In The Word
Read: 1 Samuel 2:1-11
Hannah’s Song of Thanksgiving
2 Then Hannah prayed and said,
“My heart rejoices in the Lord;
My horn is exalted in the Lord,
My mouth speaks boldly against my enemies,
Because I rejoice in Your salvation.
2 There is no one holy like the Lord,
Indeed, there is no one besides You,
Nor is there any rock like our God.
3 Do not go on boasting so very proudly,
Do not let arrogance come out of your mouth;
For the Lord is a God of knowledge,
And with Him actions are weighed.
4 The bows of the mighty are broken to pieces,
But those who have stumbled strap on strength.
5 Those who were full hire themselves out for bread,
But those who were hungry cease to be hungry.
Even the infertile woman gives birth to seven,
But she who has many children languishes.
6 The Lord puts to death and makes alive;
He brings down to Sheol and brings up.
7 The Lord makes poor and rich;
He humbles, He also exalts.
8 He raises the poor from the dust,
He lifts the needy from the garbage heap
To seat them with nobles,
And He gives them a seat of honor as an inheritance;
For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s,
And He set the world on them.
9 He watches over the feet of His godly ones,
But the wicked ones are silenced in darkness;
For not by might shall a person prevail.
10 Those who contend with the Lord will be terrified;
Against them He will thunder in the heavens,
The Lord will judge the ends of the earth;
And He will give strength to His king,
And will exalt the horn of His anointed.”
11 Then Elkanah went to his home at Ramah. But the boy continued to attend to the service of the Lord before Eli the priest.
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Walking In The Word
Hannah cried out to God, waited on Him, and trusted in His loving kindness to give her and Elkanah a child. God in His grace did. He gave her Samuel, who would become a mighty leader over Israel. She asked for a child, but God gave her so much more. Her heart’s desire was that this child would serve God all of his life. Wow! I believe if I ask what is in your heart for your child, you would say, “that my child would serve God all of their life.” When we are like Hannah and we dedicate our children to God before the congregation, we must also see them raised in the environment of God, being taught at home and church how to serve Him. Then like Samuel, our children will be leaders in God’s Kingdom.
Out of Hannah’s gratitude for God’s goodness to her, she broke out in a song of thanksgiving. The bible declares it is good to give thanks to God (Psalm. 92:1). The very definition of giving thanks to God means to praise and exalt Him with a heart full of gratitude and with everything within you. You should give thanks willingly and unashamedly, with a cheerful heart, and most of the time, in song.
Has God blessed you in any way? Then give Him thanks! When you wake up each morning give Him thanks for your breath, life, strength, food, home, and the people God has placed in your life. Give thanks for our Father, Savior and Teacher. If you see no reason for giving thanks, the fault lies with you.