Topical Bible: Samuel: His Mother's Song of Thanksgiving

◄ Samuel: His Mother's Song of Thanksgiving ►

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Topical Encyclopedia

The Song of Thanksgiving by Hannah, the mother of Samuel, is a profound expression of gratitude and praise to God, found in 1 Samuel 2:1-10. This song is a significant piece of biblical literature, reflecting themes of divine sovereignty, justice, and reversal of human fortunes. It is often compared to the Magnificat, the song of Mary in the New Testament, due to its similar themes and structure.

Context and Background

Hannah, a devout woman, was initially barren, which caused her great distress and social reproach. Her heartfelt prayers and vows to the Lord at the tabernacle in Shiloh were answered when she conceived and bore a son, Samuel. In fulfillment of her vow, she dedicated Samuel to the Lord's service. Her song of thanksgiving is a response to God's gracious intervention in her life.

Textual Analysis

Hannah's song begins with a personal note of joy and triumph: "My heart rejoices in the LORD; my horn is exalted in the LORD. My mouth boasts over my enemies, for I delight in Your salvation" (1 Samuel 2:1). Here, "horn" symbolizes strength and power, indicating that Hannah's strength is renewed through God's deliverance.

The song quickly shifts from personal thanksgiving to broader theological themes. Hannah extols the uniqueness and holiness of God: "There is no one holy like the LORD. Indeed, there is no one besides You! And there is no Rock like our God" (1 Samuel 2:2). This declaration underscores the monotheistic belief central to Israel's faith.

Hannah's song also emphasizes God's justice and the reversal of human fortunes. She contrasts the mighty and the weak, the full and the hungry, the barren and the fertile, illustrating God's ability to overturn human circumstances: "The LORD brings death and gives life; He brings down to Sheol and raises up. The LORD sends poverty and wealth; He humbles and He exalts" (1 Samuel 2:6-7). This theme of reversal is a recurring motif in biblical narratives, highlighting God's sovereign control over the world.

The song concludes with a prophetic vision of God's ultimate victory and the establishment of His anointed king: "He will give strength to His king and exalt the horn of His anointed" (1 Samuel 2:10). Although Israel had no king at the time, this reference foreshadows the Davidic monarchy and, ultimately, the Messianic hope fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

Theological Significance

Hannah's song is a rich theological text that reflects the core beliefs of the Israelite faith. It acknowledges God's holiness, sovereignty, and justice, while also expressing a deep personal gratitude for His intervention. The song serves as a reminder of God's faithfulness to His people and His power to transform lives.

Hannah's experience and her song of thanksgiving have inspired countless believers throughout history. Her account is a testament to the power of prayer, the importance of faithfulness, and the joy of experiencing God's deliverance. Her song remains a powerful expression of worship and a model for believers in articulating their own gratitude and praise to God.

Nave's Topical Index

1 Samuel 2:1-10
And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoices in the LORD, my horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over my enemies; because I rejoice in your salvation.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

His Schools and Schoolmasters.
... for a time, or, as in the case of Samson, Samuel, and John ... and the boy would approach
to touch either, the mother would call ... we do, we are to do all to his glory ...
/.../meyer/john the baptist/iii his schools and schoolmasters.htm

The Annunciation of Jesus the Messiah, and the Birth of his ...
... great religious reformation of Israel under Samuel had also ... child's name was inserted,
the mother had interrupted ... and the first evidence of his restored power ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter iv the annunciation of.htm

Oration Concerning Simeon and Anna
... O holy mother of God, remember us, I say, who make our boast in ... 3006] 2 Samuel
6:14 ... of infancy, but even at that tender age to be banished from His country, and ...
/.../the writings of methodius fragments/oration concerning simeon and anna.htm

Letter xxii. To Eustochium.
... which God has created to be received with thanksgiving?" [430] And ... What have I to
do with the song of the ... 490] He had been sanctified in his mother's womb, [491 ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter xxii to eustochium.htm

Against Jovinianus.
... between abstinence from food, and its reception with thanksgiving.". ... same time we
must not forget that Samuel was a ... Hence it was that his mother made for him a ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/against jovinianus.htm

Footnotes
... along with her sister, the mother of Principal ... George Gillespie, Robert Blair, Samuel
Rutherford, James Wood ... had employed some expressions in his dictates which ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/footnotes.htm

Confessio Fidei Gallicana.
... Ruth, the first and second books of Samuel, the first and ... race, even of little children
in the mother's womb, and ... for the children of God, out of his mere free ...
/.../the creeds of the evangelical protestant churches/confessio fidei gallicana.htm

Confessio Belgica.
... of Joshua, Judges, Ruth, two books of Samuel, and two of ... to the book of Esther, the
Song of the ... deny that Christ assumed human flesh of his mother) that Christ ...
/.../schaff/the creeds of the evangelical protestant churches/confessio belgica.htm

An Exposition on the First Ten Chapters of Genesis, and Part of ...
... The like befel our first mother; wherefore though at last ... it is usual with the devil,
in his tempting of ... and so transgressed the plain command (1 Samuel 15:20 ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/an exposition on the first.htm

The Pharisee and the Publican
... law of restoring four-fold; Exodus 22:1; 2 Samuel 12:6 ... of sins, according to the
riches of his grace;" Ephesians 1. And it is requisite that the song be framed ...
/.../bunyan/the pharisee and publican/the pharisee and the publican.htm