Have your given God the credit for the work He has done in and around you? Hannah’s song of thanksgiving in 1 Samuel 2 is a wonderful example of what it looks like to praise God in response to His provision. Join Dr. Marty Baker the next installment of Spiritual Snapshots in 1 Samuel.
Looking back on the hard, horrific years he spent languishing in a Soviet Gulag for daring to say anything negative about the leader, Joseph Stalin, Alexander Solzhenitsyn made this insightful statement in his book The Gulag Archipelago:
“Bless you prison, bless you for being in my life. For there, lying upon the rotting prison straw, I came to realize that the object of life is not prosperity as we are made to believe, but the maturity of the human soul.”
Despite all the mistreatment he endured in this government re-education camp, he, a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, chose to praise God for the experience. Hard to believe. A natural response would be to speak negatively about being locked up on trumped-up charges, but he did not choose this lesser path. On the contrary, he chose to see how God used this affliction to deepen his soul and make him a better believer. Moreover, as I said, based on this insight, he thanked God for the trial, for it accomplished things that would echo in eternity.
Please take note of Alexander and learn from his lofty example.
Additionally, take note of Hannah’s words in First Samuel 2, verses 1 through 10. After a terrible trial wherein her husband’s fertile and ferocious wife, Peninnah, attacked her frequently for being barren, God eventually heard her prayer and blessed her. In the chapter before us, we will learn how she, as Alexander did many years later, praised God for His provision during and after the trial. She was not just an amazing Christian woman, she is a model to emulate when God takes us through heavy seas.
What do the models of these two saints teach us?
When God Works In Your Complex Situation, You Should Work Up Some Praise (1 Sam. 2:1-10)
As we can see from Hannah’s life, she praised God in tough times and great times because she had a mature understanding of His lofty character. What about you? Are you praising God as you deal with your version of Peninnah? Or are you complaining and griping? Praise is in order for, as Alexander noted, suffering unjustly hones and shapes your eternal soul. On the contrary, it is easier to praise and thank God when the dark, stormy clouds break and sunshine fills your life. However, still, you must stop and ask yourself: Do I praise God when He works wondrously in my life like the Samaritan leper did when he received healing (Luke 17:12-19), or am I like the nine Jewish lepers who failed to thank Christ for instantaneously removing their debilitating, disfiguring leprosy (Luke 17:12-19)?
If you need an idea or a template for praising the living God who works in and through all the events of your life, you can do no better than analyze and apply what we learn from Hannah. After the Lord miraculously opened her womb and gave her a son, she wasted no time praising God. If you have been dragging your feet in relation to divine praise, let this passage motivate you to do what you know you should do.
Praise Him For His Deliverance (1 Sam. 2:1)
Apparently, right after she gave her little boy to the High Priest, Eli, for a lifetime of service, Hannah wasted no time giving God praise for answering her passionate prayer:
1 Then Hannah prayed and said, “My heart exults in the LORD; My horn is exalted in the LORD, My mouth speaks boldly against my enemies, because I rejoice in Thy salvation. (1 Sam. 2)
Previously, Hannah’s heart had known sadness because of her inability to produce a son for her husband and because of Peninnah’s constant and cruel taunting (1 Sam. 1:8, 15). Years later, when God finally answered her prayer for a son, she exploded with inner joy. “Exult” denotes a person who leaps with joy. Have you ever been that emotionally excited about God’s work in your life? Whether you are an introvert or an extrovert, I think a little jumping for joy when it is apparent God has stepped into the storm of your life and brought provision and peace.
