(1 Samuel 2:1-36) Then Hannah prayed and said,
“My heart rejoices in the Lord;
My horn is exalted in the Lord,
My mouth speaks boldly against my enemies,
Because I rejoice in Your salvation.
2 There is no one holy like the Lord,
Indeed, there is no one besides You,
Nor is there any rock like our God.
3 Do not go on boasting 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.
4 The bows of the mighty are broken to pieces,
But those who have stumbled strap on strength.
5 Those who were full hire themselves out for bread,
But those who were hungry cease to be hungry.
Even the infertile woman gives birth to seven,
But she who has many children languishes.
6 The Lord puts to death and makes alive;
He brings down to Sheol and brings up.
7 The Lord makes poor and rich;
He humbles, He also exalts.
8 He raises the poor from the dust,
He lifts the needy from the garbage heap
To seat them with nobles,
And He gives them a seat of honor as an inheritance;
For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s,
And He set the world on them.
9 He watches over the feet of His godly ones,
But the wicked ones are silenced in darkness;
For not by might shall a person prevail.
10 Those who contend with the Lord will be terrified;
Against them He will thunder in the heavens,
The Lord will judge the ends of the earth;
And He will give strength to His king,
And will exalt the horn of His anointed.”
My horn is exalted in the Lord,
My mouth speaks boldly against my enemies,
Because I rejoice in Your salvation.
2 There is no one holy like the Lord,
Indeed, there is no one besides You,
Nor is there any rock like our God.
3 Do not go on boasting 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.
4 The bows of the mighty are broken to pieces,
But those who have stumbled strap on strength.
5 Those who were full hire themselves out for bread,
But those who were hungry cease to be hungry.
Even the infertile woman gives birth to seven,
But she who has many children languishes.
6 The Lord puts to death and makes alive;
He brings down to Sheol and brings up.
7 The Lord makes poor and rich;
He humbles, He also exalts.
8 He raises the poor from the dust,
He lifts the needy from the garbage heap
To seat them with nobles,
And He gives them a seat of honor as an inheritance;
For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s,
And He set the world on them.
9 He watches over the feet of His godly ones,
But the wicked ones are silenced in darkness;
For not by might shall a person prevail.
10 Those who contend with the Lord will be terrified;
Against them He will thunder in the heavens,
The Lord will judge the ends of the earth;
And He will give strength to His king,
And will exalt the horn of His anointed.”
TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:
Even though Hannah had just said goodbye to her very young child as she gave Samuel to the priests to raise up, to prepare him for a life of serving God, she prayed with joy and exultation. From her prayer, we can see that she understood salvation and the importance of a life with God.
God is holy and just, and will judge everyone according to His standard. On one's own, no one can measure up. No one can save themselves. Our strength and knowledge is nothing compared to the Lord's. The arrogant who think they can earn or fight their way to heaven will be brought down. Those who humble themselves, and recognize their need for the Lord and find refuge in Him, will be lifted up. And, we will all be judged. Sinners (unbelievers) will be judged according to their sins. Believers (because we have been forgiven and set free from all sin) will be judged and rewarded according to our good deeds done with pure motives.
My inspiration here is to be like Hannah in her response, in that, no matter what is happening to me or around me, I need to keep humbly trusting in the Lord, and obediently serving and worshiping Him, only. It is all about having a personal relationship with the Lord, who will help us in our relationships with others and in every area of life. He, alone, is the source of true joy, so that in Him we can rejoice always!
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