BIG IDEA:
ANSWERED PRAYER CAUSES THE RIGHTEOUS TO REJOICE IN THE LORD – THE SOVEREIGN ONE WHO BOTH EXALTS THE LOWLY AND JUDGES THE WICKED
INTRODUCTION (:1)
A. A Thankful Heart Overflows in Prayer of Praise
“Then Hannah prayed and said” – responding to Answered Prayer
B. Overall Tone = Rejoicing in the Lord
“My heart exults in the Lord”’
Good place to see example of what it means to Rejoice in the Lord
C. Outward Circumstances = Prosperity / Exaltation / Answered Prayer / Deliverance
“My horn is exalted in the Lord”
Ryrie: Image of invincible strength (cf. Dan. 7:21)
Young: “a picture of the wild ox with head carried high in the confidence of strength.”
Messianic implications
D. Victory Means Vindication
“My mouth speaks boldly against my enemies”
E. Summary
“Because I rejoice in Thy salvation”
I. (:2-3) REJOICING IN THE LORD BY REMEMBERING HIS ATTRIBUTES AND BY REBUKING THE ARROGANT
A. (:2) BY REMEMBERING HIS ATTRIBUTES
1. His Holiness
“There is no one holy like the Lord”
2. His Uniqueness
“Indeed, there is no one besides Thee”
3. His Unchanging Strength
“Nor is there any rock like our God”
Fritz: “Hannah praised God because He lifted her up above the chiding and arrogant mocking of Peninnah. When people criticize, misunderstood and doubt us we can be assured that the Rock of our God will shelter us in the time of storm. Hannah knew that God was all knowing and that He will judge all sin and pride in His way and time. Never fear when people attack you because His sovereign power is greater than anyone or anything. David wrote, ‘God is our refuge and strength a very present help in the time of trouble. Therefore, we will not fear though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea.’ (Psa. 46:1,2)”
B. (:3) BY REBUKING THE ARROGANT
1. Arrogance is Short-lived
“Boast no more so very proudly,
“Do not let arrogance come out of your mouth”
2. Accountability is Guaranteed
a. God Knows All
“For the Lord is a God of knowledge,”
b. God Judges Fairly
“And with Him actions are weighed.”
Blaikie: “His knowledge gives comfort … He sees all secret wickedness, and knows how to deal with it. His eye is on every plot hatched in the darkness. He knows His faithful servants, what they aim at, what they suffer, what a strain is often put on their fidelity. And He never can forget them, and never can desert them, for ‘the angel of the Lord encampeth about them that fear Him, and delivereth them.’”
II. (:4-5) MULTIPLE EXAMPLES OF THE KEY PRINCIPLE:
THE SOVEREIGN LORD EXALTS THE LOWLY AND JUDGES THE WICKED
James 4:6 “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble”
Prov. 16:18 “Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before stumbling.”
Prov. 18:12 “Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, But humility goes before honor.”
A. (:4) Example from the Realm of Warfare: Strong vs. Weak
“The bows of the mighty are shattered,
But the feeble gird on strength”
B. (:5a) Example from the Realm of Economics: Full vs. Hungry
“Those who were full hire themselves out for bread,
But those who were hungry cease to hunger”
C. (:5b) Example from the Realm of Family: Fruitful / Fertile vs. Barren
“Even the barren gives birth to seven,
But she who has many children languishes.”
III. (:6-8a) MULTIPLE STATEMENTS OF THE KEY PRINCIPLE:
THE SOVEREIGN GOD EXALTS ONE AND HUMBLES ANOTHER
A. (:6a) Statements Regarding Death and Life
“The Lord kills and makes alive;
He brings down to Sheol and raises up.”
Young: “the issues of life and death are in the hands of God.”
B. (:6b-8a) Statements Regarding Poverty and Riches
“The Lord makes poor and rich;
He brings low, He also exalts,
He raises the poor from the dust,
He lifts the needy from the ash heap
To make them sit with nobles,
And inherit a seat of honor;”
IV. (:8b-10) CONCLUSION: THE SOVEREIGN GOD DETERMINES ONE’S ULTIMATE DESTINY
A. (:8b) Sovereign by Virtue of His Authority as Creator
“For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s,
And He set the world on them.”
Young: reference to God being in charge of all human government
B. (:9) Preservation vs. Destruction (chiastic structure: A B B A)
1. Preservation of the Godly
“He keeps the feet of His godly ones”
2. Destruction of the Wicked
“But the wicked ones are silenced in darkness”
3. Key Principle: “For not by might shall a man prevail” *****
Chestnut: “The way that God delivered Hannah is characteristic of the way God rules His world.”
C. (:10) Judgment vs. Exaltation
1. Judgment Against the Rebellious
“Those who contend with the Lord will be shattered;
Against them He will thunder in the heavens,
The Lord will judge the ends of the earth”
2. Exaltation for the Anointed
“And He will give strength to His king.
And will exalt the horn of His anointed.”