Beyond this, Hannah praised God for exalting her horn. We in the West struggle with this meaning because we do not speak like this. An animal’s horn in the Semitic culture represented the power of the beast to subdue threats. To hold up a horn, therefore, meant you enjoyed the victory. After years of a vicious verbal barrage from Peninnah, Hannah had every right to say that her horn, or her life, had been empowered by the LORD, or Yahweh, the loyal covenant-keeping God, to the point of victory. By metaphor, you can see Hannah raising a horn in the Tabernacle that day and exclaiming, “The LORD has made me victorious over my enemies by giving me a son.” Why does she say “enemies,” plural? Could it be the vile and vicious words of Peninnah that educated her many children to speak in the home like her? Probably. Hence, after suffering years of verbal abuse for being infertile, all of a sudden, after God had honed her inner spirit to the proper point, He stepped in and miraculously gave her a son. I do not know what your sad situation is right now, but I do know that God is with you in it; He seeks to shape you into His image, and at the right time, He will give you what He knows is best for you. When He acts, do not hold back from praising Him.
The final clause tells us exactly why Hannah exulted in the Lord and exalted her horn of victory:
. . . because I rejoice in Thy salvation (1 Sam. 2:1).
The Hebrew begins with the preposition chai to explain why she jumped for joy and raised her horn high in triumph. It was all because she rejoiced in God’s salvation.
כִּ֥י שָׂמַ֖חְתִּי בִּישׁוּעָתֶֽךָ׃
The word for salvation here is Yeshua. Sound familiar? It should, for it is the name of Jesus, the Savior (Luke 2:11; 1 Tim. 4:10). At the time, Israel needed a Savior, and Hannah’s son would turn out to be the man for the hour. He, in turn, would introduce Israel to their regal Savior, David. David, in turn, would establish the regal line that would give us the final Davidic king who would deal with sin and usher in a worldwide kingdom of peace (Isa. 2; 9). The point is well-taken from Hannah’s praise: God is a God who steps in and delivers His saints in tough, trying times. When He does this, they should thank Him for His deliverance. Do you? Will you?
After this, Hannah could not wait to . . .
Praise Him For His Character (1 Sam. 2:2)
Obviously, this is a woman who studied God’s character in depth, and so should you:
2 There is no one holy like the LORD, indeed, there is no one besides Thee, nor is there any rock like our God. (1 Sam. 2)
The Hebrew for “holy” is qadosh (קָד֥וֹשׁ ). Lexically, it means to be separate from that which is unholy or evil. Why does Hannah address this divine concept here? She brought this up because she knew that God’s holiness is not static but dynamic, and it will move Him to address unholy activity in due time. So, all the time she suffered under the verbal persecution of Peninnah, she knew this unholy activity was known to God, who is holy. This knowledge would then move Him to act, and He did by blessing Hannah with a child. All of this applies to you as well. Whether you have a non-believing ex-wife or husband who is making your life miserable, or you have a boss at the Pentagon who is a proverbial meat-grinder because your faith bothers him, God’s holiness will move him to deal with evil in due time. So, do you praise God for being holy?
In a decadent culture where Israel caved and started worshipping all sorts of false Canannatie gods (i.e., Baal, Mot, El, Yam, Asherah, etc.), Hannah knew there was only one true, living God. Years later, Isaiah drove this salient point home to the idolatrous Jews of his day:
- “I am the LORD, and there is no other; Besides Me there is no God. I will gird you, though you have not known Me; 6 That men may know from the rising to the setting of the sun That there is no one besides Me. I am the LORD, and there is no other, (Isa. 45:5-6).
- 21 “Declare and set forth your case; Indeed, let them consult together. Who has announced this from of old? Who has long since declared it? Is it not I, the LORD? And there is no other God besides Me, A righteous God and a Savior; There is none except Me. 22 “Turn to Me, and be saved, all the ends of the earth; For I am God, and there is no other. (Isa. 45).
God could not be any clearer. He is the living Lord God, and there are no substitutes. The logical conclusion of this for His people is clear: Since He ontologically “is,” then He is present and quite capable of helping us when we face adversity. Therefore, Hannah did not pray to an Asherah goddess carved in a wooden pole, but she prayed to the Lord, who truly exists and is transcendent yet immanent. How comforting to know that you are not alone in the trial. On the contrary, God is with you just as He promised:
2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you. 3 For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; (Isa. 43).
