4. (7-10) Hannah's confidence in the future is really confidence in the LORD.
He raises the poor from the dust
And lifts the beggar from the ash heap,
To set them among princes
And make them inherit the throne of glory."
And lifts the beggar from the ash heap,
To set them among princes
And make them inherit the throne of glory."
And He has set the world upon them.
He will guard the feet of His saints,
But the wicked shall be silent in darkness.
For by strength no man shall prevail.
The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken in pieces;
From heaven He will thunder against them.
The LORD will judge the ends of the earth.
He will give strength to His king,
And exalt the horn of His anointed."
He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the beggar from the ash heap: "To sit in the dust" or "in the ash heaps" are Oriental figures for a condition of extreme degradation and misery derived from the common practice observed by mourners. "O daughter of my people, put on sakcloth and roll in ashes; mourn as for an only son, a lamentation most bitter. For suddenly the destroyer will come upon us" (Jeremiah 6:26). "Those who ate delicacies are destitute in the street. Those brought up in royal purple now lie on ash heaps" (Lamentations 4:5).
To set them among princes and make them inherit the throne of glory: To share the company of princes and occupy a throne of glory are metaphors for advancement and prosperity. "He does not withdraw His eyes from the righteous; but with kings on the throne He has seated them forever, and they are exalted" (Job 36:7).
For the pillars of the earth are the LORD's: The "pillars of the earth" are the foundations which God created and upholds; He sustains the earth and all its inhabitants, as a building is supported with its pillars. The earth being founded and supported by the LORD, it is no mystery that all the inhabitants of it are in his power, so that he can dispose of them as He please. "It is God who removes the mountains, they know not how, when He overturns them in His anger; who shakes the earth out of its place, and its pillars tremble" (Job 9:6). "The earth and all who dwell in it melt; it is I who have firmly set its pillars" (Psalm 75:3).
He will guard the feet of His saints, but the wicked shall be silent in darkness: It is God who guards His chosen ones from stumbling in their walk through life. "For You have delivered my soul from death, indeed my feet from stumbling, so that I may walk before God in the light of the living" (Psalm 56:13). It is God who leaves the wicked to perish miserably. "The way of the wicked is like darkness; they do not know over what they stumble" (Proverbs 4:19). "Let me not be put to shame, O LORD, for I call upon You; let the wicked be put to shame, let them be silent in Sheol" (Psalm 31:17).
(Side note: The word translated here as "His saints" is derived from the Hebrew word "chaciyd" which means pious--one loving disposed toward God. It is also translated as "His beloved" or "His chosen". It is used in a different sense then when the word "saint" is used in the New Testament. (The word "saint" in the New Testament is derived from the Greek word "hagiazo" which means to be set apart, consecrated to God or to make holy.)
For by strength no man shall prevail: A hard lesson for many of us, God does not need our strength to accomplish His will, and He often uses the weak and powerless. "God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are" (1 Corinthians 1:27-28). Furthermore, it is only by God that we prevail. "Then he said to me, 'This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel saying, "Not by might not by power, but by My spirit," says the LORD of hosts'" (Zechariah 4:6).
The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken in pieces: The literal translation of this verse from the Hebrew is as follows: "God--they shall be broken in pieces, whosoever it be that contends with Him." The word "contends" having reference to contentions in a court of law, and the whole verse keeping the administration of justice in view.
From heaven He will thunder against them: God seated on His throne in heaven, shall, as the supreme Judge, utter the sentence. Thunder is often represented in the Old Testament as a synonym for God's voice. "The voice of the LORD is upon the waters; the God of glory thunders, the LORD is over many waters. The voice of the LORD is powerful, the voice of the LORD is majestic" (Psalm 29:3-4).
To set them among princes and make them inherit the throne of glory: To share the company of princes and occupy a throne of glory are metaphors for advancement and prosperity. "He does not withdraw His eyes from the righteous; but with kings on the throne He has seated them forever, and they are exalted" (Job 36:7).
For the pillars of the earth are the LORD's: The "pillars of the earth" are the foundations which God created and upholds; He sustains the earth and all its inhabitants, as a building is supported with its pillars. The earth being founded and supported by the LORD, it is no mystery that all the inhabitants of it are in his power, so that he can dispose of them as He please. "It is God who removes the mountains, they know not how, when He overturns them in His anger; who shakes the earth out of its place, and its pillars tremble" (Job 9:6). "The earth and all who dwell in it melt; it is I who have firmly set its pillars" (Psalm 75:3).
