Worship The King (1 Samuel 2:1-11)

blog, sermons

What is prayer? What does it accomplish? Why should we pray?

“All the children of God on earth are alike in this respect. From the moment there is any life and reality about their religion, they pray. Just as the first sign of the life of an infant when born into the world is the act of breathing, so the first act of men and women when they are born again is praying.” (JC Ryle)

MPS: Prayer exalts God as we are humbled and rest in His sovereignty.

Prayer calls our hearts to worship God. (1)

And Hannah prayed and said, 

“My heart exults in the Lord; my horn is exalted in the Lord. My mouth derides my enemies, because I rejoice in your salvation. 

• Worship is the godly response to God’s provision. (1a)
  • What greater provision do we have than the faith given to us to believe in our Lord Jesus Christ, who Himself is God’s provision to secure our salvation?“Faith is the fountain of prayer, and prayer should be nothing else but faith exercised.” (Thomas Manton)
• Worship exalts God, His power, and mercy it doesn’t exalt self or the things of this world. (1b)
  • “For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh” (Php. 3:3)
• Worship rests in His salvation, which brings joy despite earthly circumstances. (1c)
• “Today’s big question: Hannah prays that her “mouth derides” or laughs at her enemies because she rejoices “in your salvation.” (1 sam 2:1) Why does Hannah laugh at her enemies but sing and praise the Lord? “*

Prayer calls us to humility before God. (2-5)

2 “There is none holy like the Lord: for there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God. 

3 Talk no more so very proudly, let not arrogance come from your mouth; for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. 

4 The bows of the mighty are broken, but the feeble bind on strength. 

5 Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, but those who were hungry have ceased to hunger. The barren has borne seven, but she who has many children is forlorn. 

• God is unlike anyone or anything else in the world. He is as solid as a rock! (2)
  • “There is none like you, O LORD; you are great, and your name is great in might.” (Jer. 10:6)
• God is all knowing and all powerful. He is the source of all that is true. (3)
  • “And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” (Col. 1:17) Who can maintain pride before a holy God that actively holds all things together, who has no beginning, and in Christ has saved His people for His own glory?
• God humbles the proud and is merciful to the meek. (4-5)

Prayer rests our minds in God’s sovereignty. (6-11)

6 The Lord kills and brings to life; he brings down to Sheol and raises up. 

7 The Lord makes poor and makes rich; he brings low and he exalts. 

8 He raises up the poor from the dust; he lifts the needy from the ash heap to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor. For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s, and on them he has set the world. 

9 “He will guard the feet of his faithful ones, but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness, for not by might shall a man prevail. 

10 The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces; against them he will thunder in heaven. The Lord will judge the ends of the earth; he will give strength to his king and exalt the horn of his anointed.” 

11 Then Elkanah went home to Ramah. And the boy was ministering to the Lord in the presence of Eli the priest. 

• God is sovereign over life and death. (6-8)
  • “29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?[i] And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.30 But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.” (Matt. 10:29-31)
• God sovereignly restrains evil and sustains His people. (9-10)
  • He raises up prophets, priests, and kings to speak against the injustices of this world and call His people back to Himself. Our ultimate Prophet, Priest, and King is Christ.

Next Steps

• Focus your prayers on God’s majesty
• Empty your heart in prayer
• Rest in God’s sovereignty