So, if you feel alone right now in your Peninnah situation, that is from the Devil. Rebuke that thought, and embrace the truth that Jesus is right there with you in the furnace, just as He was with Daniel’s three friends. Furthermore, if you know this, then praise God for it.
Using a rock as a metaphor for God speaks of His utter strength and protection. One Hebrew translation for this word likens it to a cave in the rocks, where you can flee and find protection. Caves are all over Israel, especially in the Dead Sea region and in the mountains around the Sea of Galilee. All Israelites knew of the protection of a cave in times of trouble, and this quickly became a metaphorical description for God (Deut. 32:31; Psalm 18:2; 42:9; Isa. 30:29). Like a cave is always there, so, too, is God. As the stone of the cave has the strength to protect you from an enemy, it is true of God. I am sure Hannah had run to Him many times when Peninnah mocked her, and He was always there for her to give her strength and protection from the relentless and rude onslaught. The same is true for you in your trial. Run to Him; He will protect and strengthen you to survive the suffering. Moreover, when He delivers you, praise Him for His protective provision.
Hannah’s praise points circle around special components of God’s magnificent character. What does your praise focus on in relation to God? Do you, or will you, mention these items the next time God moves marvelously in your adversity?
From God’s lofty yet highly personal character, Hannah pivots (with a smile, I am sure) to . . .
Praise Him For His Reversals (1 Sam. 2:3-5)
If there is anything God hates, it is pride. I will let Him speak for himself:
13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way, and the perverted mouth, I hate (Prov. 8:).
God hates pride because it is the root system of the tree that produces all forms of sin and evil. Interestingly, the Hebrew word is literally translated as “trees” in Isaiah 10:33. Trees are high above everything else, just like a person with pride. Like Peninnah, they think they are more blessed than you, more intelligent than you, better looking than you, richer than you, more educated than you, more culturally astute than you, and so forth. Have you ever had to live, work, or play sports with something who believed they were superior to you? I have, and it is not pleasant.
What is Hannah’s counsel to the cocky Peninnah-types? Here it is in the form of a warning:
3 Boast no more so very proudly, do not let arrogance come out of your mouth; For the LORD is a God of knowledge, and with Him actions are weighed (1 Sam. 2).
Boasting about how many children you have to a person who could not have children is so wrong. Talking smack about how blessed you are with children to someone who has struggled with barrenness for years is evil. All boasting and arrogant talk should be abandoned quickly. Why? Because God has perfect knowledge and weighs that knowledge constantly so that, when He does move to settle the score of justice, that justice is fair and balanced. Did you get that? Many in our culture who thrive off of this kind of dangerous, destructive talk do not get it.
God is omniscient. He never learns anything. He never forgets anything. He never gets caught napping. He knows all things external and internal, down to your inner motives for speaking like you do. Why did you offer that point? He knows. Why did you use that tone? He knows? Are you being arrogant even when you deny you are? He knows.
13 The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. 14 For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil (Eccl. 12).
3 Thou dost scrutinize my path and my lying down, and art intimately acquainted with all my ways. 4 Even before there is a word on my tongue, behold, O LORD, Thou dost know it all (Ps. 139).
To these sobering verses inspired by the Holy Spirit, Jesus adds this:
22 For nothing is hidden, except to be revealed; nor has anything been secret, but that it should come to light. 23 If any man has ears to hear, let him hear”(Mark 4).
Hannah’s word of warning to the Peninnah-types is well-founded. You had better be very careful about what you say, why you say it, and what tone you use because on the Day of Judgment (Rev. 20), God will judge all of this evidence as a case against you.
