Lord, Teach Us To Pray - Does Prayer Change God? or Me?

• Does Prayer Change God? - It is a very common belief that if men shower God with prayer for a particular request that the volume and sincerity of the prayers will move God to grant those petitions. Many look at Mark 11:  “... whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith”, as scripture to justify their position. This verse certainly appears to say that if we have enough faith in God we can motivate Him to do as we request. It seems that if God does not answer our prayer it is because we do not have enough faith. We therefore have fallen short in some way and we need to strengthen our faith and continue in prayer to God. God would then listen and grant us our request when we come to Him filled with faith. This deceitful logic of man is based on the idea that God must wait upon man to come to Him with faith and only then can God act. These ideas suppose that man changes God and that more prayer by more people with more faith is the commodity that God requires to act upon prayer. Let us examine these ideas in light of the whole Bible. Considering these scriptures, is there anything — anything! — we can tell Him that He does not already know? Is there anything about our lives that He has not already thoroughly considered in light of what He wants to produce for our good?

Mark 11:23-24 “For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.”

Isa 40:13-14 “Who hath directed the Spiriof the LORD, or being his counsellor hath taught him? 14With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and shewed to him the way of understanding?”

Psa 139:1-7 “O lord, thou hast searched me, and known me. 2Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. 3Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. 4For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether. 5Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. 6Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it. 7Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?”

• Does Prayer Change Me? - God shows us many times that God changes man through prayer. God will respond to prayer that is according to His will. How can a man pray according to the will of God? How can a dead sinner become a saint that prays according to the will of God? This happens only by the sovereign act of God in salvation: “But as for me, my prayer is unto thee, O LORD, in an acceptable time: O God, in the multitude of thy mercy hear me, in the truth of thy salvation” (Psa 69:13). As the sinner prays to God for salvation, God changes the man, according to His will. He justifies them from all of their sins so they will not stand for judgment. He looses them from Satan’s power and draws them lovingly into His Kingdom. He disciplines, chastises, and pities His children, all to bring them into His glory and know His love. As God molds the man, the man more and more prays according to the will of God. God answers his prayers because they are according to the will of God. God does not stand by helplessly waiting for man, but works within man to the benefit of the saints and His own glory: “For this is the will of God, even your sanctification...” (1 The 4:3). Once saved, God works sanctification in the man to produce the fruit of the Spirit. One of the most astonishing facts is that the Holy Spirit lives [indwells] within the believer and assists him or her as he or she prays: “... the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us... he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God...” (Rom 8:26-28). The Spirit of Christ, dwelling in the believer, prays to the Father of things that are beyond the understanding of man. God does not leave His people alone, He assists them with prayer.

Isa 59:1-2 “Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: 2But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.”

Col 1:9 “For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;”

Jam 5:16 “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed [Spiritual healing/Salvation] . The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”

Dan 10:12 “Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.”

Rom 8:26-28 "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. 28And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

• Nevertheless, Not My Will, but Thine be Done - Although God knows our requests even before they enter our minds, we are to express them to our Heavenly Father: “O LORD God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before thee: Let my prayer come before thee: incline thine ear unto my cry” (Psa 88:1). In doing so we realize afresh our absolute dependency on Him for every physical and spiritual need of ours: “Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.” (Psa 73:25), and qualify all our petitions, with the very important statement (and attitude) “nevertheless, not my will, but thine be done”. We read of Jesus’ greatest prayer to the Father, “Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done”, that He spoke three times in the Garden of Gethsemane (which means the “winepress of God”) where He started to endure the wrath of God. All too often our attitude in prayer about something emphasizes what we feel is our or somebody else’s need rather than focusing on God’s will. Which is more important? what this perfect, great God considers from His perspective or what we desire from our position of nearly blind ignorance of what is really needed? The Lord’s Prayer is the model prayer, indicating that we should not pray with the idea that we are bringing something new to God. It also introduces the thought that the purpose of prayer is not to overcome God’s reluctance to answer and give but rather to lay hold of His willingness to help us toward His perspective, the fulfillment of His purpose, and into His Kingdom. The overall emphasis in our requests, then, must be inclined toward His purpose and will. Prayer is not to change God’s Will but rather to align ourselves with God’s Will.

Matt 6:7-8 “But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. 8Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.”