He will guard the feet of His saints, but the wicked shall be silent in darkness: It is God who guards His chosen ones from stumbling in their walk through life. "For You have delivered my soul from death, indeed my feet from stumbling, so that I may walk before God in the light of the living" (Psalm 56:13). It is God who leaves the wicked to perish miserably. "The way of the wicked is like darkness; they do not know over what they stumble" (Proverbs 4:19). "Let me not be put to shame, O LORD, for I call upon You; let the wicked be put to shame, let them be silent in Sheol" (Psalm 31:17).
(Side note: The word translated here as "His saints" is derived from the Hebrew word "chaciyd" which means pious--one loving disposed toward God. It is also translated as "His beloved" or "His chosen". It is used in a different sense then when the word "saint" is used in the New Testament. (The word "saint" in the New Testament is derived from the Greek word "hagiazo" which means to be set apart, consecrated to God or to make holy.)
For by strength no man shall prevail: A hard lesson for many of us, God does not need our strength to accomplish His will, and He often uses the weak and powerless. "God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are" (1 Corinthians 1:27-28). Furthermore, it is only by God that we prevail. "Then he said to me, 'This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel saying, "Not by might not by power, but by My spirit," says the LORD of hosts'" (Zechariah 4:6).
The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken in pieces: The literal translation of this verse from the Hebrew is as follows: "God--they shall be broken in pieces, whosoever it be that contends with Him." The word "contends" having reference to contentions in a court of law, and the whole verse keeping the administration of justice in view.
From heaven He will thunder against them: God seated on His throne in heaven, shall, as the supreme Judge, utter the sentence. Thunder is often represented in the Old Testament as a synonym for God's voice. "The voice of the LORD is upon the waters; the God of glory thunders, the LORD is over many waters. The voice of the LORD is powerful, the voice of the LORD is majestic" (Psalm 29:3-4).
God uses His power to set things right: For by strength no man shall prevail. The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken in pieces. It isn't enough for us to believe God has this power; we must know He will use it for His glory and righteousness.
He will give strength to His king, and exalt the horn of His anointed: At this time, Israel did not have a king. So when Hannah speaks of His king, she is prophesying that Israel would have a king. It is also looking ahead to the Messiah, who will finally set all wrongs right. His anointed in this verse is the Hebrew word "Mashiach". Although "Mashiach means "His anointed", we usually translate the word as "Messiah". "Mashiach" translated into Greek is "Cristo". In English, we transliterate "Cristo" into the word "Christ". This is the first place in the Bible where the word "Messiah" is used. Hannah was the first person to apply to Jesus the remarkable name MESSIAH, which was adopted by David, Nathan, Ethan, Isaiah, Daniel, and the succeeding prophets of the Old Testament; and by the apostles and inspired writers of the New Testament.
In summary, Hannah's song is echoed throughout the Bible, with the theme of humbling yourself before the LORD so that He can lift you up (James 4:10). Everything comes from God; he has the power to lift you up and to set you in the midst of turbulent trials. It is interesting to note that Psalm 75 draws many parallels to Hannah's prayer. What a blessing it is that when God has something to say, He repeats it many times over so that we have many chances to understand Him and grow in our relationship with Him.
5. (1Sa 2:11) Samuel ministers unto the LORD.
Then Elkanah went to his house at Ramah. But the child ministered to the LORD before Eli the priest.
Then Elkanah went: After he had offered the sacrifice at the feast, worshiped the LORD and Hannah had delivered her song of praise, they left Samuel in the care of Eli. They did it. It was hard to do, to leave this little son behind, but they did it because they promised God that is what they would do.
But the child ministered to LORD before Eli the priest: Young as he was, Samuel started ministering to the LORD. Samuel's duties were probably very light--opening and closing the doors of the tabernacle, singing songs of praise, possibly playing a musical instrument and other such tasks. As he grew up, Samuel's tasks most likely increased to more vigorous skills such as chopping wood for the altar, trimming the wicks of the candles in the lampstand and possibly baking the bread for the table of shewbread. The word "minister" is used in Scripture to note the duties performed by Levites to aid the priests in the service before the LORD. The Living Bible translates it well: And the child became the Lord's helper. There are ways that even children can serve God and minister to Him.
