Theme songs are standard in many major movies today (the backdrop to the whole story, played louder at key moments). Sometimes the Bible gives us songs or prayers recording a mighty victory/deliverance for God’s people.
Such is the case in the account of Hannah and the birth of Samuel. When Hannah handed Samuel, her only child, over to serve the Lord, there’s no record of sadness as would be natural. Instead, Hannah rejoices with powerful prophetic worship of the Lord (the theme music to Samuel’s life story). On her last visit to the Tabernacle she’d been saddened at having no son, now she rejoiced at God’s goodness.
My heart rejoices in the Lord; in the Lord my horn(strength) is lifted high. My mouth boasts over my enemies, for I delight in your deliverance. 1 Samuel 2:1
Hannah begins with personal worship at what God has done for her. She goes on to say there’s no one like God!
There is no one holy like the Lord; there is no one besides You; there is no Rock like our God. 1 Samuel 2:2
Then a warning to the proud and arrogant that, ‘God is a God who knows and weighs deeds’. 1 Samuel 2:3
Her song/speech continues with three reversals by God; warriors weapons broken and the weak strengthened. The full are hungry and the hungry satisfied. Finally, the barren have plenty of children and ‘she who has had many sons pines away’, perhaps her rival.
Then three more authoritative statements about God’s interventions in the affairs of men;
The Lord brings death and makes alive; he brings down to the grave AND raises up. The Lord sends poverty AND wealth; he humbles AND he exalts. He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes and has them inherit a throne of honour. 1 Samuel 2:6, 7, 8
The earth is the Lord’s, all authority is His and He distinguishes between His saints and the wicked.
He will guard the feet of his saints, but the wicked will be silenced in darkness. 1 Samuel 2:8, 9
It is not by strength that one prevails; those who oppose the Lord will be shattered. He will thunder against them from heaven; the Lord will judge the ends of the Earth. He will give strength to the king and exalt the horn of his anointed. 1 Samuel 2:9, 10, 11
Hannah rejoices and praises God for His goodness to her, but reminds us that in the end all power and authority are His. New Testament believers need to remember we’ve been given authority to rule here for Him.
Hannah had a song in her life after she gave up what was most dear to God. We need such a theme of worship as the music behind our story. May God bless us with such a worship song as the backdrop to our lives.
God bless and keep you today.