Chapter 2 – Hannah’s Praise
If our information is correct, Hannah took Samuel to "the house of the Lord in Shiloh" when he was three years old and returned home alone. In her own words, "I have lent him to the Lord" (1.28). Sacrifice for God is always costly. Hannah was not devoid of "natural affection" (2 Tim 3.3), but she was willing to give her only son (at that time) to God. So was Abraham. How much are we prepared to give God? Remember, He gave His "only begotten Son".
It is remarkable, therefore, that the next thing we hear is Hannah praising God! "And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the Lord, mine horn is exalted in the Lord." 1 Samuel 2 commences with a woman praising God, but it continues with men profaning His name.
The prayer of Hannah (vv.1-10)
Hannah"s psalm of praise should be compared with the thanksgiving of Mary (Lk 1.46-56). To quote N. Crawford (What the Bible Teaches - Luke): "If two columns are made of the two songs, there is a unique parallelism". Hannah praised God at the birth of a son. Mary praised God at the birth of the Son.
Whilst Hannah "prayed", it was "not quite in the sense in which we generally understand prayer. Her prayer here asks for nothing; it is rather a song of thanksgiving for the past, a song which passes into expressions of sure confidence for the future" (Ellicott’s Bible Commentary). She expresses her gratitude to God (v.1), and then extols the glory of God (vv.2-10).
The gratitude of Hannah (v.1)
The woman who "prayed unto the Lord, and wept sore" (1.10), now 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." (Hebrew YESHUA, whence Joshua, and Jesus!). We must notice Hannah’s "heart...horn...mouth".
i) "My heart rejoiceth in the Lord." In her distress, she "spake in her heart" (1.13), and "poured out (her) soul before the Lord" (1.15). Now that same heart is full of joy. Hannah experienced the "oil of joy for mourning" (Is 61.3). God had heard her prayer, and seen her tears (See Is 38.5). One day, God will "wipe away all tears" (Rev 21.4). In the Bible, the word "heart" signifies the entirety of inner life. Hannah was full of joy! But it was joy "in the Lord". He had answered her prayer.
ii) "My horn is exalted in the Lord." In her distress, Hannah humbly described herself as "thine handmaid" (1.11). Her humility led to her exaltation. The word "horn" denotes strength. The imagery is taken from oxen and other animals whose strength lies in their horns. John saw the Lord Jesus as "a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns (perfect power) and seven eyes (perfect perception), which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth" (Rev 5.6). We must not, for one moment, conclude that Hannah was proud of herself. She did not say, "Mine horn is exalted", but, "Mine horn is exalted in the Lord".
iii) "My mouth is enlarged over mine enemies." In her distress, "only her lips moved". Eli "marked her mouth" (1.12), and so do we! Her inaudible prayer now gives place to audible praise. Her mouth was not filled with "arrogancy" (v.3), but with thanksgiving. Whilst it is difficult to escape the conclusion that Hannah is referring, at least partly, to Peninnah here ("her adversary", v.6), it would be rather uncharitable to suggest that she was "getting her own back"! Her mouth was not "enlarged" to gloat over Peninnah, but to "rejoice" in the way that the Lord had delivered her from distress. God had vindicated her. There are important lessons for us here (See Rom 12.19-21).
The glory of God (vv.2-10)
We note, first, in this section the attributes of God.
(i) He is the holy God. "There is none holy as the Lord." It is never inappropriate to remember the holiness of God. See 1 Peter 1.14-16, with the three relevant references in Leviticus, which emphasise that God’s holiness is all-embracing (11.45; 19.2; 20.26). Note the context in each case. At the same time, the holiness of God was a most appropriate subject at Shiloh. We have already noticed the chilling words, "and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the Lord were there" (1.3). They were anything but holy. They were "sons of Belial; they knew not the Lord" (2.12). Such verses as "be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the Lord" (Is 52.11) were foreign to them. We must all "cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God"(2 Cor 7.1).
(ii) He is the unique God. "There is none beside thee." The Philistines discovered this when Dagon collapsed before the ark! (5.1-4). Notice the connection with the previous statement. "There is none holy as the Lord: for there is none beside thee." The worship of pagan gods was customarily accompanied by depravity. God is unique in His holiness. This divine attribute also needed emphasis at the time. Israel was idolatrous. "Strange gods" were worshipped (7.3-4). Paul puts it like this, "We know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one" (1 Cor 8.4). Notice the recurring or similar words, "I am the Lord, and there is none else, there is no God beside me", in Isaiah (45.5,18,21,22).
(iii)He is the dependable God. "Neither is there any rock like our God." Hannah was evidently well aware of Deuteronomy 32, which contains the divine title "Rock" on five occasions. The Psalms abound with references to the Lord as a "rock." The security of all who trust in Him is assured: "He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved." (Ps 62.2). When the Lord Jesus said to Peter, "Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church" (Mt 16.18), He certainly was not calling Peter "this rock!" He was referring to Himself as the divine Rock of Deuteronomy 32. Notice Numbers 1.6, where "Zurishaddai" means "my Rock is the Almighty", and Numbers 3.35, where "Zuriel" means "my rock is God".
(iv) He is the omniscient God. "The Lord is a God of knowledge." The complete quotation is important. "Talk no more so exceedingly proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the Lord is a God of knowledge." This could refer to Peninnah who "provoked her sore, for to make her fret" (1.6). God was listening. Psalm 73 describes people who are "corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression...They set their mouth against the heavens...And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?" (vv.8-11). See also Job 22.13 and Psalm 10.11. We must remember that "all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do" (Heb 4.13).
(v) He is the just God. "By him actions are weighed." A.McShane (Lessons for Leaders) puts it like this: "He is judge of all. Every action of man is weighed in His scales, and will be dealt with in perfect righteousness". When Christ reigns, He "shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth" (Is 11.3-4). At the final judgment, men will be "judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works...they were judged every man according to their works" (Rev 20.12-13). Although, having trusted in Christ, we will never suffer the judgment of God against sin, we must not forget that "we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad" (2 Cor 5.10). Then, "every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour" (1 Cor 3. 8). Our actions will be "weighed".
A.McShane suggests that Hannah’s prayer to God reflected her knowledge of the Scriptures, and that in each case she alluded to the way in which God had revealed Himself in Israel’s history. This merits further study. Very clearly, Hannah was not using her imagination. Her praise and thanksgiving was based on the Word of God. She did not have a complete Bible, but she used what she had. Elijah did the same. Think about 1 Kings 17.1. Read Jonah 2, and notice his quotations. Remember, too, that Hannah, Elijah, and Jonah did not have a personal copy of the Scriptures! We all need a working knowledge of the Bible.
To be continued.