B. The wicked sons of Eli, the high priest.
1. (1Sa
2:12) The evil character of the sons of Eli.
Now the sons of
Eli were corrupt; they did not know the LORD.
The sons of Eli were corrupt:
Literally, the Hebrew calls them "sons of Belial". The phrase sons of Belial refers to worthless, wicked
men--careless and irreligious, and scandalous in their habits. This was a significant problem, because the sons of Eli were to
succeed him as high priest, and were already functioning in the priesthood.
They did not know the LORD:
Even though their father Eli knew the LORD, that knowledge was not passed on to the sons of Eli. They had to know the LORD for themselves. Not knowing God, meant Eli's sons were ignorant of God and His laws. Unfortunately, this commonly happens today as well as in Israel's pass. "All that generation also were gathered to their fathers; and there arose another generation after them which did not know the LORD, nor yet the work which He had done for Israel" (Judges 2:10).
It can be a difficult thing for a
child to come to a true, genuine knowledge of the LORD when they have grown up
in a Christian home. They just kind of assume they know the LORD because mom
and dad do. But young people need to have a passionate commitment to knowing
the LORD for themselves. And knowing about the LORD isn't enough; we
must know Him ourselves, in a personal relationship.
2. (1Sa 2:13-17) Their first offense: stealing what
was offered to God.
And the priests'
custom with the people was that when any man offered a sacrifice, the
priest's servant would come with a three-pronged fleshhook in his hand while
the meat was boiling. Then he would thrust it into the pan, or kettle,
or caldron, or pot; and the priest would take for himself all that the
fleshhook brought up. So they did in Shiloh to all the Israelites who came
there. Also, before they burned the fat, the priest's servant would come and
say to the man who sacrificed, "Give meat for roasting to the priest, for
he will not take boiled meat from you, but raw." And if the man
said to him, "They should really burn the fat first; then you may
take as much as your heart desires," he would then answer him,
"No, but you must give it now; and if not, I will take it
by force." Therefore the sin of the young men was very great before the
LORD, for men abhorred the offering of the LORD.
The priests' custom with the people: The law governing the peace and thanksgiving sacrifices directed the worshiper to present the priest the fat of the animal along with the breast and right shoulder (Leviticus 7:29-34). The fat was burned on the altar and was God's portion (Leviticus 3:3-5). The blood of the animal was sprinkled around the altar (Leviticus 3:8). The breast of the animal was offered up as a wave offering and belonged to priests and their sons (Leviticus 7:34). The right shoulder was given to the priest who offers the blood and fat from the animal (Leviticus 7:33). The rest of the animal offered as a peace or thanksgiving sacrifice belonged to the worshiper. But now, some four hundred years after the law of Moses was given, the priestly custom had changed - they would not take the prescribed portion of the breast and shoulder, but take whatever the fork brought up out of the pot.
The priest's servant would come: Although Hophni and Phinehas were the ones disobeying God's commands, they used a servant to carry out the sin against God. Eli's sons were not the ones directly threatening or using violence against the worshipers, but they are the ones who instigated all these new customs against God. It is as if Hophni and Phinehas think they can get away with the sin as long as they do not directly do the sin. How often are we guilty of this? It reminds me of Pontius Pilate washing his hands of Jesus' death. "When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but that instead a riot was breaking out, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd. 'I am innocent of this man's [Jesus'] blood,' he said. 'You shall bear the responsibility'" (Matthew 27:24). If we commit the sin, commission someone else to commit the sin or do nothing to prevent a sin from occurring, ultimately we are responsible for that sin. And we will be held accountable before Christ. "We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad" (2 Corinthians 5:10).
While the meat was boiling: The Lord's part of the peace and thanksgiving offerings was burned upon the altar. The priest's and worshiper's portions were boiled.
The priest would take for himself all that the fleshhook brought up: This was the new custom, Not content with the breast and right shoulder which were allotted to the priest by God (Exodus 29:27-28, Leviticus 7:31), the priests took part of the worshiper's share. Additionally, the meat was taken before it could be presented as a wave offering before the LORD, which is contrary to the law given in Leviticus 7:34.
So they did in Shiloh to all the Israelites who came there: Well, at least Hophni and Phinehas were fair. They did not discriminate against the rich or poor, men of high social status or low. They committed these trespasses to everyone who came to Shiloh to offer their sacrifices.
