Hannah’s Song

Intro

The idea of worship in churches is usually reserved for the singing of hymns and worship songs in the corporate gathering. Keith and Kristyn Getty argue that we should always sing aloud. John Piper argues what we do each day is worship.

Need: Humanity has a worship problem. The object of our worship is usually askew. Point of this sermon is to help direct our eyes on the right thing. Do not let circumstances shift our gaze.

Main Idea: Give God all your worship

Hannah badly wanted a child. Was married to Elkanah and he had another wife Penninah. She had children. Hannah promised God that if he gave her a child, she would give him back to the Lord.

1 Samuel 2:1-11.

Imperative #1: Worship God for past provisions (1)

Exp. Hannah begins her worship in exalting the Lord. Verse 1. Only verse in first person. Her heart. Exults = Rejoices. Her response to God’s provision is worship. Horn = strength. Strength is lifted up. Has another meaning we’ll get to later. Derides = to enlarge or speak against. Why? Rejoice in salvation. Her salvation is this child. Brings her deliverance from ridicule. God’s provision should lead to exultation.

Ill. Tuition. Shattocks family.

App. God’s provision should lead to exultation. What should we worship him for:

Our children. Children are gifts to parents.

Our parents. Parents are gifts to their children.

Our salvation.

Christ - Mary prayed a prayer that mirrors that of Hannah. Luke 1:46-47, “And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.” Jesus provides us with salvation.

App. Center your worship on his provision/salvation.

Does God’s provisions lead you to worship?

What can you do this week to reflect on God’s provisions in your life?

Imperative #2: Worship God for present sovereignty (2-9)

Exp. Hannah was rivals with Penninah, Elkanah’s other wife. Penninah would boast in her ability to conceive. Hannah’s song reflects her thoughts on this. Verses 2-3.

App. Several women here have probably felt at times jealous because maybe you couldn’t get pregnant or have had miscarriages. Other women seem to be getting pregnant. Feel the hurt and grief. Rejoice and grieve. Throughout narrative, Hannah never wavers from God’s sovereignty.

Exp. Verse 5. Notice what she says. Those who were hungry, ceased to hunger. Barren borne seven. Hannah only had one. Seven = complete. Having one child was as complete as having a large family. One answered prayer was as good as every prayer answered. God’s kingdom is an upside-down kingdom.

Arg. NT teaches about this upside-down kingdom. Mark 10:43-44, “But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all.” God gets to decide how his kingdom looks. Hannah notices it.

Ill. He has final say in what his kingdom looks like. Like when Christian is playing with dinosaurs and all of a sudden they’re friends and speak perfect English. Doesn’t make sense.

Exp. She then talks about this kingdom. Verses 6-8. Complete sovereignty. Raises poor from dust. Need from ash and they sit with princes in honor. When we mature, we value that God is sovereign.

Christ - In Christ, we stand assured of sovereignty. Colossians 1:16-17, “For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”

App. Center your worship on his sovereignty. Life may seem crazy and out of control. How do we respond?

Sing about his sovereignty. Find songs that use that language and allow them to be impressed on your heart.

Pray in gratitude about his sovereignty. Thank him for it.

Talk about his sovereignty. To children, d-group.

Imperative #3: Worship God for his future kingdom (10)

Exp. Hannah’s song also looks forward. Verses 9-10. This kingdom, the wicked are cut off and the faithful are guarded. God will prevail over his adversaries. He’s done it before, and he will do it again. Cut off in darkness is not something we usually sing.

Ill. Could you imagine modern worship songs with this language? Psalm 68:2, “As smoke is driven away, so you shall drive them away; as wax melts before fire, so the wicked shall perish before God!” This is written to be sung.

Exp. We struggle with that language. Jews didn’t. They had assurance that they were God’s children and what that meant for adversaries. How? Hannah knew this. She knew a king would come. Strength to his king and exalt the horn of his anointed. Hannah mentions horn in verse 1. Her strength is her child. The horn was used to anoint. Samuel would grow up to anoint David. God’s anointed was his king. David’s line leads to Jesus.

Christ - God’s anointed one is fulfilled in Jesus. Jesus is the king who sits on the throne. Line of David and Son of God. Last week we covered that his throne will last forever.

App. Center your worship on his kingdom and reign. We get to be a part of that kingdom.

Final Application

We give God all of our worship.

Sing about his past provisions. Salvation.

Sing about his present sovereignty. His upside-down kingdom now.

Sing about his future kingdom. Enemies defeated. Jesus reigning forever.