Despite the eschatological nature of this, it is practical in the here and now. The God who weighs words, thoughts, and motives also moves to bring justice through jaw-dropping reversals in this life. Think of Joseph. Potipher’s wife wrongly accused him of sexual misconduct, and he languished in prison because of it. Eventually, however, God reversed his fortune by using the prison experience to elevate him to the number two political position in the empire. Think of Mordecai, whom Haman mistreated. From our recent study of his story, you will remember how God moved to elevate Mordecai while eliminating evil Haman. All of this is why Hannah offered these words:
4 The bows of the mighty are shattered, but the feeble gird on strength. 5 Those who were full hire themselves out for bread, but those who were hungry cease to hunger. Even the barren gives birth to seven, but she who has many children languishes (1 Sam. 2).
God is a God of shocking, sometimes unprecedented reversals. Moses was an Israelite who shepherded sheep and had a stuttering problem. When he came to them, the Egyptians hated him as a freedom fighter, but the Lord elevated Him and deflated the mighty Egyptians and their arrogant Pharoah. Yes, God is a God who brings reversals to bless His beleaguered people, people like Hannah and people like you. Believe it and praise Him when you experience it.
Additionally, you must change course quickly if you are guilty of running your mouth like Peninnah. Why? God sees what you are doing, and He will eventually stop putting up with you and work to lower you down to size. It is far wiser to bow in repentance before Him, asking for His forgiveness and strength to live a quiet, humble life.
Turning from praising God for the fact that He can bring astounding reversals to the saddest situations, Hannah waxed eloquent in verses 6 through 8. Here she moved to . . .
Praise Him For His Rulership (1 Sam. 2:6-8)
First, let us read her words and then circle back to analyze them:
6 The LORD kills and makes alive; He brings down to Sheol and raises up. 7 The LORD makes poor and rich; He brings low, He also exalts. 8 He raises the poor from the dust, He lifts the needy from the ash heap to make them sit with nobles, and inherit a seat of honor; for the pillars of the earth are the LORD’s, and He set the world on them. (1 Sam. 2)
Here, Hannah describes her understanding of God’s absolute providence in all facets of life. He gives life and He takes away life. He makes some people poor and others rich. The implication is that He made her barren and Peninnah fruitful and fruitful when He desired to. Either way, Hannah did not argue with the providence of God. Moreover, what is divine providence? J. I. Packer defines it in this manner:
Providence is . . . “The unceasing activity of the Creator whereby, in overflowing bounty and goodwill, he upholds His creatures in ordered existence, guides and governs all events, circumstance, and free acts of angels and men, and directs everything to its appointed goals, for His His own glory.”[1]
Pain, therefore, has a purpose because God oversees, even orchestrates, the pain. Just ask Job. Just ask Paul (2 Cor. 12:7-10).
The God who loved Hannah knew what she was going through. He cared for her and eventually listened to her prayer, and allowed her to see a son and enjoy the day when the mouth of Peninnah was silenced. However, whether He gave a son or not did not change how Hannah felt about God. Throughout her terrible ordeal, she maintained a solid understanding of God’s absolute, loving providence, and this truth gave her strength and peace. Had these verses been around in her day, I could see her memorizing them:
38 Is it not from the mouth of the Most High That both good and ill go forth? (Lam. 3).
32 and you will be driven away from mankind, and your dwelling place will be with the beasts of the field. You will be given grass to eat like cattle, and seven periods of time will pass over you until you recognize that the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind and bestows it on whomever He wishes.’ (Dan. 4).
Perhaps you need to memorize and apply them as you move through your version of the perils of Peninnah. God is with you. God will not forsake you. God is working in all the events you face, whether good or bad, pleasant or unpleasant. Further, because He loves you, He will, as Paul says in Romans 8:28, work all things eventually for your good.
28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose (Rom. 8).
Believe this truth. Praise Him for it.
Seeing God’s rulership over all the times of her life, be they troubled or triumphant, caused Hannah to . . .
Praise Him For His Protection (1 Sam. 2:9)
Even though she emotionally struggled with what Peninnah did to her, none of this moved her for what she thought about God.
9 He keeps the feet of His godly ones, but the wicked ones are silenced in darkness; for not by might shall a man prevail (1 Sam. 2).
