1 Samuel 1:2-10

Cross-references For Better Understanding a Related Topics b Additional Materials c

Summary

• God changes people's fortunes, exalting the lowly and lowering the exalted. He is the righteous judge.

Details and/or Comments

• Verses 9-10 must be taken into consideration when evaluating this passage. It's not that the people were "high" or "low," merely because of circumstances, and that God is arbitrarily opposed to people who get exalted above others. Rather, the issue centers around the whole attitude of the persons involved.

Scripture teaches us that our supreme obligation is to love God and neighbor more than one's self. A person who would rather love himself more than God and neighbor, and exalt himself above them, is wicked and will be brought low by God.

This is comparable to what Scripture says in verses such as James 4:6, "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."

• Exactly how God does this will vary. For some, it will occur through providential circumstances in this life. For others, it will be delayed until the final Day of Justice.

Scripture

1 Samuel 1:2-10

Scripture Passage	Comments and Links
1Sa 2:1 Hannah prayed, and said: My heart exults in Yahweh! My horn is exalted in Yahweh. My mouth is enlarged over my enemies, because I rejoice in your salvation. 1Sa 2:2 There is no one as holy as Yahweh, For there is no one besides you, nor is there any rock like our God. 1Sa 2:3 Talk no more so exceeding proudly. Don't let arrogance come out of your mouth, For Yahweh is a God of knowledge. By him actions are weighed.	Praise to God, the proper response! Responding to God He is holy; he is our refuge and salvation; he is our judge. God - A Description of Him The arrogant (= the wicked, v. 9) will not survive in his presence.
1Sa 2:4 The bows of the mighty men are broken. Those who stumbled are girded with strength. 1Sa 2:5 Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread. Those who were hungry have ceased to hunger. Yes, the barren has borne seven. She who has many children languishes. 1Sa 2:6 Yahweh kills, and makes alive. He brings down to Sheol, and brings up. 1Sa 2:7 Yahweh makes poor, and makes rich. He brings low, he also lifts up. 1Sa 2:8 He raises up the poor out of the dust. He lifts up the needy from the dunghill, To make them sit with princes, and inherit the throne of glory, ...	The Lord exalts the lowly and lowers the exalted. This may happen now or at the Day of justice. (In the example given in this passage, it happened now.) Pride and Humility Reversal of Circumstances Providence It's not merely the fact that they are "high" or "low." It involves their whole attitude toward other people and toward God.
... for the pillars of the earth are Yahweh's. He has set the world on them.	The earth belongs to God; he sustains and maintains it. Earth's Foundation
1Sa 2:9 He will keep the feet of his holy ones, but the wicked shall be put to silence in darkness; for no man shall prevail by strength. 1Sa 2:10 Those who strive with Yahweh shall be broken to pieces. He will thunder against them in the sky. Yahweh will judge the ends of the earth. He will give strength to his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed.	He will also sustain and maintain those who are holy (the opposite of what the wicked will experience). Exaltation and Humiliation

Scripture Passages (Only books that have relevance to this study have active links. The others are in italics.) Genesis  •  Exodus  •  Leviticus  •  Numbers  •  Deuteronomy  •  Joshua  •  Judges  •  Ruth  •  1 Samuel  •  2 Samuel  •  1 Kings  •  2 Kings  •  1 Chronicles  •  2 Chronicles  •  Ezra  •  Nehemiah  •  Esther  •  Job  •  Psalms  •  Proverbs  •  Ecclesiastes  •  Song of Solomon  •  Isaiah  •  Jeremiah  •  Lamentations  •  Ezekiel  •  Daniel  •  Hosea  •  Joel  •  Amos  •  Obadiah  •  Jonah  •  Micah  •  Nahum  •  Habakkuk  •  Zephaniah  •  Haggai  •  Zechariah  •  Malachi Matthew  •  Mark  •  Luke  •  John  •  Acts  •  Romans  •  1 Corinthians  •  2 Corinthians  •  Galatians  •  Ephesians  •  Philippians  •  Colossians  •  1 Thessalonians  •  2 Thessalonians  •  1 Timothy  •  2 Timothy  •  Titus  •  Philemon  •  Hebrews  •  James  •  1 Peter  •  2 Peter  •  1 John  •  2 John  •  3 John  •  Jude  •  Revelation

—— To avoid any copyright issues, all Scripture is either from a public domain translation (such as the World English Bible), my own translation, or a combination of these. ——

The name "Yahweh," when present in an Old Testament passage, represents the Hebrew name for the God of the Bible.

Unless otherwise noted, all notes and comments are © by Dennis Hinks.