1 John 5:14-15 “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.”

• God’s Will concerns the Work of the Gospel in this World - The Father works eternal redemption for His children at the price of the life of His Son: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). He brings salvation to the elect, judgment on the unsaved, and many other acts and purposes according to His eternal wisdom and counsel. Jesus is our example and we are to follow Him in all things. Christ labored in prayer before His Father: “And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he [Jesus] went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed” (Mark 1:35). Fellowship with the Father was a supreme priority in the life of Christ: “And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God” (Luke 6:12).  John 17 is the magnificent High Priestly prayer for His Children.

Heb 10:7-10 “Then said I [Lord Jesus Christ], Lo, I come(in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. 8Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; 9Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. 10By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”

Heb 5:7 “Who [Jesus] in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;”

Luke 22:42 “Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. 43And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. 44And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. 45And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow,”

John 6:39 “And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.”

• Pray Earnestly, Without Ceasing - We might recall that in I Kings 17:1, about the physical famine in Elijah’s day: “And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word”. This famine occurred in Israel when the wicked man Ahab who was married to the exceedingly wicked Jezebel was reigning over Israel. This famine continued for three years and six months. In Jam 5:16-18 we learn that the famine was brought by Elias, when he prayed earnestly: “... The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit”. This verse makes the point that Elias was a sinner like you and me, yet it declares, “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much”. Then the question is how was Elias found “righteous” in the eyes of God? Before salvation, there is none righteous, no not one. Neither Noah, nor Job, nor David, nor Moses, nor Zechariah the father of John the Baptist, nor Elias, nor anyone else in himself was righteous. The robe of Christ’s righteousness [given in Salvation] is absolutely needed in order for one to be found righteous. One can be made Righteous only “through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith”. God looks upon a person whom He has saved as “righteous” because his sins have been paid for by the Lord Jesus Christ at the cross. God’s Spirit worked in Elijah and caused him to pray according to the Will of God, as a result of his salvation. May God grant His mercy and grace to mold and shape His people that they will pray according to the will of God, especially in these last days: “But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer” (1 Pet 4:7). Focus of our earnest prayers should be on our Salvation and for the Salvation of family and friends and the spiritual needs, the fruit of the Spirit - love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith.

Matt 6:31-33 “Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

Luke 11:5-8 “And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves; 6For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him? 7And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee. 8I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.”

1 Thes 5:16-18 “Rejoice evermore. 17Pray without ceasing. 18In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

Mary's Prayer - My soul doth magnify the Lord

• My soul doth magnify the Lord - Mary's prayer describes the joy, adoration, and gratitude of one who indeed is a true child of God. Her prayer is filled with praise and adoration for God and His magnificent salvation, just like we have seen in Hannah's prayer. A Christian finds within his soul a constant, and overflowing appreciation for his Saviour and for all that God has done for him in the past, at present, and for eternity.

Luke 1:46-47 “And Mary said, my soul doth magnify the Lord. 47And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.”

1 Sam 2:1 "And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation."

Psa 5:11 “But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.”
Psa 18:2 "The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower."

Hos 13:4 “Yet I am the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt, and thou shalt know no god but me: for there is no saviour beside me.”

1 John 4:14 “And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.”

Acts 4:12 “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

• Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God - In order for anyone to become saved, they have to be humbled by God because by birth and nature all human beings enter this world sinfully proud.

Luke 1:46-48 “And Mary said, my soul doth magnify the Lord. 47And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. 48For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.”

1 Sam 1:10-11 "And she [Hannah] was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore. 11And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head."

1 Sam 2:1-3 "And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation. 2There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God. 3Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed."

1 Pet 5:5-7 "Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. 6Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you."

Psa 138:6 “Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off.”

Psa 34:18 “The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.”

• Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD - What are the “great things” that God did for Mary? The same that He has done for every believer – the salvation of their souls! The great deliverance of Israelites from the bondage of Egypt typifies the Marvelous Work of Salvation by God’s power and grace alone. “Great things” is a rendering of a Greek word that is only found only one other time in the New Testament. It is translated as “wonderful works” in Acts 2:11, which describes the events of Pentecost Sunday, when Holy Spirit was given. When we speak of God’s “name” as being Holy it is in reference to the person and work of God Himself.

Luke 1:46-49 “And Mary said, my soul doth magnify the Lord. 47And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. 48For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. 49For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.”

1 Sam 2:1-2 "And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation. 2There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God."

Psa 78:12 “Marvellous things did he in the sight of their fathers, in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan.”

Exo 14:13 “And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.”

Isa 54:5 “For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.”