“Keeping your feet” is another way of saying that the Lord guards your steps when you are walking through tough times. He keeps you from falling flat on your face in utter defeat. Who knows the number of times in your current situation, He stepped in to make sure you did not completely falter as a saint? Looking back over her ordeal with Hannah, she praised God for keeping her life on the straight and narrow path. When she felt like giving it to Peninnah with both verbal barrels, she held back and smiled. When she felt like giving her a piece of her righteous mind, she turned the other cheek. All of this was made possible by the Lord, who keeps the feet of His beloved saints safe.
God’s incredible protection also positioned her to live to see the day when the wicked one, Peninnah, was finally silenced and humbled. I have been down that rough road, too. I have also lived to see the day when God moved from protecting me to silencing a ruthless adversary, who, unfortunately, has been a Christian more often than not. One man who loved to attack my sermons did so after he had his secretary transcribe them for his critical analysis. One day, she, who did not know me, called me at church. What she told me humbled and floored me, “Pastor Marty, I just want to let you know all these sermons my boss has me transcribing every week have changed my life. I am a better Christian because of them, so thank you.” I hung up the phone, dumbfounded at God’s providence and protection. Is He not great? Is His timing not perfect? Does He not step in and protect us at times by silencing the opposition? Yes, He does, and for this, we should offer Him praise. Will you?
Moving from the present reasons for praise, Hannah turned in verse 10 to praise God for what she knew, by way of prophecy, He would do in the future.
Praise Him For His Promise (1 Sam. 2:10)
Hannah praises God here for the time in the prophetic future when He will deal with all of the wicked at one time, not just with a single one like Peninnah:
10 “Those who contend with the LORD will be shattered; against them He will thunder in the heavens, the LORD will judge the ends of the earth;
God thundering from the heavens and the LORD judging the entire earth are prophetic words about His coming worldwide judgment of the wicked. Thunder was associated with His judgment of the Egyptians (Ex. 9:23-29), and John prophesied that toward the end of the Tribulation, this would happen:
19 And the temple of God which is in heaven was opened; and the ark of His covenant appeared in His temple, and there were flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder and an earthquake and a great hailstorm (Rev. 11).
God deals with the wicked in the here and now, but the day is coming when His justice will be leveled against the godless all at once. Hannah is speaking about this here in the mode of a prophet. What about you? Do you praise God for what you know He will do in the future from what you have read in the prophetic books? Who does not long for evil to be judged and righteousness to reign supremely? I long for it. I trust you do, too. I also trust that regardless of the Peninnah-types in your life right now, you will pause to praise God for the fact that evil will not always prosper.
Hannah ends this praise poem by saying that God will one day put evil down.
10 and He will give strength to His king, and will exalt the horn of His anointed” (1 Sam. 2).
Acting like a prophetess, Hannah foretold the time when God would fulfill His prophetic word to Moses (Gen. 17:6; 35:11; Ex. 19:6; Num. 24:7; Deut. 16:14-20) and give Israel a king who would do His bidding. That king would be David, and he would be anointed to establish righteousness and peace on earth. As a man, this king could not realize God’s desire, which is why her words about an anointed leader point directly to the Messiah, Jesus, the anointed Davidic king who is more than qualified to bring God’s kingdom to earth (Psalm 2).
I do not know about you, but in the difficult, decadent, and dangerous days we live in, I join Hannah in praising God for what I know is coming down the prophetic pike. Will you join me? Israel, like the U.S., faced a national crisis in search of a leader to bring them to a point of restoration. Samuel was that little boy God would use to guide them back to Himself. Today, we look expectantly for the King of Kings, who will return and fulfill everything Hannah and the prophets said He would. Praise God for providentially guiding us to a glorious, jaw-dropping future when He returns in glory.
[1] J. I. Packer, “Providence,” The New Bible Dictionary (London: The Inter-Varsity fellowship, 1962), 1050-1051.
