Why Hannah Rejoiced 1 Samuel 2 1 10

Why Hannah Rejoiced 1 Samuel 2: 1 -10

Who Was Hannah? • Introduction in 1 Samuel 1: 2 as one of the wives of Elkanah • Hannah was barren • A common OT motif for God’s care for the desperate • A “sentence” of isolation as women were “responsible” for barrenness • Hannah was favored by Elkanah (1 Samuel 1: 4 -5) • Hannah was plagued by Peninnah (vv 6 -7) • Hannah promised her future child to God (v 11) • Now, after the birth of Samuel, she prays and rejoices…

Hannah Rejoiced: The Lord’s Protection 2: 1, 9 -10 • Horn is representative of strength • “I rejoice in your salvation” [deliverance, NIV] • God “guards the feet of His saints” • Of course, we have to help ourselves by making preparation (see Ephesians 6: 15) • Consider vs. 10: 1 – adversaries broken in pieces (shattered, NASB) 2 – thunder against enemies (Ps 18: 12 -14) 3 – judgment belongs to the Lord

Hannah Rejoiced: The Lord’s Power 2: 2 -3 • No one is holy like the Lord • We are told to be holy like Him, even though fully achieving that is impossible (1 Peter 1: 16) • Seeing God as THE ROCK is reminiscent of the Moses’ Song • Deuteronomy 32: 4, 30 -31 • God is the God of Knowledge (v 3) • Put away pride • Put away arrogance

Hannah Rejoiced: The Lord Provides 2: 4 -8 • Hannah prays about how God provides in comparison to what does NOT provide • NOT military might (4) • NOT money (5 a, 7) • NOT maternal blessings (5 b) • God raise the poor and lifts the beggar • “from the garbage pile” (HCSB) away pride • God provides in ways beyond our thoughts (see Eph 3: 20)

Two Bonus Texts • One often reads Hannah’s prayer and thinks of two additional passages which are worth considering • Psalm 113 – note the similarities • Speaks of God’s POWER (4 -5) • Speaks of God’s PROVIDING (7 -8) • And the psalmist references the barren women motif (9)

Two Bonus Texts • Luke 1: 46 -55 • Speaks of God’s POWER (49, 52) • Speaks of God’s PROVIDING (48, 53) • And Mary speaks of God keeping His promises for all time (54 -55) • Additionally, note that Hannah’s Prayer and Mary’s song are from women * Further evidence that God cares about ALL people

THE APPLICATION FROM HANNAH’S PRAYER This is why we pray and praise God Because He PROTECTS us Because He shows us His POWER Because He PROVIDES for us And that’s why we REJOICE too