Hannah Rejoices in the Gift-Giver

How easy it is to make that which we do not possess into an idol, to want it more than anything else. But the giver is more important than the gift.

Hannah Rejoices in the Gift-Giver

This week's devotions are written by my friend Jessica Hermann, former director of our college ministry at Great Hills Baptist Church.

- Pastor Danny

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

(1 Samuel 2:1)

There is a video that went viral years ago of an adorable little boy "practicing" showing gratitude for all gifts he receives. His parents wrapped up an avocado and had their son unwrap the "gift", and even though the gift is underwhelming, as an avocado certainly is to a little boy, he says, "It's an avocado! Thanks!" If you know the video, you probably read those words hearing the voice of the little boy in your head. It's such a cute little video, and I can't tell you how many times I've heard someone say, "It's an avocado! Thanks," just like the little boy does in the video. It's a great lesson from the parents, though. By teaching their son to show gratitude, regardless of what he unwrapped, they are teaching him to value the gift-giver over the gift itself. Since it's only six seconds long, here's the video, if you haven't seen it:

Today we will look at the prayer of Hannah who rejoices in the gift-giver, who has given her something far better than an avocado.

In 1 Samuel 2:1-10, Hannah prays a theologically rich prayer full of thankfulness and joy to the Lord. Though she was barren, Hannah cried out to the Lord for a son after her husband's other wife taunted her for her barrenness. Hannah vowed to dedicate her son to the Lord should He give her one, and after the Lord answered Hannah's prayer through the birth of Samuel, she followed through on this promise. Then Hannah lifted this prayer to God in 1 Samuel 2:1-10. I encourage you to go and read the whole thing, as I believe this prayer gives us such great vocabulary for our own prayers. It is so full of praise and truth about who our God is. However, I want to focus on the first two verses today.

Hannah had been waiting and praying and agonizing over her barrenness for years. It brought her great despair and pain, and finally, the Lord gave her that which she had been praying for. By human standards, nobody would blame her if the first words out of her mouth here were, "My heart rejoices in my son!" But that is not how her prayer begins. She says, "My heart rejoices in the Lord." And while it is good for mothers to rejoice over their children, Hannah's declaration here shows us that nothing should (and indeed, nothing truly can) take the place of the Lord. Though Hannah undoubtedly loved her child with an indescribably deep love, she rejoiced in the Lord greater still. Her beloved son was a gift from the Lord, yet she valued the gift-giver far more than the gift of even her son himself.

Oh, how easy it is to make that "thing" which we do not possess into an idol, to want it more than anything else in the universe. But we learn here from the words of Hannah that no one is beside the Lord. He alone is holy. He alone is our Rock and strength. In Him alone do we find our deepest joy. Though He gives the greatest gifts, He Himself is the greatest gift of them all.

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Podcast of the Week

60 Trips Around the Sun

Having celebrated his 60th birthday last week, Pastor Danny delivers a special message reflecting on his life up to this point, how he has seen God work, what lays ahead for him, DFEA, and GHBC, and some general thoughts on the passage of time and the progress of our lives.

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