As we continue our series in the Books of Samuel, we again look at the theme of power.  Hannah was the epitome of powerlessness. In the world’s eyes, she was nothing and would never achieve anything. In the world’s eyes she should learn her place, stay out of the way and stay silent. In the world’s eyes, you be lowly and you may have been oppressed and silenced. But Hannah found strength in God alone, and so can you.

In the last verse of her song, she points us to the messiah. She says, 2:10 “He will give strength to his king and exalt the horn of his anointed.”

In the gospel, we have our messiah who suffered the greatest humiliation of death on the cross. But as Hannah’s story anticipates, God gave strength to Jesus and exalted him by raising him up from the grave and giving him the name that is above all names.

Hannah and Jesus’ story testify to God’s faithfulness to his people.

1. SO, trust God completely, as Hannah teaches us – find our strength in God. She reminds us that He is our Rock, our Creator, the one who knows all and judges fairly.
2. And in light of God’s judgment, Hannah advises us to keep check on our pride. Boasting is basically the opposite of trusting. It’s in what we do ourselves rather than a humble reliance upon God to provide. Hannah reminds us ^2:3“Do not keep talking so proudly or let your mouth speak such arrogance, for the Lord is a God who knows, and by him deeds are weighed.”
3. Finally, the way to avoid talking proudly is to praise God constantly – when Hannah finds strength in God, she went from silence to publicly praising God. I hope we would be like Hannah, that we might tell others without fear of our God’s great character, of incredible saving act of Jesus and of our awesome king who is not only our king, but the king of the whole world.

St Phils Editorial