Hannah's Praise Song

Hannah's praise song (found in I Samuel 2:1-10) is one of my favorite passages of Scripture in the Old Testament. It's such a beautiful expression of Hannah's joy over God having answered her prayers for a son. The emotions she expresses are a step toward glorifying the Lord for His guidance in human affairs. It alternates between the themes of God's sovereignty and the reversal of human fortunes; it ends with the theme of kingship.

Hannah's praise song is a hymn to the God who reverses human fortunes by His mighty power, the Creator beyond all human understanding who protects those who are faithful to Him.

Hannah's Praise Song

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. 

There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God. 

Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. 

The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength. 

They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; and they that were hungry ceased: so that the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble. 

The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up. 

The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up. 

He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD'S, and he hath set the world upon them. 

He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail. 

The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the LORD shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed. 

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Examining Your Responses

Just as there are times of joy, there are also times if suffering during the course of life. You may have suffered abuse, abandonment, or rejection. Perhaps you are hurting over a failed marriage or failed relationships/friendships. You may think God has forgotten you, or doesn't care about you. Your heart has grown cold, angry, perhaps bitter, toward God. Psalm 31:7 says,

I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy: for thou hast considered my trouble; thou hast known my soul in adversities.

David didn't rejoice because he was suffering. He was able to rejoice because he knew God was there and would always be with him.

Life has not given you what you expected. You want more. The world tells you that you deserve more. Proverbs 21:2 says,

Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts. 

 Satan is the father of lies (John 8:44). He wants to keep you from facing the truth about your unbiblical responses to the hurts you have faced, because denial keeps you in bondage to him. When you live in denial, you cannot know God intimately or enjoy fellowship with Him. Satan's mission is accomplished.

And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. {John 8:32}

 If you are willing to face the truth, the truth will set you free - free from your sinful responses to circumstances in your life.

Psalm 142 describes a trying time in David's life.

I cried unto the LORD with my voice; with my voice unto the LORD did I make my supplication.  

I poured out my complaint before him; I shewed before him my trouble.  

When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path. In the way wherein I walked have they privily laid a snare for me.  

I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul.  

I cried unto thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living.  

Attend unto my cry; for I am brought very low: deliver me from my persecutors; for they are stronger than I.  

Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name: the righteous shall compass me about; for thou shalt deal bountifully with me.

David was hiding in a cave because he was being pursued by Saul. You are constantly being pursued by Satan and your fleshly nature, but you do not have to give in.

But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof. {Romans 13:14}

David was in desperate need. He was honest about his feelings and his need, but his focus was entirely on God. He was able to have joy in the midst of distressing circumstances because his focus was entirely on God.

{ Stop regarding all the unpleasant things as interruptions of one's 'real' life. They are precisely one's real life. - C.S. Lewis }

Have you lived in denial about your unbiblical responses? What truth do you need to face about your unbiblical responses? Don't put it off any longer - make those responses right today so your relationship with God can be restored and you can live with the joy of the Lord in your heart!

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Yet I Sin

Eternal Father,
Thou art good beyond all thought, 
But I am vile, wretched, miserable, blind;
My lips are ready to confess, but my heart is slow to feel,
      and my ways reluctant to amend.
I bring my soul to Thee;
      break it, wound it, bend it, mould it.
Unmask to me sin's deformity,
      that I may hate it, abhor it, flee from it. 
My faculties have been a weapon of revolt against Thee;
      as a rebel I have misused my strength,
      and served the foul adversary of Thy kingdom.
Give me grace to bewail my insensate folly, 
Grant me to know that the way of transgressors is hard,
                            that evil paths are wretched paths, 
                            that to depart from Thee is to lose all good.
I have seen the purity and beauty of Thy perfect law,
                  the happiness of those in whose heart it reigns,
                  the calm dignity of the walk to which it calls,
                     yet I daily violate and contemn its precepts.
Thy loving Spirit strives within me,
                          brings me Scripture warnings,
                          speaks in startling providences, 
                          allures by secret whispers,
                             yet I choose devices and desires to my own hurt,
                                     impiously resent, grieve,
                                        and provoke Him to abandon me. 


All these sins I mourn, lament, and for them cry pardon.
Work in me more profound and abiding repentance;
Give me the fullness of a godly grief that trembles and fears,
       yet ever trusts and loves,
       which is ever powerful, and ever confident;
Grant that through the tears of repentance I may see more clearly
       the brightness and glory of the saving Cross. 


{"Yet I Sin" from The Valley of Vision}

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