Sermon Audio: LINK
Scripture Reading:
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.”
I. Personal Triumph Grounded in Divine Victory (v. 1)
In the beginning of our passage this morning we seeHannah lifting her voice in prayer. Her words overflow with joy, but notice carefully where her joy is anchored. She sings in verse 1, “My heart exults in the Lord; my horn is exalted in the Lord. My mouth derides my enemies, because I rejoice in your salvation.”
Notice that her triumph is not centered on her son, though Samuel is the answer to her long-awaited prayers. It is not centered on motherhood, on vindication over her rivals, or on any personal success. Hannah’s heart exults in one place alone: in the Lord her God. Her strength, her victory, her glory, they are all grounded in Him.
When Hannah speaks of her “horn,” she is drawing from a rich biblical image. In Scripture, the horn represents strength, dignity, and victory. In Deuteronomy 33:17 and Psalm 89:17, the horn symbolizes power given by God. Think of the horn of an animal, its defense, its honor, its pride. When the horn is lifted high, it is a sign of fearless confidence. Hannah declares that her strength and dignity are not her own, but are lifted up by the hand of the Lord.
This is a valuable reminder for us today. In a world obsessed with self-made success, Hannah points us to a far deeper truth: real triumph does not rise from within; it descends from above. True strength is not achieved; it is received.
Hannah continues, “My mouth derides my enemies, because I rejoice in your salvation.”At first, her words may seem sharp. But the Hebrew gives the image of a mouth opened, not in vengeful gloating, but in bold, joyful proclamation. Years of silent suffering under Peninnah’s cruel taunts have now given way to a mouth filled with praise. Hannah’s joy is not rooted in personal revenge, but in the salvation of God, the victory He has graciously granted.
God has not only answered her prayer for a son. He has lifted her from sorrow, silence, and shame, and placed her feet firmly on the rock of His faithfulness. Her vindication is not the work of her perseverance or personal effort; it is the work of a faithful God who saves those who trust in Him.
From personal triumph, Hannah lifts her voice higher still, moving from testimony to theology: “There is none holy like the Lord; there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God.” (v. 2)
We should remember that Holiness in Scripture speaks not only of moral purity, but of God’s utter otherness, His complete uniqueness and sovereign majesty. He alone is self-existent, self-sustaining, uncreated and unshakable. And so Hannah proclaims: there is no rock like our God. He is a towering mountain of strength and security, a foundation that cannot be moved.
This personal victory in God leads her to proclaim a universal truth: there is no substitute for the living God. No rival. No equal. No counterfeit security will hold when the storms of life rage. Only the Lord is our Rock.
Still, Hannah’s song is not only one of praise; it also carries a warning. She says, “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.” (v. 3)
This is a solemn reminder that God sees beyond outward appearances. He weighs the heart. He measures the motives. He knows not just what we do, but why we do it. Human judgment is often shallow and flawed, but God’s judgment is perfect and sure.
Proverbs echoes her message: “All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirit.” (Proverbs 16:2) and again, “Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart.” (Proverbs 21:2)
Hannah speaks here from experience. She knows what it is to be misunderstood, mislabeled, and dismissed. Yet she now testifies that the God who knows all things is the God who justifies the faithful and humbles the proud. Her strength is not self-generated. Her victory is not self-earned. Her vindication is not a lucky outcome. It is the merciful work of the living God, who sees, who judges, and who saves.
And so the lesson for us is clear, when triumph comes, we must not lift up ourselves. We must lift up the Lord. When prayers are answered and victories are won, we do not boast in our cleverness, our perseverance, or our strength. We boast in the unchanging faithfulness of the God who never forgets His people and never fails His promises.
Ultimately, Hannah’s song calls us to remember where our strength lies, where our hope rests, and where our glory belongs, not in ourselves, but in the Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer.