Hos 13:4 “Yet I am the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt, and thou shalt know no god but me: for there is no saviour beside me.”

Acts 2:11 "Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God."

• There is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared - In this compelling verse we recognize the amazing reality that those whom God intends to save will be filled with a holy terror – a gift from God – as they consider the majesty of the God of the Bible.

Luke 1:46-50 “And Mary said, my soul doth magnify the Lord. 47And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. 48For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. 49For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. 50And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.”

Mat 10:28 “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”

Psa 130:4 "But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared."

Pro 9:10 "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding."

• Salvation through a mighty hand - This verse speaks of God’s strength – as typified by “His arm” – to save His elect from spiritual death and Hell to eternal life. This is dramatically seen in the deliverance of Israelites (typifying God's Elect).

Luke 1:46-50 “And Mary said, my soul doth magnify the Lord. 47And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. 48For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. 49For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. 50And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. 51He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.”

Deu 26:8 "And the LORD brought us forth out of Egypt with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with great terribleness, and with signs, and with wonders:"

Deu 5:15 "And remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt, and that the LORD thy God brought thee out thence through a mighty hand and by a stretched out arm: therefore the LORD thy God commanded thee to keep the sabbath day [pointing to the Rest God provided in Christ]."

Isa 59:16 "And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm [Lord Jesus Christ] brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him."

• God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble - To “put down” is really the word for “take down” or “destroy” . Again we see how much emphasis God is placing on the destruction of the unsaved (or the “proud”) and on the exaltation of the saved (or the “humble”).

Luke 1:46-52 “And Mary said, my soul doth magnify the Lord. 47And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. 48For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. 49For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. 50And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. 51He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. 52He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.”

1 Sam 2:1-4 "And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation. 2There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God. 3Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. 4The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength."

Mat 23:12 “And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.”

Pro 3:34 “Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly.”

Jam 4:6 “But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.”

Pro 29:23 “A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.”

• Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness - We understand that those who are spiritually hungry will be filled. On the other hand, those who think they don’t need salvation – the “rich” – are the deceived, will hunger and thirst, like we see in the rich man thirsting for a drop of mercy, while Lazarus is being comforted.

Luke 1:46-53 “And Mary said, my soul doth magnify the Lord. 47And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. 48For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. 49For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. 50And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. 51He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. 52He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. 53He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.”

1 Sam 2:1-5 "And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation. 2There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God. 3Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. 4The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength. 5They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; and they that were hungry ceased: so that the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble."

Matt 5:6 "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled."

Luke 6:25 "Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep."

Mat 4:4 “But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”

Luke 16:25 “But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.”

• Peace and Mercy upon the Israel of God - Often believers are referred to as spiritual “Israel” in the New Testament – that is, those who are the beneficiaries of God’s incomprehensible mercy and forgiveness. We learn from Gal 3:29 that all true believers [God's Elect from both Jews and Gentiles] are “Abraham’s seed” forever and throughout the Bible we always find God communicating to man by means of His Word.

Luke 1:46-54 “And Mary said, my soul doth magnify the Lord. 47And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. 48For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. 49For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. 50And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. 51He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. 52He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. 53He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. 54He hath helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy 55As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.”

Heb 1:1-2 “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;”

Rom 9:6-8 "Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: 7Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. 8That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed."

Heb 8:12 “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.”

Gal 6:16 "And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God."

Gal 3:29 “And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

Hannah's Prayer - God Faithfully Cares for His Own

• God Faithfully Cares for His Own - In Psalm 121 we see God’s faithfulness in caring for His sheep – the flock He has chosen and redeemed for Himself for His Own glory. God’s providential care is also expressed in the New Testament in Php 1. And Rom 8 assures the true child of God that absolutely nothing can separate him from the love of His Savior.

1 Sam 2:1-10 "And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation. 2There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God. 3Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. 4The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength. 5They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; and they that were hungry ceased: so that the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble. 6The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up. 7The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up. 8He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD's, and he hath set the world upon them. 9He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail. 10The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the LORD shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed."

Psa 121:1-8 "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. 2My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. 3He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. 4Behold, he that keepeth Israel [typifying God's Elect] shall neither slumber nor sleep. 5The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. 6The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. 7The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. 8The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore."

Psa 66:8-9 “O bless our God, ye people, and make the voice of his praise to be heard: Which holdeth our soul in life, and suffereth not our feet to bemoved.”

