Giving God The Praise
“My heart exalts 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 are hungry have ceased to hunger. The barren has borne seven, but she who has many children is forlorn. The Lord kills and brings 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 honor. 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,” (1 Samuel 2:1-10).
This passage of scripture is the prayer of Hannah after the Lord had granted her the ability to bear a child.
We meet Hannah in the first chapter of 1 Samuel where we learn that she is the wife of Elkanah. Elkanah actually had two wives; Hannah and Peninnah. It is said that Peninnah had children but Hannah has been unable to bear any children of her own. Unfortunately, in the midst of Hannah’s struggle of not being able to bear a child, Elkanah’s other wife, Peninnah, would provoke Hannah because of thiw “And her rival used to provoke her grievously to irritate her, because the Lord had closed her womb,” (1 Samuel 1:6).
This ill treatment from Peninnah would go on year after year which drove Hannah to weep and not even eat. Verse 10 even shows to us that Hannah was very distressed and begins to pray to the Lord. “O Lord of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head,” (1 Samuel 1:11).
After a brief confrontation with Eli when he presumed her as being drunk, Hannah says, “Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for all along I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation,” (1 Samuel 1:16). Eli responds with, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition that you have made to Him,” (1 Samuel 1:17).
To the great joy of Hannah, she would finally bear a child. This child was Samuel. Hannah took care of Samuel and after he was weaned from her, she took Samuel along with a bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine and went to the house of the Lord at Shiloh. It was there that they would worship the Lord and Hannah gave her prayer of praise to the Lord.
The encouragement in Hannah’s journey is that despite the negative treatment from those in her life, despite certain circumstances that caused distress and anxiety, Hannah turned to the all powerful source, the Lord.
Hannah’s story and prayer shows to us that turning to God in the midst of our trials will result in a very blessed life.
Give God All Praise This Week!