II. The Great Reversal (1 Samuel 2:4–8)
Then, in verses 4 through 8, the heart of Hannah’s song bursts into full view: the power of God to turn the world upside down. These verses reveal that the God of heaven delights in reversal. He upends human expectations, overthrows worldly pride, and lifts up the lowly by His mighty hand.
Listen again to the contrasts Hannah sings: “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.” (1 Samuel 2:4–5)
Every line declares the same truth: God reverses the fortunes of men and women. The warrior’s strength shatters. The weak are made strong. The wealthy are brought to rags. The hungry are satisfied. The barren woman, once forgotten, overflows with life, while the once-proud mother stands empty.
And it is God who is behind it all. These are not random twists of fate. They are deliberate acts of divine justice. As Psalm 75:7 says, “It is God who executes judgment, putting down one and lifting up another.” The sovereign Lord weighs every heart and acts according to His perfect righteousness.
Notice the climax: “The barren has borne seven.” In Hebrew poetry, seven symbolizes completeness and blessing. Hannah is not simply celebrating a child; she is declaring the perfect sufficiency of God’s provision. When God acts, He does not merely answer needs. He overflows them with blessings.
Then, Hannah proclaims something even more astonishing: “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.” (1 Samuel 2:6–7)
What kind of God is this? He is the Lord of life and death, the Master over poverty and riches, the Sovereign who humbles and who exalts. He holds both the grave and resurrection in His hand. He wounds and He heals. He brings down the proud and lifts up the humble. His rule is absolute. His justice is perfect.
The great preacher Charles Spurgeon once marveled, “What a clear view Hannah had of the sovereignty of God… How she seemed to glory in the power of that almighty hand whose working unbelievers cannot discern.” Let me ask you: Do you trust that hand? Even when it humbles you? Even when it wounds before it heals? The reversals of God are not mistakes; they are movements of mercy preparing us for glory.
And right here, hidden in Hannah’s ancient song, we catch a glimpse of the gospel itself. The grave does not have the final word, because the God of Hannah is Lord over Sheol. Christ Himself descended into death and rose in victory. The pattern of reversal, humiliation leading to exaltation, is the very heartbeat of salvation. As Paul would later say, “When I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:10)
Then Hannah’s song rises to its highest point in verse 8: “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.”
Picture a beggar in filthy rags, sitting atop an ash heap outside the city gates, unnoticed, unwanted. But God passes by. He stoops low, lifts the beggar up, clothes him in royal garments, and seats him among princes. This is the heart of our God. This is the gospel story.
Psalm 113 echoes Hannah’s words almost verbatim: “He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with princes.”
And is this not what God has done for us? Spiritually bankrupt, we had nothing to bring but our need. Yet by His grace, He has lifted us up and seated us with Christ in heavenly places. (Ephesians 2:6)
Know this, if you are in Christ, your ash heap is not your destiny. The dust is not your end. In God’s kingdom, He takes the broken and makes them royalty. He takes the barren and makes them fruitful. He takes the forgotten and writes them into His eternal story.
Hannah anchors all of this in God’s absolute sovereignty: “For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s, and on them he has set the world.” (1 Samuel 2:8)
The reversals of God are not random, they are not reckless. They are grounded in the bedrock of His creative authority. The same God who set the foundations of the world is the God who lifts the lowly and humbles the proud. He upholds the universe by His power, and He upholds your life by His grace.
So do not fear the ash heap. Do not despair in the dust. The God who raises beggars to sit with princes is still at work. He is still reversing destinies. He is still lifting up the humble and bringing the proud low. Trust Him. Worship Him. Wait for Him.
III. The Final Vindication of God’s People (1 Samuel 2:9–10)
As we reach the closing words of Hannah’s prayer, what began as a quiet cry of a broken heart now rises into a bold proclamation that stretches beyond one woman’s story, beyond Israel’s immediate history, and into the very heart of God’s eternal plan. This is no longer just about Hannah and Samuel; this is about the final victory of God’s people and the unstoppable reign of His Anointed King.