Psa 17:5 “Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not.”

Php 1:6 “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ…”

Rom 8:38-39 “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Jude 1:24-25 “Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.”

• God’s Enemies Will Be Punished - Sadly, all who remain in their sins will be eternally damned. Judgment Day is very near. We are but one step away from the end of this present universe and time as we know it. Rev 20 outlines the unimaginable horror that awaits those who will be summoned to the bar of God’s eternal justice.

Psa 31:17 “Let me not be ashamed, O LORD; for I have called upon thee: let the wicked be ashamed, and let them be silent in the grave.”

1 Pet 4:17 “For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God [churches and congregations] : and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?”

Psa 50:4 “He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people.”

Rev 20:11-15 “And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”

• Christ Alone Will Be Exalted

1 Sam 2:1-10 "And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation. 2There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God. 3Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. 4The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength. 5They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; and they that were hungry ceased: so that the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble. 6The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up. 7The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up. 8He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD's, and he hath set the world upon them. 9He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail. 10The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the LORD shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his king [Lord Jesus Christ], and exalt the horn of his anointed."

1 Sam 2:35 “And I will raise me up a faithful priest [Lord Jesus Christ], that shall do according to that which is in mine heart and in my mind: and I will build him a sure house [Eternal and invisible Church, who are born of Spirit]; and he shall walk before mine anointed for ever.”

Heb 2:17 “Wherefore in all things it behoved him [Jesus Christ] to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.”

Heb 7:26 “For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens.”

Isa 52:13 “Behold, my servant [Jesus Christ] shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high.”

Php 2:5-11 “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Hannah's Prayer - Blessed are the Poor in Spirit

• God is in Control - As we have been examining Hannah’s prayer I am again reminded (and I need to be) of how God is in charge and thoroughly acquainted with all that you and I are experiencing, if we are indeed a child of God. Moreover, we can constantly approach His throne of grace when we are anxious or troubled about anything. Notice that this is precisely what Hannah did in 1 Samuel chapter 1. As we have seen in chapter 2, her heart is overflowing with heartfelt adoration and gratitude to God for His tender kindness in answering her prayer. Job 1 teaches us the perspective that we are to maintain during our earthly sojourn. Psa 75 declares the attitude the believer is to exhibit.

1 Sam 2:1-7 "And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation. 2There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God. 3Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. 4The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength. 5They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; and they that were hungry ceased: so that the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble. 6The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up. 7The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up."

Php 4:6-8 “Be careful [anxious] for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Job 1:21 “Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.”

Psa 75:5-7“Lift not up your horn on high: speak not with a stiff neck. For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.”

• A Picture of Mankind’s Sin - In these verses God is also speaking spiritually as the expressions “making poor” and “bringing low” refer to God’s humbling a person by convicting him of sin and its consequences of eternal damnation and also revealing his need for a Savior. Luke 18 describes the heart attitude of one who has already been humbled (or saved) by God. Those who are spiritually poor recognize their spiritual poverty [with broken and contrite hearts] and deadness as typified by the references to “the dust” as well as “the dunghill”.

1 Sam 2:1-7 "And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation. 2There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God. 3Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. 4The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength. 5They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; and they that were hungry ceased: so that the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble. 6The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up. 7The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up. 28He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD’S, and he hath set the world upon them"

Ezra 9:6 “And said, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God: for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens.”

Matt 5:3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

Luke 18:13-14 “And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”

1 Pet 5:6-7 “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”

Psa 119:25 “My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me according to thy word.”

• God Alone Provides Salvation - In this seemingly hopeless condition, God grants salvation – the gift of His grace. The phrase “thou that liftest me up” like the word “raiseth” refers to the resurrection of one’s soul. In considering that salvation is ALL the work of Christ, we would do well to remember the words of 2 Cor 8:9. Bear in mind that the poverty in view here is not financial but spiritual. It has everything to do with the fact that Christ had to become sin and suffer Hell in order to ransom His people from eternal damnation in order to secure their salvation, which is to “inherit glory” .

Psa 9:13 “Have mercy upon me, O LORD; consider my trouble which I suffer of them that hate me, thou that liftest me up from the gates of death.”

Psa 61:2 “From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.”

Psa 27:5 “For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock .”

2 Cor 8:9 “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.”

Rev 1:5-6 "And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 6And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen."

