(1) We will not be surprised to read 1 Sam 2:1-11 in Psalm it it was written by David, but this piece was written by Hannah, a woman who had a son from God. It was full of military language.
e.g. "my horn is exalted high v.1a," "
Horns of animals have always functioned as both offensive and defensive weapons for them. As a figure of speech the horn is therefore often used in the Bible as a symbol of human strength (see also in v. 10). The allusion in v. 1 to the horn being lifted high suggests a picture of an animal elevating its head in a display of strength or virility.
e.g. I loudly denounce my enemies, v.1b
"Loudly?" From a woman?
(BDB) wide, large, to devour, in figurative.
e.g. "The bows of warriors are shattered v.4"
Hannah knew very well from the history of Israel that God fought for His people and she applied that to her own lives. Her battleground was in her family and her barren womb. She did not feel that those "story" in the battle ground did not apply to her own lives. She did not think those were incidents too distant from her. May God also help us everyday to live His truth in our lives.
(2) The theology of Hannah
v. 2 No one is holy like the LORD!
There is no one other than you!
There is no rock like our God!
(NET) In this context God’s holiness refers primarily to his sovereignty and incomparability. He is unique and distinct from all other so-called gods.
God, being the Rock or the protect, showed to Hannah that He is unique and sovereign.
a. He knows those who speaks arrogantly v.3.
b. He gave strength to the stumble v.4, and fed the hungry v.5a. He gave children to barren woman v.5b, and gave life/kill life v.6. He gave to the poor and exalted the humbles v.7. He even lifted the weak/poor to the positions as princes v.8a.
c. All the earth belongs to God v.8b, and He executes judgment to all the people of the earth v.10b. Even the king's and the anointed one's power came from Him.
Therefore, Hannah's conclusion was:
v.9 He watches over his holy ones,
but the wicked are made speechless in the darkness,
for it is not by one’s own strength that one prevails.
Summary: We should all be humble before God. He was sovereign and He controlled all our lives. No one can prevail by our own strength. Instead, we stand because God watches over us.
Reflections: Again, from her experience of childbirth Hannah knew God first hand. She knew clearly that her child did not come because of her own effort. No matter how hard she tried before she never conceived. How about us? Do we acknowledge that God is our sovereign, unique protector. We stand because God watches over us.
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