We see in 1 Samuel a stark contrast in the way different people respond to God's blessings. Hannah responds to God's blessings with thanksgiving and humility. Eli's sons respond to God's blessings with an attitude of entitlement. The way we respond to our Lord's providence shows a good deal about our spiritual condition. Do we receive evil and call upon God to help us? That's quite common. But how do we act when we receive good? Do we praise our Lord or do we praise ourselves? Do we thank God for providing for us or do we look to the human means of provision alone? Do we receive what we receive knowing that the only reason we receive good is that our Lord and Savior has had mercy on us? Do we receive what we receive and think we deserve it, or even better?
Hannah gets it right. It is God who raises up the weak and throws down the mighty. It is the Lord who knows what is just and then does what is just. It is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who has taken captivity captive and defeated sin, death, and the Devil on the cross. Let us give glory and honor to him alone.
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