Hannah's Prayer - Barren vs Fruitful

• Full versus Hungry - Throughout the Bible one encounters apparent paradoxes that reveal God’s dealings both with His people and the unsaved. These are the only two categories that God divides the human race into, saved and unsaved. Those who are physically nourished are actually spiritually famished; whereas those who were physically famished are sustained by God’s Word, the Bread of Life. The parable of the rich man and the beggar in Luke 16 is another vivid portrait of the dichotomy between the spiritual nature of the Gospel as contrasted with the physical necessities of life.

1 Sam 2:1-5 "And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation. 2There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God. 3Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. 4The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength. 5They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; and they that were hungry ceased: so that the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble."

Mat 4:4 “But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”

Psa 34:10 “The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.”

Luke 1:53 “He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.”

Luke 16:25 “But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.”

• Barren versus Fruitful - The inability to have children was a very difficult burden to bear in biblical times, as we learn from 1 Sam 1. Such was also the case with Sarah and Hagar in Gen 16.

1 Sam 2:1-5 "And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation. 2There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God. 3Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. 4The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength. 5They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; and they that were hungry ceased: so that the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble."

1 Sam 1:6 “And her [that is Hannah’s] adversary [the other wife, whose name was Peninnah] also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb.”

Gen 16:1-4 “Now Sarai Abram’s wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar. And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai. And Sarai Abram’s wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife. And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.”

Psa 113:9 “He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the LORD.”

• Barren typifies God's Elect for who Christ was given - Psa 113:9, as well as the previous verses we have just considered, are highlighting the fact that salvation is a miracle which God alone performs – typified by the birth of a child to one who is infertile. We see how God blesses those who were incapable "his [Abraham] own body now dead", "the deadness of Sara’s womb", with the miraculous birth of Isaac [typifying Christ] in Rom 4. Isa 54 pictures the “ barren woman” – that is, typifying historically the nation of Israel, through whom Christ would come and typifying spiritually the body of true believers, for whom Christ would come.

Rom 4:19 “And being not weak in faith, he [Abraham] considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara’s womb:”

Isa 54:1-5 "Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the LORD. 2Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes; 3For thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited. 4Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed: neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame: for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more. 5For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer [Jesus] the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called."

Gal 4:22-31 "For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. 23But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. 24Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. 25For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. 26But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. 27For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband. 28Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. 29But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. 30Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. 31So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free."

Heb 11:17-19 "By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 18Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: 19Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure [Isaac is the figure of Christ]."

Gal 3:16 "Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ."

• Death versus Resurrection - It is an undeniable fact that God alone retains the power of physical life and death, but have you stopped to think that His eternal power also extends to spiritual life and death? One of the clearest pictures of this is found in the account of the raising of Lazarus who was physically dead in John 11. This is a beautiful picture of man’s spiritual deadness and the power of God’s Word to resurrect their dead souls.

1 Sam 2:1-6 "And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation. 2There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God. 3Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. 4The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength. 5They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; and they that were hungry ceased: so that the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble. 6The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up.”

John 11:25-26 “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?”

John 11:32-44 “Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled, And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see. Jesus wept. Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him! And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died? Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it. Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days. Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God? Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me. And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.”

Luke 4:18-19 "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me [Lord Jesus Christ] , because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, 19To preach the acceptable year of the Lord."

Eph 2:5 "Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened [made us alive] us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)"

Hannah's Prayer - God gives Grace to Humble

• Pride and Arrogance are Dangerous - Pride is the root of all sin, and the one that God especially despises. Pride starts in the heart, and then travels to the mouth, and eventually, manifests itself in the life.

1 Sam 2:1-3 "And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation. 2There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God. 3Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed."

Pro 8:13 “The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.”

Pro 6:16-19 “These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.”

1 John 2:16 “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.”

• God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble.

1 Pet 5:5-7 "Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. 6Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you."

Jam 4:6“But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.”

Psa 138:6 “Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off.”

Psa 34:18 “The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.”

• God is the Judge - Man foolishly thinks that God is somehow unconcerned about what mankind does, but nothing could be further from the truth.

1 Sam 2:1-3 "And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation. 2There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God. 3Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed."

Psa 50:16-22 “But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth? Seeing thou hatest instruction, and castest my words behind thee. When thou sawest a thief, then thou consentedst with him, and hast been partaker with adulterers. Thou givest thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue frameth deceit. Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother; thou slanderest thine own mother’s son. These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes. Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver.”

Psa 44:21 “Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart.”