Verse 9 begins with a promise: “He will guard the feet of his faithful ones.” When God is your protector, there is no stumble, no detour, no dark valley that can separate you from His care. He steadies the steps of the faithful, not the flawless, not the celebrated, but the faithful. Those who keep trusting when it would be easier to give up, who keep walking when the road grows steep, who keep hoping even when the answer seems delayed. Hannah was one of these, and so can we be.
But immediately the tone sharpens: “The wicked shall be cut off in darkness, for not by might shall a man prevail.” This is a word of solemn warning. Those who oppose God, who rely on their own strength and reject His reign, will be cast into darkness, which is symbolic not only of judgment but of death, despair, and eternal separation. Human strength will not prevail against the purposes of God. All the world’s power, all its pride and pretense, will collapse before the sovereign Judge of all the earth.
Hannah’s song reminds us that the only strength that endures is the strength that kneels. The only victory that lasts is the victory given by grace. You may fight your battles with all the skill and might you can muster, but if you fight apart from God, you fight a losing war.
And then Hannah lifts her gaze even higher: “The LORD will judge the ends of the earth; he will give strength to his king and exalt the horn of his anointed.”
Think about this, when Hannah prayed these words there was no king yet in Israel. Saul has not been chosen, David has not been anointed. Yet this humble woman speaks prophetically of a coming King, of a coming Kingdom that will stretch to the ends of the earth. She speaks of a final judgment that will thunder across the nations and a King whose reign will never end.
This is the first time in the Bible the word “Messiah” the Anointed One appears. Hannah’s prayer points forward through the corridors of history to David, and ultimately to David’s greater Son, Jesus Christ.
The New Testament then picks up this language of exalted strength. Luke tells us in his Gospel that Jesus is the “horn of salvation” raised up for us in the house of David. (Luke 1:69) Zechariah’s song and Mary’s Magnificat echo the hope and theology of Hannah’s ancient prayer. What Hannah glimpsed in the shadows, we see now in the blazing light of Christ.
Jesus is the Anointed King, crucified in weakness, but raised in power. He is the one who thunders judgment against sin and injustice, and yet welcomes with mercy all who humble themselves before Him. He is the Rock that guards His people and the Judge who will bring final vindication to all who trust in Him.
So what, then, is Hannah’s song? It is more than personal praise. It is a theological blueprint. It previews Samuel’s ministry, David’s throne, and Christ’s eternal reign. It declares a world in which God lifts the lowly, humbles the proud, vindicates the faithful, and enthrones His chosen King forever.
And that kingdom vision reaches us today. In Christ, the great reversals of Hannah’s song are still unfolding. The meek inherit the earth. The last become first. The barren rejoice. The cross becomes the crown. This is the gospel. This is the reign of the King whose horn is forever exalted.
Conclusion:
As we reach the end of our sermon, we are standing at the doorway of a much greater story, a story that echoes through Scripture and finds its fulfillment in Jesus Christ. At the center of Hannah’s prayer is this truth: victory does not come by human strength. It belongs to the Lord. Pride leads to ruin. Trust in God leads to life. And Hannah’s words point forward, not only to David, Israel’s great king, but ultimately to David’s greater Son, Jesus Christ.
In Jesus, the gospel brings to life the great reversal Hannah saw from a distance. The world exalts power, performance, and prestige. The cross proclaims another way. God favors the brokenhearted, the humble, the one who comes with empty hands and full faith. The gospel invites us to lay down our claims of strength and trust wholly in Christ. Know that your effort will not save you. Your reputation will not rescue you. Only God’s grace, flowing through faith in His Son, will prevail.
So today, respond as Hannah did. Center your life on the Lord. Trust Him with your battles. Entrust your future to His hands. Boast not in yourself, but in the salvation of your God. And if you have never trusted fully in Jesus, hear the call that Hannah’s prayer still echoes: humble yourself before the true King. Acknowledge your need. Come to the cross where the proud are brought low and the humble are lifted up, and find in Christ the Rock that cannot be shaken.
