1 Samuel 2: 1-11… Hannah’s Prayer

And Hannah prayed and said,
“My heart exults in the LORD;
my horn is exalted in the LORD.
My mouth derides my enemies,
because I rejoice in your salvation.
“There is none holy like the LORD:
for there is none besides you;
there is no rock like our God.
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.
The bows of the mighty are broken,
but the feeble bind on strength.
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.
The LORD kills and brings to life;
he brings down to Sheol and raises up.
The LORD makes poor and makes rich;
he brings low and he exalts.
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 honour.
For the pillars of the earth are the LORD’S,
and on them he has set the world.
“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.
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 horn of his anointed.”
Then Elkanah went home to Ramah. And the boy was ministering to the LORD in the presence of Eli the priest.

Comment: Apparently married Jewish women of the time wore a horn on the top of their heads to raise up their head covering. If they were mothers the horn was worn erect but if childless or until they had children it was worn at an angle. Now Elkanah’s other wife had no cause to deride Hannah! She was delighted in the gift of a son which God had given her. Her prayer ranges over a number of topics.

• God’s holiness and steadfastness.
• Was the other wife the arrogant one, to whom she refers? Certainly her mind is still on families.
• The previously barren rejoice even more than the mother who had many children.
• God is in control of hunger/supply; poverty/riches; life/death.
• He deals with the wicked, overcomes His adversaries and she even seems to make a reference to the promised Messiah with her words ‘and exalt the horn of his anointed’.

Elkanah and family go home but Samuel stays ministering to God under Eli.

Prayer: Help me to see Your hand in the affairs of my life, O Lord.