those who were hungry have ceased to hunger.
(G)The barren has borne seven,
    (H)but she who has many children is forlorn.
6 (I)The Lord kills and brings to life;
    he brings down to Sheol and raises up.
7 (J)The Lord makes poor and makes rich;
    (K)he brings low and he exalts.
8 (L)He raises up the poor from the dust;
    he lifts the needy from the ash heap
(M)to make them sit with princes
    and inherit a seat of honor.
(N)For the pillars of the earth are the Lord's,
    and on them he has set the world.

9 (O)“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.
10 (P)The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces;
    (Q)against them he will thunder in heaven.
(R)The Lord will judge the ends of the earth;
    he will give strength to his king
    (S)and exalt the horn of his anointed.”

11 Then Elkanah went home (T)to Ramah. (U)And the boy[a] was ministering to the Lord in the presence of Eli the priest.

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Footnotes
  1. 1 Samuel 2:11 Hebrew na‘ar can be rendered boy (2:11, 18, 21, 26; 3:1, 8), servant (2:13, 15), or young man (2:17), depending on the context
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

Hannah was leaving her precious first born child Samuel to serve the Lord alongside Eli the high priest, according to her vows. And instead of being sad and heart-broken, she was filled with great joy and spiritual insight to praise the Lord.

Experiencing the Lord’s deliverance from her misery brought Hannah to have a deeper understanding of the Lord. She realized that the Lord was unique in his holy and mighty nature (2) who reverses circumstances (4,5), has authority to give and take life (6), and guides his faithful servants from all harm (9). Based on this deeper knowledge of the Lord, she also prophesied about a king who would be raised by the sovereign will of the Lord, who would be exalted because of the strength he receives from the Lord (1,10).

Hannah’s joy was not a petty one to make her enemy Peninnah speechless. She came to know the Lord, recognized herself as a faithful servant, and came to share in his vision for the world salvation plan. Do you also want to make this commitment to have a covenant relationship with the Lord? Bring your burden before him and see what great things he wants to show you.

Prayer: Father, I praise and worship you for what you have done in my life. Please help me to grow in a deeper knowledge of you and praise your name.

One Word: Come to know the Lord better.