The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 40

Yers. 1-10.-Tlte prayer-song of Hannali. In her prayer of asking Hannah wns intent not merely on having a child, but on giving to the service of God a priestt and to the go,ernment of Israel a judg·e, very different from the sons of Eli-a Kazarite, a second and a better Samson. No wonder, then, that when she brought her son to the sanctuary, her prayer of thanksgiving took a large scope, and revealed even a prophetic fervour. \Vhat religious poetess has made such an impression as Hannah with one ode? Reproduced in Ps. cxiii., and yet again in the song· of the blessed Virgin Mary, commonly called the Magnificat, it may be said to have continued in de,out minds, Hebrew and Gentile, for about 3000 years. The first verse is the intro- duction, and strikes the key in which all that follows is pitched-a tone of warm and grateful confidence in God. Then follow the. praises of the Lord, with some antici- pation of better days to come. I. PRAISE OF JEHOVAH (vers. 2-8). 1. Because of his sublime attributes (vers. 2, 3). "There is none hol.1J as Jehovah." The root idea of holiness is always that of separateness from what is evil or profane. The God of Israel was the Holy One, absolutely unique, immaculate, inviolate, and inviolable. None among the gods of the nations might be likened to him. So he ell.lied and required Israel to be a holy nation, i. e. separate from the nations of the world, who are idolatrous and unclean. So under the New Testament the saints are the separated ones who touch not the unclean thing. "Neither any rock like our God." His protection cannot be invaded. His purpose does not vacillate. Ria power does not fail. He is the Rock of Ages.· This was what made Israel unconquerable so long as faithful to God .. The "rocks" of the nations, i. e. the gods in whom they trusted, were not as Israel's Rock. "Je- 110vab is a God of knowledge." Let not the wicked boast proudly. No word of scorn cast at the humble, no haughty glance of the eye, is unobserved by the Lord; and nothing is more certain than that, sooner or later, he will abase the proud. 11 And by him actions are weighed." In his estimate of human conduct he holds t~e b_alances of a perfect'equity. 2. Because of his mighty works (vers. 4-8). Rulmg m holy sovereignty, God often reverses the conditions of men, lowering the exalted and exalting the lowly. He eYen kills and makes alive, leads down into Hades, ~nd leads up from it again. Sheol or Hades was no mere pit of extinction fro~ wh!ch there could be no uprising. God was able to raise even the dead. Such bemg !us power, what could the boastful effect against Jehovah? What might not the humble hope from him? This i~ the central thought of Hannah's song, and it is still more finely e:i:pressed in tliat of the ble~sed Virgin. "He hath showed strength," &c. (Luke i. OB. II, 1-10.] 'fHE }'InST BOOK 01" SAMUEL.