The Unlimited Trajectory of Praise
Hannah has a son. She has lent him to the Lord for the rest of his days. God has answered her prayers and given her Samuel, the man who will faithfully transition the struggling and fractured Israelites into the united established kingdom with David on the throne.
But she could not have known all that God would do through her son had she not done what comes next in 1 Samuel 2. She takes time to worship God for the blessings in her life. And in her worship, she is transported from personal answers to prayer to God's universal sovereignty over the nations.
Worship has a transcendent trajectory. Once you begin to worship, your perspective is transported from your personal issues to God's powerful reign. This is an experience you should regularly have.
Notice the personal nature at the beginning of her worship.
1 Samuel 2:1 (ESV) 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 2:10 (ESV) 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.”
Now you think about this. Hannah is singing this at the very beginning of 1 Samuel. As of now in Israel the situation is bleak. The judges are ruling and the priests are corrupt (we will see that in the following chapters). But Hannah has a prophetic song come from within her speaking of the realities God is about to bring forth for the nation. The lowly will "inherit a seat of honor" as David, the forgotten son will be King and anointed one.
Finally, consider this: The first two chapters of Samuel we are invited to explore how God begins a movement to shape history. God moves NOT by kings and dignitaries being established. God rather moves through the earnest prayers of those who seem to be hopeless. God responds FIRST to dire persistent prayers and heartfelt worship. If I were writing a history of the rise of Israel's monarchy, I would not include these moments. But the Biblical writers, inspired by the Holy Spirit are teaching us how to read history. It moves by the hand of God which is moved by the prayers of the people of God.
Now Hannah had no idea her desperate desire for a son and subsequent prayers would be the means by which God would initiate a national revival of sorts. But I do think it's absolutely cool that He did! For it helps me understand that our personal desires, when surrendered to God, can be tools He uses for something far bigger than ourselves.
One day another young woman who will experience supernatural conception will share many of the same themes of Hannah's song in her own song. Her name is Mary (see Luke 1:46-56) and once again, through the prayers and praises of the humble God will shake the foundations of the Earth.
Worship is so much more than a few songs in the beginning of a church service.
But she could not have known all that God would do through her son had she not done what comes next in 1 Samuel 2. She takes time to worship God for the blessings in her life. And in her worship, she is transported from personal answers to prayer to God's universal sovereignty over the nations.
Worship has a transcendent trajectory. Once you begin to worship, your perspective is transported from your personal issues to God's powerful reign. This is an experience you should regularly have.
Notice the personal nature at the beginning of her worship.
1 Samuel 2:1 (ESV) 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.
This is where worship begins. In the personal struggle. Thank God He is the God of our personal struggle. He descends to meet us where we are and strengthen us for our personal fights. Hannah records that the Lord is the one who fills the hungry and "raises up the poor from the dust" (verse 8).
But worship will not let you stay personal. Worship elevates us.
You see, worship, by its very nature focuses on God and the more you focus on Him, the larger He becomes in your life AND the more space He captures in your mind. The principle works for whatever you choose to focus on. Think of another word the scriptures use for worship: "Magnify". To magnify something means to by nature make it larger visually. This is why worship MUST happen for God's people regularly. If we do not magnify our Lord, we will magnify our problems, our own capabilities or the situation in which we find ourselves. Worship is that means by which we let our thoughts arise to the heavens where He is seated on the throne.
You see, worship, by its very nature focuses on God and the more you focus on Him, the larger He becomes in your life AND the more space He captures in your mind. The principle works for whatever you choose to focus on. Think of another word the scriptures use for worship: "Magnify". To magnify something means to by nature make it larger visually. This is why worship MUST happen for God's people regularly. If we do not magnify our Lord, we will magnify our problems, our own capabilities or the situation in which we find ourselves. Worship is that means by which we let our thoughts arise to the heavens where He is seated on the throne.
Moving through her song of worship, Hannah transcends into a global perspective:
1 Samuel 2:10 (ESV) 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.”
Now you think about this. Hannah is singing this at the very beginning of 1 Samuel. As of now in Israel the situation is bleak. The judges are ruling and the priests are corrupt (we will see that in the following chapters). But Hannah has a prophetic song come from within her speaking of the realities God is about to bring forth for the nation. The lowly will "inherit a seat of honor" as David, the forgotten son will be King and anointed one.
Finally, consider this: The first two chapters of Samuel we are invited to explore how God begins a movement to shape history. God moves NOT by kings and dignitaries being established. God rather moves through the earnest prayers of those who seem to be hopeless. God responds FIRST to dire persistent prayers and heartfelt worship. If I were writing a history of the rise of Israel's monarchy, I would not include these moments. But the Biblical writers, inspired by the Holy Spirit are teaching us how to read history. It moves by the hand of God which is moved by the prayers of the people of God.
Now Hannah had no idea her desperate desire for a son and subsequent prayers would be the means by which God would initiate a national revival of sorts. But I do think it's absolutely cool that He did! For it helps me understand that our personal desires, when surrendered to God, can be tools He uses for something far bigger than ourselves.
One day another young woman who will experience supernatural conception will share many of the same themes of Hannah's song in her own song. Her name is Mary (see Luke 1:46-56) and once again, through the prayers and praises of the humble God will shake the foundations of the Earth.
Worship is so much more than a few songs in the beginning of a church service.
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