As Hannah sang, so may we sing today: “There is none holy like the Lord; there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God.” Come to Him. Trust Him. Find in Him a joy that no enemy, no sorrow, and no circumstance can ever take away.
Daily Devotionals
Monday: Exulting in God, Not Ourselves
Scripture Reading:
“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.’” 1 Samuel 2:1 (ESV)
Devotional:
Hannah begins her song with a cry of praise: “My heart exults in the Lord; my horn is exalted in the Lord. My mouth derides my enemies, because I rejoice in your salvation.” Her words are full of triumph, yet the source of her joy is not herself, her new son, or even her vindication. It is God alone. Her strength, her dignity, and her glory are all gifts from Him.
When Hannah says, “my horn is exalted in the Lord,” she is using a biblical symbol of power and confidence. A lifted horn signified victory and dignity, much like the horn of a strong animal. But Hannah makes it clear: this victory is not her own doing. It is not earned or achieved by willpower or persistence. It is received from the hand of a faithful God who sees, hears, and delivers.
This truth speaks to us today. Our world urges us to seek identity in achievement or recognition, but Hannah points to something deeper. Real strength is not found in the mirror or on a resume. It is found in the Lord. When God grants victory, it is to remind us that He alone is worthy of glory. We must resist the urge to take credit for His work in our lives and instead, exalt Him with hearts full of praise.
Reflection Questions:
- Where have you seen God give victory or strength in your life?
- Are there ways you have been tempted to take credit for what God has done?
- How can you intentionally exalt God in your current season?
Prayer:
Father, You are the source of my strength and the reason for my joy. Forgive me when I forget that. Help me to rejoice in Your salvation, not in my success. Teach me to lift up Your name and not my own. May my heart exult in You alone, today and always. Amen.
Tuesday: The Unmatched Holiness of God
Scripture Reading:
“There is none holy like the Lord: for there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God.” 1 Samuel 2:2 (ESV)
Devotional:
“There is none holy like the Lord: for there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God.” In this single verse, Hannah lays a foundation for worship. God is not just better; He is wholly other. His holiness sets Him apart from everything and everyone. He is without rival, without peer, without flaw.
In the Bible, holiness is not just moral perfection. It is God’s complete uniqueness, His utter transcendence. When Hannah calls Him “holy,” she is saying that God stands alone. He is the Rock, a symbol of strength, stability, and security. When everything else shifts, He stays firm. He is a safe place for the weary, the broken, the overwhelmed.
Our world is filled with false rocks: wealth, reputation, even relationships. But these things crack under pressure. Only God is a rock that does not move. Hannah knew that. She had been shaken, ridiculed, and dismissed, but in her God she found a foundation that never failed. We can too.
Reflection Questions:
- What does it mean to you that God is holy and without equal?
- What “false rocks” have you been tempted to lean on lately?
- How can you rest more fully in the stability of God this week?
Prayer:
Holy God, there is no one like You. You are my Rock and my Refuge. Help me to stop chasing what cannot hold me and to rest in Your unshakable presence. Teach me to trust You more fully and to worship You for who You are. Amen.
Wednesday: God Weighs the Heart
Scripture Reading:
“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.” 1 Samuel 2:3 (ESV)
Devotional:
This verse brings a sobering reminder: God sees not just what we do, but why we do it. He weighs actions with perfect insight and justice.
We often judge by appearances. People can look holy, successful, or kind on the outside while hiding pride or bitterness within. But God does not measure like we do. He weighs the heart. He discerns motives, attitudes, and desires. That truth can humble us, but it should also free us. We don’t have to prove ourselves to people; we live before the eyes of God.
