Word of Encouragement (07/26/2023)

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 Sam. 2:1)

Hannah begins her prayer by declaring, “My heart exults in the LORD…” (v. 1)! Her heart is no longer troubled with agony and affliction. Rejoicing has replaced weeping. Her face, which was clouded with sadness for a long time, is now radiant with joy. Hannah rejoices because her horn is exalted. Horn is a symbol of strength. We are surprised to hear of Hannah’s horn. Her portrayal at the beginning of this story was everything but strength. She was passive. The only thing she actively did was to weep (and choose not to eat). Even when she prayed to God, she could not pray out loud; most of her prayer was just weeping. But every person has a horn, I guess. Either it is lifted in glory or lowered in humiliation. Her horn was lowered in shame for a long time, to the point that she forgot its existence. But with Eli’s benediction and the birth of Samuel, her horn is raised high for all to see. Imagine how shocked and dismayed Peninnah must have been to see her rival give birth to a baby! Imagine how surprised Hannah’s neighbors must have been at the news of Hannah’s pregnancy! Hannah’s horn is indeed lifted for all to see! What an amazing change!

Notice how Hannah declares that her horn is exalted in the LORD. She understands that a fickle change of fortune is not what changed her circumstances. She firmly believes that the LORD has looked on her affliction and remembered her and granted her a son according to her plea. It is the LORD who raised her horn as she looked to Him for mercy. There was no doubt that it was the work of the LORD. In eyes of Peninnah and the neighbors, Hannah went from being a woman cursed by God to a woman favored by God!

She understands that the LORD has not done this for any goodness or merit in her. She is painfully aware of her lowly condition among her people, even among women, as a barren wife. She had nothing to show for. The only plea she had was that, though she felt so low and unworthy, she was the LORD’s servant. She wouldn’t mind people treating her badly if the LORD had considered her as His servant. Why? She says in v. 2, “There is none holy like the LORD: for there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God.” If such an exalted God could regard her as His servant and treat her as His own, she would be content. She would consider herself more blessed than all the kings of the earth if the God of incomparable glory could look on her and say, “You are Mine!” and allow her to dwell in the house of the LORD and serve Him for the rest of her life! Just a mere change of her fortunes would not make her happy and secure if she did not have the assurance that her horn was exalted in the LORD.

But God did not just grant her wish; in Jesus Christ, God made His people (including Hannah and us) His sons and daughters! How thankful we should be! We should be even humbler than Hannah because God has done it by His grace, not for any goodness or merit in us. May the Lord increase our gratitude and joy as we humble ourselves before Him!

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