mgpcpastor's blog

Last Sunday at mgpc our text was 1:21-2:11.
The birth of Samuel and Hannah’s prayer/song.
The episode carries dual relevance.
A woman receives her heart’s desire, a son, and then faithfully commits him to God’s service in the temple.
But, in addition, a new chapter in the progress of the history of redemption of all of God’s people is commenced.
Nowhere is this more evident than in Hannah’s prayer/song.
Her very personal praise of God’s character and purposes expresses themes which are appropriate for all of God’s people as we experience His covenant love.
In fact the prayer/song actually serves, not only as a summation of that which has happened, but as a road-map that makes sense of the rest of the narrative ahead in Samuel.
Most of you will be familiar with the theme song for the television show ‘Gilligan’s Island’. (Feel free to sing along)

Just sit right back and you’ll hear a tale, a tale of a fateful trip, That started from this tropic port, aboard this tiny ship. The mate was a mighty sailin’ man, the Skipper brave and sure. Five passengers set sail that day for a three hour tour. A three hour tour.
The weather started getting rough, the tiny ship was tossed. If not for the courage of the fearless crew, the Minnow would be lost. The Minnow would be lost. The ship set ground on the shore of this uncharted desert isle,
with Gilligan, the Skipper too, the Millionaire and his wife, the movie star, the Professor and Mary Ann, here on Gilligan’s Isle.

Over the end credits you were told what to expect from any other episodes you saw.

Now this is the tale of the castways, they’re here for a long, long time, they’ll have to make the best of things, it’s an uphill climb. The first mate and the Skipper too, will do their very best, to make the others comfortable, in the tropic island nest. No phone, no lights no motor cars, not a single luxury, like Robinson Crusoe, as primative as can be. So join us here each week my freinds, you’re sure to get a smile, from seven stranded castways, here on “Gilligan’s Isle.”

The genius of the song was that after hearing it, even if you’d never seen the show before, you were perfectly set up to understand which-ever episode you were watching.
Hannah’s prayer/song achieves the same purpose.

“My heart exults in the Lord;
my strength is exalted in the Lord.
My mouth derides my enemies,
because I rejoice in your salvation.

2 “There is none holy like the Lord;
there is none besides you;
there is no rock like our God.
3 Talk no more so very proudly,
let not arrogance come from your mouth;
for the Lord is a God of knowledge,
and by him actions are weighed.
4 The bows of the mighty are broken,
but the feeble bind on strength.
5 Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread,
but those who were hungry have ceased to hunger.
The barren has borne seven,
but she who has many children is forlorn.
6 The Lord kills and brings to life;
he brings down to Sheol and raises up.
7 The Lord makes poor and makes rich;
he brings low and he exalts.
8 He raises up the poor from the dust;
he lifts the needy from the ash heap
to make them sit with princes
and inherit a seat of honor.
For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s,
and on them he has set the world.

9 “He will guard the feet of his faithful ones,
but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness,
for not by might shall a man prevail.
10 The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces;
against them he will thunder in heaven.
The Lord will judge the ends of the earth;
he will give strength to his king
and exalt the power of his anointed.”

Over the course of the narrative a lot of high figures will get laid low, a lot of humble figures will be exalted and you might feel like asking ‘What is going on here?’
Well, every time you feel like asking that, simply refer back to Hannah’s prayer/song.
This is how God does things, and He has a King to exalt.
So, take courage and rejoice and take comfort in His power and wisdom.