1 Samuel Chapter 2 – From Personal Plight to National Glory
How many times have we prayed for something when we suddenly realised we should not just be looking at ourselves and our personal needs?
When Hannah paid her vow and brought her God-bestowed male child to serve at the house of the LORD at Shiloh, her thanksgiving prayer clearly exceeded rejoicing over fulfilment personal of dreams and hopes:
“The bows of the mighty men are broken, And those who stumbled are girded with strength… (4)
He raises the poor from the dust And lifts the beggar from the ash heap, To set them among princes And make them inherit the throne of glory… (8)
The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken in pieces; From heaven He will thunder against them. The LORD will judge the ends of the earth. “He will give strength to His king, And exalt the horn of His anointed.” (10)
Israel during the period of the judges were at times oppressed, but as a result of their disobedience to God. Nevertheless, God will establish Israel as “chief of the nations” (Jer 31:7), thus raising the poor to “inherit the throne of glory”.
God’s ultimate rule over the nations would start with his reign over Israel through His anointed king in Jerusalem. The laws of God when upheld by His chosen people (Deut 4:5-6) will make them a light to the nations (Is 42:6; 60:3). The nations in rebellion will be dashed to pieces (Ps 2:8-9).
How could any ordinary woman speak forth these prophetic words: “the bows of mighty” and “the adversaries of the LORD” are broken? Hannah’s spirit was all too ready for the inspiration of God’s Spirit. Amazingly she ended with the messianic hope – strength the God’s anointed king, many decades before her son anointed the first king of Israel!
A childless woman’s personal plight had caused her to pray not only for a son, but for the glory of her nation. Likewise, every Christian should tend not only his own personal needs, but pray for God’s kingdom to come, and for His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven.