1 Samuel 2:3-10 – Living for our awesome God.

The first two verses of Hannah’s expression of praise in 1 Samuel 2:1-10, taught us that the true God we worship is incomparable. In holiness and in power, there is none like  Him. And certainly, there is no one that can be compared with Him. In the remaining verses of Hannah’s Magnificat, she tells us two other things about God. In verses 3-8 we learn that God is the one who transforms the circumstances of the lives of His people. Then in verses 9-10, He is the one who gives His people the victory.  

Verses 3-8 tell us that His ability to transform the situations is based on the attribute that He is a God of knowledge. This is one of God’s attributes - He is all-knowing. Hence, there is no arrogance or pride that is hidden from Him. Therefore, He has the capacity to evaluate every action, every situation, and every intention. It means that He can intervene and change circumstances. People who are proud and arrogant are boastful. They operate with an attitude as if God has no awareness of what they are doing. Such people are self-centered and self-serving. But God can reverse man’s circumstances. Verses 4-8 show us that whether in war, career, birth, mortality, wealth or social status, God has the capacity to bring about a reversal. Knowing this will help us set our perspective right. Nothing can be more important than to have a life that’s entirely aligned with the purpose and plan of God. Yes, He wants to transform the circumstances of our life if we let Him.

Verses 9-10 tell us that God’s faithful people can expect to be victorious in life. Why? The Lord is fighting on their behalf! Not only that but He will also protect and preserve them. Everyone who comes against God and His people will be defeated. It is fool hardly to contend with the Lord. The Magnificat of Hannah while expressing praise for the Almighty God, also foresaw and prophesied the future. It spoke about the future Messiah-King. He will be the one empowered by the Lord to execute His purpose and fulfill His plan. This prophecy is all the more amazing as we consider the fact that it was spoken at a time when “there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.”  

Knowing that we have an incomparable, transforming and victorious God, it would be foolish not to orientate our lives around Him. Wisdom dictates that we should live and conduct our life for the greater glory of His name. This we must diligently do with His help!