Psa 139:1-6 “O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether. Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.”

Pro 21:2 “Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.”

Pro 24:12 “If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?”

• The Results of Pride and Humility - We live in a universe of cause and effect that God has established by His Word. Not only is that true in a physical sense, its spiritual ramifications are devastating. How does God resist the proud? By abasing them, which ultimately has to do with eternal damnation. Rev 20 depicts the divine appointment that all who do not have a Savior must keep.

1 Sam 2:1-4 "And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation. 2There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God. 3Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. 4The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength."

Mat 23:12 “And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.”

Pro 3:34 “Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly.”

Jam 4:6 “But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.”

Pro 29:23 “A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.”

Deu 32:22 “For a fire is kindled in mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest hell, and shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire the foundations of the mountains.”

Matt 10:28 "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell."

Rev 20:12-13 “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.”

Hannah's Prayer - An Answer to Prayer

• Pouring out our heart to God - In the Book of 1 Samuel, we are introduced to Hannah (whose name means “grace”). She was one of the two wives of Elkanah (whose name signifies “God has bought”), and she was distraught because she was childless. In 1 Sam 1 we find her in the temple praying and pouring out her heart for a baby boy. We also see this heartfelt communication of Lord Jesus with the Father in Heb 5.

1 Sam 1:10-11 "And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore. 11And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head."

Heb 5:7-9 “Who [Lord Jesus Christ] in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;”

Psa 88:1 “O LORD God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before thee: Let my prayer come before thee: incline thine ear unto my cry.”

Psa 73:25 “Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.”

• The Spirit itself helps us to pray according to the will of God - The indwelling Spirit of God in the child of God helps and makes intercession for them according to the will of God. Eli, the priest, thought Hannah was intoxicated because she was moving her lips without uttering a sound. She explained the reason for her sadness.

1 Sam 1:12-15 "And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli marked her mouth. 13Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken. 14And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee. 15And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD."

Rom 8:26-27 “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”

• An Answer to Prayer - Then, by God’s mercy, her prayer was answered. After weaning the child (which occurred several years later) she fulfilled her vow to God.

1 Sam 1:17 “Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him.”


1 Sam 1:20 “Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the LORD.”


1 Sam 1:25-28 "… And brought the child to Eli. And she said, Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the LORD. For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him: Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there.”

• Speaking from the Heart - Her prayer is filled with praise and adoration for God and His magnificent salvation. The first phrase “My heart rejoiceth in the LORD…” sets the tone of what follows throughout. The Psalms are filled with similar expressions of heartfelt worship. In the second phrase “mine horn is exalted in the LORD…” the word “horn” represents God’s power, or strength, and is used in Habakkuk’s prayer in Hab 3.

1 Sam 2:1 "And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation."

Psa 9:2 “I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High.”


Psa 68:3 “But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice.”


Psa 5:11 “But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.”


Hab 3:1-4 “A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet upon Shigionoth. O LORD, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O LORD, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy. God came from Teman, and the Holy One from mount Paran. Selah. His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full of his praise. And his brightness was as the light; he had horns coming out of his hand: and there was the hiding of his power.”

• The Joy of Salvation - The other element in the first two verses of Hannah’s prayer is the joy that all believers must express to their Heavenly Father for His incomprehensible kindness and grace on their behalf “my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation…”. In the final sense, the true Christian has been delivered from his greatest enemy – God, and His Law Book (the Bible). God’s Law is what condemns people to eternal Hell, which is the just reward for having committed even one sin. The Bible also maintains that prior to salvation all of God’s elect have been spiritually incarcerated by Satan, who is their spiritual father. Isa 25:9 manifests God’s miraculous salvation.

1 Sam 2:1 "And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation."

Eph 2:14-16 “For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:”

Jam 2:10 “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.”

Isa 42:7 "To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.”

Isa 25:9 “And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.”

• True Stability - The next characteristic Hannah mentions in her prayer is the uniqueness of the Triune God, “There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.”

1 Sam 2:1-2 "And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation. 2There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God."

Isa 54:5 “For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.”

Hos 13:4 “Yet I am the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt, and thou shalt know no god but me: for there is no saviour beside me.”

Deu 32:18 “Of the Rock that begat thee thou art unmindful, and hast forgotten God that formed thee.”

1 Cor 10:3-4 "And did all eat the same spiritual meat; 4And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ."

Psa 18:2 "The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower."