“No one is holy like the Lord, for there is none besides You, nor is there any rock like our God. Talk no more so very proudly; Let no arrogance come from your mouth, for the Lord is the God of knowledge; And by Him actions are weighed.” – 1 Samuel 2:2-3
As you look at others around you day by day, you may wonder why God’s providence appears to be so good to them, and yet you struggle. In such times, maybe you’ve been discouraged, asking Him something like, “Why are they blessed with ‘that,’ and not me? I’ve been praying long for ‘that,’ Lord, and have not received such blessing from your hands.” Maybe you’ve fallen into depression where the darkness seems to surround you, and the light of God’s smiling countenance towards you seems so far away. Hannah knew this struggle well. She had such desire to have a son. We’re told in 1 Sam. 1:5 that her husband Elkanah loved her, although the Lord had closed her womb. Yet, her rival, Peninnah (Elkanah’s other wife), provoked her severely because she was barren. And so, year by year, when Hannah went up to the house of the Lord, Peninnah provoked her every time, and therefore Hannah wept and didn’t eat. (1 Sam. 1:7)
Yet, in God’s perfect timing, and because of His blessing granted to Hannah, the words in our focus text came from her heart and out of her mouth as she prayed and sang to the Lord. Her words were a prayer and song of thanksgiving as she had great joy because of God’s grace to her in opening her once barren womb, giving her a son, who was named, Samuel. (1 Sam. 1:20) Samuel was a great servant of the Lord. Hannah also rejoiced because of God’s salvation. (1 Sam. 2:1) In fact, she exclaimed that she smiled at her enemies because of such rejoicing. Further, her words were also a psalm of prophecy, as Hannah concludes in foretelling the coming Messiah as the king God would give strength to, and the anointed He would exalt the horn of (v. 10). This, of course, beautifully points to the Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, springing from the reason for her rejoicing, note the four divine attributes Hannah focuses on as she thinks about God’s sovereignty and grace to the humble:
First, Hannah praises His unspotted purity as she proclaims the holiness of God. He is wonderfully separate and “other.” God is magnificent, transcendent, higher, and superior to all that is in all of His creation. Moses exclaims that God is “glorious in holiness” [emphasis added] (Exo.15:11). He is perfectly righteous, pure, and true. Praise the Lord that there is no one like Him! Praise God that He is holy like none other! There is none so perfectly, unchangably, and constantly holy as God showed Himself to be by His grace to Hannah. The same is true of Him in His grace to you and me. The thrice-holy God both checks the proud and mighty and pleads the cause of His afflicted servants who trust in Him. Hannah also proclaims there is none besides the Lord. (Isa. 45:5) There are none equal to Him. There are none so holy as God is, as He is the one and only Holy One.
Therefore, secondly God is the only sure rock for His people. He is the only sure defense and refuge for all who flee to Him and trust in Him like Hannah did. Moses again gives us marvelous words of how God revealed Himself and His attributes to His people, through what He did for them in bringing them out of Egypt, in Deut. 4:35, “To you it was shown, that you might know that the Lord Himself is God; there is none other besides Him” [emphasis added]. The Egyptians had their gods, but all of them were dead and lifeless, unlike the powerful, true, and living God. In the song of Moses in Deut. 32:31, Moses says our enemies even concede to our Rock being unique, “For their rock is not like our Rock, even our enemies themselves being judges” [emphasis added].
Thirdly, considering these things, the enemies of Hannah and the enemies of Christ need recognize God’s omniscience and unsearchable wisdom. They needed to heed the call and shut their mouths. They had long uttered arrogant boasts (Psalm 94:4), literally gave hard speeches, about Hannah in her barrenness. Peninnah, Elkanah’s other wife, was one of the prideful people. For she boasted about having children when Hannah had none. However, their mouths must stop in the presence of the holy refuge that is the living, sovereign God. Hannah raises a good reason for such silence, doesn’t she? God knew Peninnah’s heart (1 Sam.16:7), as He knows all of the pride, envy, and contempt the enemies of God have for Him and all His people.
Finally, see how Hannah sang of God’s unerring justice. God’s infinite and complete knowledge is connected with His justice. The Hebrew communicates that God both ponders and tries all of men’s thoughts and actions as the just Judge. Solomon said it rightly in Prov. 21:2, “Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the hearts” [emphasis added]. He will give to everyone according to their works (Rom. 2:5-11), including Peninnah for hers. Therefore, God had pity on Hannah in her humility and rebuked Peninnah’s arrogance.
Beloved, never forget and take comfort that God’s greatest blessings often come through difficulty. God has good planned for you in and through stormy seasons, even the one you may be going through now. Hannah and her prayer and song of thanksgiving should be a good example to you today regarding your prayers and praise. When God answered her sincere, heartfelt prayer she was quick to acknowledge His goodness and grace and rejoice in Him. Notice that she didn’t have a, “Well, it’s about time!” attitude. If she did, she would have been no better than Peninnah. No, she was humble and thankful for her Lord’s gracious gift. She cherished it, and rejoiced in the Lord. She praised His holiness, solace, wisdom, and justice. You should do the same. As you desire God to answer your prayers, be sure to take time to think about, and then give Him your sincere thanks and praise for those petitions He has already granted. For it is good to give thanks to the Lord and sing praises to His name! (Psalm 92:1)