For Hannah, this truth was personal. She had been misunderstood and mocked, yet God knew her heart. He had vindicated her. Today, if you are walking with integrity but feel unseen or misjudged, take heart. The God of knowledge sees you clearly and weighs your life with perfect love and justice.
Reflection Questions:
- Are there areas where you have been relying on outward appearances?
- What motives might God be revealing in your heart today?
- How does it change your perspective to know God sees and weighs everything?
Prayer:
Lord, You know me fully. You see not only what I do, but why I do it. Search my heart and reveal anything that needs to change. Help me live honestly before You, not for the praise of others. Thank You for being a God of truth and justice. Amen.
Thursday: The God of Great Reversals
Scripture Reading:
“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.” 1 Samuel 2:4–5 (ESV)
These verses celebrate the God who reverses fortunes. He breaks human pride and raises the lowly. This is not chance or karma. It is the deliberate work of a sovereign God who exalts the humble and brings down the proud. Hannah had experienced this firsthand. She had gone from barrenness and shame to blessing and joy. And she knew it was not because of her merit, but God’s mercy.
In our own lives, reversals often feel confusing. But Hannah reminds us that they are part of God’s pattern. When we are weak, He shows His strength. When we are empty, He fills us. When we are forgotten, He remembers. The low places in life are often where we meet God most clearly.
Reflection Questions:
- Where have you seen God’s reversals in your own life or others?
- How can you embrace humility as the path to God’s strength?
- What situation are you facing that needs God’s divine reversal?
Prayer:
Father God, You turn sorrow into joy and weakness into strength. I trust You with the broken parts of my story. Humble me where I am proud and lift me where I am low. Help me see Your hand in every change and worship You through every season. Amen.
Friday: The Sovereign Hand Behind Every Change
Scripture Reading:
“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.” – 1 Samuel 2:6–8 (ESV)
Hannah’s song proclaims a truth many resist: God is sovereign over every rise and fall. He rules over life and death, gain and loss. These verses can be unsettling. We like the idea of a God who comforts us, but Hannah presents a God who also corrects us. A God who wounds and heals, who humbles and lifts. Yet this is good news. If God is in control, then nothing is wasted. No pain is pointless. No success is random. Everything is under His wise and loving hand.
The climax of this passage is verse 8: “He raises up the poor from the dust… to make them sit with princes.” That’s the gospel. God takes the undeserving and gives them honor. He lifts beggars and seats them beside kings. In Christ, this is our story. The One who died has raised us with Him.
Reflection Questions:
- How does God’s sovereignty challenge or comfort you?
- What part of your life are you struggling to surrender to His control?
- How can you celebrate God’s power to lift the lowly today?
Prayer:
Sovereign Lord, nothing escapes Your control. Thank You that even in my hardest moments, You are working. Help me trust You more fully, especially when I don’t understand Your ways. Lift me out of the dust and place my feet on solid ground. Amen.
Saturday: The Victory of God’s Anointed
Scripture Reading:
“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.” – 1 Samuel 2:9–10 (ESV)
Devotional:
“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.” Hannah ends with a prophetic vision. She sees the coming of a King, an Anointed One who will reign with justice and strength.
Though Israel had no king at the time, Hannah’s prayer looked forward. Her words find their ultimate fulfillment in Jesus, the true Anointed One. He is the horn of salvation, the one who guards His people and judges the world. He is the Rock that stands forever.
This final promise gives us hope. God will not forget the faithful. He will not let evil win. He will exalt His King and those who belong to Him. If you are in Christ, your future is secure. No matter what darkness you face, the light of His reign will shine over you.
Reflection Questions:
- How does the promise of Christ’s reign give you confidence today?
- In what areas do you need to trust God’s protection more deeply?
- How can you live as a faithful one while you wait for final victory?
Prayer:
King Jesus, You are the horn of my salvation. You reign with justice and mercy. Guard my steps and strengthen my faith. Help me walk in Your victory and point others to Your coming kingdom. I trust You now and forever. Amen.
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