Before they burned the fat: The fat was not to be taken or eaten by anyone. It was God's portion which was to be burned by the priest on the altar (Leviticus 3:3,4,9,16, 7:23, 7:25, 7:30-31). The fat was thought to be the most luxurious, the best part of the animal, so that was given to God. The idea was that God should always get the best, and God should get His portion first. But in their pride, the sons of Eli took their portion before they burned the fat. Thus, they were robbing God and profaning the entire ceremony.
The priest's servant would come: Although Hophni and Phinehas were the ones disobeying God's commands, they used a servant to carry out the sin against God. Eli's sons were not the ones directly threatening or using violence against the worshipers, but they are the ones who instigated all these new customs against God. It is as if Hophni and Phinehas think they can get away with the sin as long as they do not directly do the sin. How often are we guilty of this? It reminds me of Pontius Pilate washing his hands of Jesus' death. "When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but that instead a riot was breaking out, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd. 'I am innocent of this man's [Jesus'] blood,' he said. 'You shall bear the responsibility'" (Matthew 27:24). If we commit the sin, commission someone else to commit the sin or do nothing to prevent a sin from occurring, ultimately we are responsible for that sin. And we will be held accountable before Christ. "We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad" (2 Corinthians 5:10).
While the meat was boiling: The Lord's part of the peace and thanksgiving offerings was burned upon the altar. The priest's and worshiper's portions were boiled.
The priest would take for himself all that the fleshhook brought up: This was the new custom, Not content with the breast and right shoulder which were allotted to the priest by God (Exodus 29:27-28, Leviticus 7:31), the priests took part of the worshiper's share. Additionally, the meat was taken before it could be presented as a wave offering before the LORD, which is contrary to the law given in Leviticus 7:34.
So they did in Shiloh to all the Israelites who came there: Well, at least Hophni and Phinehas were fair. They did not discriminate against the rich or poor, men of high social status or low. They committed these trespasses to everyone who came to Shiloh to offer their sacrifices.
Before they burned the fat: The fat was not to be taken or eaten by anyone. It was God's portion which was to be burned by the priest on the altar (Leviticus 3:3,4,9,16, 7:23, 7:25, 7:30-31). The fat was thought to be the most luxurious, the best part of the animal, so that was given to God. The idea was that God should always get the best, and God should get His portion first. But in their pride, the sons of Eli took their portion before they burned the fat. Thus, they were robbing God and profaning the entire ceremony.
He will not take boiled meat from
you, but raw: Why did the sons of Eli want raw
meat? Perhaps it was so they could prepare it anyway they pleased. Or more
likely, it was because raw meat was easier to sell. They could sell the meat and keep the profits for their own use.
No, but you must give it to me now;
and if not, I will take it by force:
The greed of Eli's sons was so great, they did not hesitate to use violence and
the threat of violence to get what they wanted.
The sin of the young men was very great before the LORD: It is such a pity that these men were in the midst of so much sin, and yet, their father did not deter them from their crimes. Like all great sin, things probably started off small. Perhaps, the sons of Eli first started taking more than their share of the offering from a few worshipers. Then, they started taking meat from a few more folks. Soon, their sin manifested into sinning against all people and against God. How quickly sin can spread and permeate so many aspects of our lives including our friends and family. There is no such thing as a private sin; all sin affects others and causes harm to those around us. "'But as for you, you have turned aside from the way; you have caused many to stumble by the instruction; you have corrupted the covenant of Levi,' says the LORD of hosts. 'So I also have made you despised and abased before all people, just a you are not keeping My ways but are showing partiality in the instruction'" (Malachi 2:8-9).
For men abhorred the offering of the
LORD: The greatness of the sin of Eli's
sons was that they caused the worshipers to despise the practice of offering sacrifices to God. Hophni and Phinehas were turning people away from God by their evil and corrupt practices. How very sad; yet, how often does this happen in our own churches? Perhaps it is a greedy church official who steals the offerings to finance his personal life. Or it is a nosy church member who flippantly remarks at your contribution to a church project, "Is that all you are going to give?" It is so easy to allow other people's actions taint our relationship with Jesus. We must be vigilant to build up the church and not tear it down. We must hold fast to the words of Paul: "Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for the edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you" (Ephesians 4:29, 31-32).
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