The Comparison

 DEVOTION

1 SAMUEL

THE COMPARISON

1 Sam 2:4-5

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.

NIV

One more Stanza of the song of Hannah, which has many prophetic statements. This is thought by some to be against various armies, such as the Philistines, Nebuchadnezzar, the Greeks, and enemies of the Messiah. Whether that is true or not, we cannot find a particular fulfillment, although there are some general fulfillments of the fall of some of those, and others, the scholar of old has thought. Still, when we consider these words, we see some comparisons. The strong are broken, while the weak are given strength. Those who labor diligently for the substances of life find themselves slaves to their needs, while those who hunger for God are hungry no more, for he supplies every need. Then the comparison between herself and Peninnah. The strong may represent those who are in the world, or even those in the assembly of the righteous who look to their own strength, and are proud of their success and accomplishments. They will find the Lord is not pleased with their pridefulness, and a fall is their future, a broken bow. However, the Lord lifts up those who stumble or the humble who have no bows, no pride, no self-righteousness, or strength. Those who seek only the righteousness of God, Jesus, will find strength in Him to do all that He calls them to do, as the Spirit will empower them in many ways. This is exactly what happened between Peninnah and Hannah when Peninnah had all those sons and Hannah was barren, going before the LORD with a broken and humble heart. She was lifted up and bore a man of God, a prophet, who performed many miracles by the power of God. What we learn from this stanza is to remain humble before the Lord, singing from within, “It is the cry of my heart to follow you, Lord, and to be close to you". We learn here to always seek His righteousness first, knowing he is all we need. Alone, we are weak, but Jesus has sent us the Holy Spirit to empower us just as the LORD did for Samuel. Let us constantly rely on the Lord and the Spirit, and we will see what the Lord has done.