Hannah's Prayer

1 Then Hannah prayed and said:
"My heart rejoices in the LORD;
in the LORD my horn is lifted high.
My mouth boasts over my enemies,
for I delight in your deliverance.

2 "There is no one holy like the LORD;
there is no one besides you;
there is no Rock like our God.

3 "Do not keep talking so proudly
or let your mouth speak such arrogance,
for the LORD is a God who knows,
and by him deeds are weighed.

4 "The bows of the warriors are broken,
but those who stumbled are armed with strength.

5 Those who were full hire themselves out for food,
but those who were hungry hunger no more.
She who was barren has borne seven children,
but she who has had many sons pines away.

6 "The LORD brings death and makes alive;
he brings down to the grave and raises up.
7 The LORD sends poverty and wealth;
he humbles and he exalts.
8 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 honor.

"For the foundations of the earth are the LORD's;
upon them he has set the world.
9 He will guard the feet of his saints,
but the wicked will be silenced in darkness.

"It is not by strength that one prevails;
10 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 his king
and exalt the horn of his anointed."

[abstract from a book I'm reading]

From the first highlight, God is holy--an absence of evil. And also a presence of positive right. It is God at work doing what is positively right for us. It is the part of God's nature that keeps Him from doing anything in our lives that is not in our best interest. His love is a holy love, a pure love, committed to our best good.

From the second highlight, the Lord is a God of knowledge. His perfect knowledge keeps Him from doing anything in our lives that is not perfectly right for us. God does not waste His strokes in our lives. God knows what is best for us. No trial and error. No foul balls or strikeouts. The Lord is a God of knowledge. That gives us confidence in His actions in our lives.

From the third highlight, God has power. The Lord of Creation has all power. He can do whatever He wants to do. That fact, without the first two facts, might terrify us. But God tempers His power with His commitment to our welfare. He controls His power with His knowledge of what is best for us.

God is not finite. God is not fallible. He not only wants what is best for us and knows with perfect knowledge what is best, He also has the power to make the best happen in our lives. God's holy commitment to us, God's knowledge of what is best for us and God's power to make the right things happen in our lives are all linked together for our good.

This reminds me of Romans 8:28-29. I thank God for showing me this passage and this insight.

So God, I commit all my fears, insecurities, concerns and worries to you. You know what is best for me, you know it with full knowledge. And in your mighty power, you will make my best interests come to pass. Trusting in your holy love, I know you will do it for the good of those who love you and are called according to your purpose. Every joy and tribulation. Every obstacles and trials. Every dilemma and crossroads. I thank you for each one that I've been through. And I have full assurance in you for each one to come.