1 Samuel 2:1-10
“And Hannah prayed and said,
“My heart exults in the Lord;
my horn is exalted in the Lord.
My mouth derides my enemies,
because I rejoice in your salvation.
“There is none holy like the Lord:
for there is none besides you;
there is no rock like our God.
Talk no more so very proudly,
let not arrogance come from your mouth;
for the Lord is a God of knowledge,
and by him actions are weighed.
The bows of the mighty are broken,
but the feeble bind on strength.
Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread,
but those who were hungry have ceased to hunger.
The barren has borne seven,
but she who has many children is forlorn.
The Lord kills and brings to life;
he brings down to Sheol and raises up.
The Lord makes poor and makes rich;
he brings low and he exalts.
He raises up the poor from the dust;
he lifts the needy from the ash heap
to make them sit with princes
and inherit a seat of honor.
For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s,
and on them he has set the world.
“He will guard the feet of his faithful ones,
but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness,
for not by might shall a man prevail.
The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces;
against them he will thunder in heaven.
The Lord will judge the ends of the earth;
he will give strength to his king
and exalt the horn of his anointed.”
The world we live in is always changing, which leaves us feeling out of control. This causes us to seek answers from many different sources and areas in our life. A lot of times people look for answers in places that will leave them confused, hopeless, and helpless. No one likes to feel like they are powerless. Many believe that knowledge is power, which brings them comfort. The beautiful thing is that we have complete access to all the wisdom in the world if we will seek after the right answers from the only true God.
Hannah had a deep desire to pursue knowledge and wisdom, so she could find comfort, hope, and peace. She had direct access to all the wisdom in the world and heaven from her Heavenly Father. All she had to do was cry out to Him in prayer and He would answer. Hannah thanked God for His salvation and praised Him for who He was. As we see in the scripture, Hannah was able to be honest with God because He desires to hear our hearts. Hannah cried out the character of God and continued to focus on His goodness and mercy. She was able to find confidence in God because He is always faithful. He never turns away from His people or leaves them. God is present, always, so we must be present, always.
My brothers and sisters in the faith, please cry out to our Heavenly when you are hurting, feeling confused, and ready to give up. Please cry out to Him when He has blessed you and comforted you. He will speak to you, calm you, and give you confidence like He did for Hannah.
Highlight – what words or phrases jump out at you?Explain – what does the passage mean?Apply – how does the passage intersect with your life today?Respond – how is God leading you to respond?
Macon Jones, Pastor to Students and Young Adults