I Samuel 2:1 And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation.
2 There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.
3 Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.
4 The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength.
5 They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; and they that were hungry ceased: so that the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble.
6 The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up.
7 The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up.
8 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD’S, and he hath set the world upon them.
9 He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.
MEMORY VERSE: The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the LORD shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed. —I Samuel 2:10
CENTRAL THOUGHT: A prophetic hymn, Hannah’s song praises the might, wisdom and holiness of God, preaches the deliverance of God for the humble, and predicts the future reign and triumph of Christ over all His enemies.
WORD DEFINITIONS
I Samuel 2:1 “Hannah”: grace; favored. “And Hannah prayed”: “And Hannah prayed in the spirit of prophecy” (Chaldee). “Mine horn”: a symbol of strength, power, and dominion, by which Hannah is saying, “I am strong” rather than “I am proud.” “The image ‘horn’ is taken from oxen and those animals whose strength lies in their horns. It is a favourite Hebrew symbol, and one that had become familiar to them from their long experience—dating from far-back patriarchal times—as a shepherd-people” (Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers).
I Samuel 2:2 “Rock”: tsur (Hebrew), meaning, when applied to Jehovah, fountain, source, spring.
I Samuel 2:3 “A God of knowledge”: a God of knowledges, plural, meaning every kind of knowledge.
I Samuel 2:7 “He bringeth low and lifteth up”: an expression echoed later in Psalm 113:7 and Luke 1:46-55.
LESSON BACKGROUND
Hannah’s story began in the first chapter of I Samuel in a home where polygamy, allowed by the custom of the age, was definitely a cause of great distress and sorrow. Elkanah, Hannah’s husband, was a descendant of Levi (I Chronicles 6:22-28) but was also connected to the Ephraimites and was considered to be a man of wealth and influence. He had two wives; Peninnah, who had several children, and Hannah, who was childless and inconsolable. He tried; obviously, he treated her with much love and wished that it was enough for her. But along with her deep hurt was the provoking that went on constantly from Peninnah.
Hannah took her burden to the one place she knew to find solace—the sanctuary of the Lord. There Eli, the priest and judge, observed the silent moving of her lips and accused her of being drunk. Not put off, Hannah explained humbly and earnestly her request, and Eli, touched, bestowed upon her the blessing she desired from God.
Two things we may note from the scripture: after her burden was brought to the Lord, she “was no more sad.” And, “The Lord remembered her.” Her faith and perseverance was rewarded, and we can be assured that God hears our wordless prayers also.
E. M. Bounds (1835-1913), who wrote nine books on the subject of prayer, wrote, “Samuel was born in answer to the vowful prayer of Hannah, for the solemn covenant which she made with God if He would grant her request must not be left out of the account in investigating this incident of a praying woman and the answer she received. It is suggestive in James 5:15 that ‘The prayer of faith shall save the sick,’ the word translated means a vow. So that prayer in its highest form of faith is that prayer which carries the whole man in its sacrificial offering. Thus devoting the whole man himself, and his all, to God in a definite, intelligent vow, never to be broken, in a quenchless and impassioned desire for heaven—such an attitude of self-devotement to God mightily helps praying.”
In due time, Hannah bore a son, whom she named Samuel, which means, “asked of God.” Hannah and baby Samuel remained at home until he was weaned; afterward, she brought him back to Eli at Shiloh. “I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the Lord. For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him. Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD.”
There are no words to describe this scene! The chapter ends with the words, “And he worshipped the LORD there,” and some commentators believe the first words of chapter two, “And Hannah prayed,” were connected with the preceding chapter and should read, “And Hannah worshipped the LORD there, and prayed…”
—Sis. Angela Gellenbeck
DISCUSSION:
- Give a brief summary of the events in Hannah’s life.
- Name the prophetic elements in Hannah’s song.
- What term describing God was also in Moses’ songs?
- Which four verses contain the idea of “strength”?
- Which phrases are also repeated in the Psalms and in Mary’s song in the New Testament?
COMMENTS AND APPLICATION
One more precious jewel from this story: Hannah was the very first prophet/ prophetess to mention the name of the Messiah! The last line of her song was, “He shall give strength unto his King, and exalt the horn of his anointed.” That word is the Hebrew word for Messiah, which in the Greek language is Christ! Later prophets and writers—David, Nathan, Ethan, Isaiah, Daniel—and the apostles and inspired writers of the New Testament also used this name.
In this song, we again see the golden thread of the triumph of the Messiah over His enemies, His holiness, and His mercy and deliverance to the humble.
—Sis. Angela Gellenbeck
REFLECTIONS
” The love of God is greater far than tongue or pen can ever tell;
It goes beyond the highest star, and reaches to the lowest hell.
The guilty pair, bowed down with care, God gave His Son to win;
His erring child He reconciled, And pardoned from his sin.
Chorus: Oh, love of God, how rich and pure! How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure-–the saints’ and angels’ song.
When hoary time shall pass away, and earthly thrones and kingdoms fall;
When men who here refuse to pray, on rocks and hills and mountains call;
God’s love so sure, shall still endure, all measureless and strong;
Redeeming grace to Adam’s race–the saints’ and angels’ song.
Could we with ink the ocean fill, and were the skies of parchment made;
Were every stalk on earth a quill and every man a scribe by trade;
To write the love of God above would drain the ocean dry;
Nor could the scroll contain the whole, tho’ stretched from sky to sky.”
Many years ago, these lines were found penciled on the wall of an insane asylum after the patient had been carried to his grave. Frederick Lehman and his daughter Claudia Mays were so touched and inspired by these words that they adapted them to create the song we know today as, “The Love of God.”
However, historians have traced this particular stanza back to an eleventh century poem entitled “Akdamut Millan” sung by the synagogue cantor before reading the Ten Commandments. This poem provides such imagery that one can be drawn into the depths of God’s enduring love for all mankind.
It is comforting to know that the sustaining power of the love of God can keep us through all circumstances. It testifies that God’s love “goes beyond the highest star and reaches to the lowest hell.” This song is not a classic because it is old; it is a classic because it is tried and true.
—Sis. LaDawna Adams
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