Hannahs Prayer 1 Samuel 2:1-10

Introduction

Here we find Hannah worshipping the Lord through prayer. There are many prayers recorded in the Bible and all of them are recorded for a purpose, the first prayer recorded in chapter 1 from Hannah was a prayer of despair and really a prayer she describes as weeping sore, but here in chapter 2 we find her praying a prayer of thanksgiving where she will exalt the Lord and give us a lesson on Gods attributes.

As we look at Hannahs prayer this morning let us be reminded to give God the glory due to His name.

Hannah Exalts the Lord Salvation vs. 1-3

Hannah’s prayer here in chapter 2 is much different than hers in chapter 1

Her prayer starts with her heart rejoicing in the Lord

This prayer sounds similar to Mary’s song in Luke 1:46-55 over 1000 years later.

Does our heart rejoice in the Lord.

Our hearts rejoice in a lot of things, we rejoice when our team wins, or we eat our favorite food, we get a new car or we see an old friend we haven’t seen in a while, but does our heart rejoice in the goodness of the Lord.

Here we find her heart rejoicing because of answered prayer, but I believe that even if God told her know we would still find her rejoicing in His faithfulness. Even when we pray and don’t get the answer we want or expect our hearts can still rejoice because God is faithful.

Her horn is exalted in the Lord

The word horn describes the strength that had come to her because God had answered her prayer

Her mouth was enlarged over her enemies

This is saying that she no longer had to sit in defeat or humiliation, but could now boldly proclaim the goodness of God for providing her a Son.

The statement is not about personal revenge or arrogance but about acknowledging what God has done for her. It reflects her gratitude and celebration of God’s justice and blessing in her life.

She ends verse 1 by telling us why all the things are true and its because she rejoices in the salvation of God.

The word salvation here is speaking of God’s protection from harm.

In verse 2 she reminds us of the important truth that there is none like God.

In Exodus 15 Moses asks these questions after remembering God’s faithfulness in the Exodus from Egypt.

Exodus 15:11 “11 Who is like unto thee, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like thee, glorious in holiness, Fearful in praises, doing wonders?”

Isaiah 46:9 “9 Remember the former things of old: For I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,”

2 Samuel 7:22 “22 Wherefore thou art great, O Lord God: for there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.”

May I remind us all this morning that there is no god like our God. People try to fill the void of God in their life with their own gods, but none can fill that gap but God, like the Psalmest says in Psalm 86:8 “8 Among the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord; Neither are there any works like unto thy works.”

in the same verse she says there are no other rock or foundation like our God.

Psalm 62:6–7 “6 He only is my rock and my salvation: He is my defence; I shall not be moved. 7 In God is my salvation and my glory: The rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.”

God is our source of strength, stability and dependability. If we live our life on any other foundation it will surely crumble.

In verse 3 she gives a warning to self sufficient boasters.

This is a call to humility, warning people against boasting or speaking arrogantly. Pride is often condemned in Scripture because it elevates human strength and accomplishments above God's power and grace.

One commentary said it this way “Hannah likely speaks from her personal experience, addressing the taunts and arrogance she endured from her rival, Peninnah, who mocked her barrenness. Her triumph through God’s intervention serves as a reminder that human boasting is meaningless before Him.”

In the same verse she reminds us of the Omniscience of God by saying the Lord is a God of knowledge

Psalm 139:1–4 “1 O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me. 2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, Thou understandest my thought afar off. 3 Thou compassest my path and my lying down, And art acquainted with all my ways. 4 For there is not a word in my tongue, But, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether.”

God knows everything about us, he knows our thoughts, our actions and our deeds.

Finally she reminds us that God evaluates our actions and motives with perfect justice

Proverbs 16:2 “2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; But the Lord weigheth the spirits.”

Hannah Exalts the Sovereignty of God vs. 4-8

In verse 4 she reminds us that God will break the bows of the mighty men

The psalmist reiterates these words in Psalm 46:9 “9 He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; He breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; He burneth the chariot in the fire.”

In verse 5 she tells us that God is in control of wealth and comfort

She tells us those who were full will now work for food and those who were hungry no longer worry about food because God will take care if his children.

In verse 6 she makes a reference to believing in the resurrection

Henry Morris said this “ This is a striking statement of faith in the resurrection on the part of Hannah. At this time, no record shows a dead person being revived, nor had there been any explicit revelation given as concerning a future bodily resurrection. Yet Hannah, like Abraham and Job, believed that God could and would do this

Hebrews 11:17–19 “17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: 19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.”

Abraham rejoiced to see Christs day, because he knew that Jesus would die, be buried and rise from the dead. Remember the Old testament saints looked forward to the coming messiah, and we look back at the messiah who came for the purpose of taking away the sins of the world through his death burial and resurrection. Through this the Gospel we can have eternal life.

In verse 7-8 she dives deep into the sovereignty of God

God maketh poor

God maketh rich

He bringeth low

and lifteth up

He brings up the poor out of the dust

He lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill

to set them among princes

Job 36:7 “7 He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous: But with kings are they on the throne; Yea, he doth establish them for ever, and they are exalted.”

Gods sovereignty reaches to every aspect of our lives and everything that happens in our lives happens for a reason. Hannah was barren for years for a purpose, and what ever we are going through today, is for Gods glory and our good.

Hannah Exalts Gods future kingdom vs. 9-10

God keeps his saints vs. 9

Look what peter wrote in 1 Peter 1:5 “5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

We can be thankful this morning that God still keeps his children.

Verse 10 speaks of God destroying all his adversaries

One commentator said this “ The prayer of Hannah’s is a remarkable prophecy looking forward to the final triumph of the creator over all his adversaries. It is the first such prophecy in the Bible, revealing the future explosive return of the Lord from heaven to judge all nations and to enthrone His anointed king over the whole world.

Again in verse 10 his anointed is the first explicit reference in scripture to the coming messiah.

Conclusion

This morning we have a promise that Jesus is coming back and if we look around we will see the signs of his return are everywhere. We need to be ready as though he could come today. The only way to be ready for his return is to make sure your eternity is settled and the only way to do that is by trusting in Jesus Christ, his death burial and resurrection. This is the only way to heaven. Come before its too late.