The Book of MATTHEW

The Song of Hannah - Foretelling Mary's Blessing

Hannah was one of the two wives of Elkanah. She remained childless, however her husband preferred her of the two wives. Hannah went up to the temple, and prayed with great weeping (1 Samuel 1:10), while Eli, the High Priest was sitting on a chair near the doorpost. In her prayer she asked God for a son and in return she vowed to give the son back to God for the service of the Shiloh priests. She promised he would remain a Nazarite all the days of his life. She conceived and bore a son. She called his name Samuel. She raised him until he was weaned and brought him to the temple along with a sacrifice. Below is her song of praise to the Lord for answering her petition. After that time she also conceived three more sons and 2 daughters.

Samuel became a leader of ancient Israel and was the last of the Hebrew Judges as well as the first Prophet to prophesy inside the promised Land of Israel. As the last judge and first Prophet He also anointed Saul and David, Israel's first two Kings.

1 Sam 1:1-10
Hannah’s Song of Thanksgiving (Foretelling Mary's Blessing)

2 Then Hannah prayed and said,

“My heart exults in the Lord;

My horn is exalted in the Lord,

My mouth speaks boldly against my enemies,

Because I rejoice in Your salvation.

2 “There is no one holy like the Lord,

Indeed, there is no one besides You,

Nor is there any rock like our God.

3 “Boast no more so very proudly,

Do not let arrogance come out of your mouth;

For the Lord is a God of knowledge,

And with Him actions are weighed.

4 “The bows of the mighty are shattered,

But the feeble gird on strength.

5 “Those who were full hire themselves out for bread,

But those who were hungry cease to hunger.

Even the barren gives birth to seven,

But she who has many children languishes.

6 “The Lord kills and makes alive;

He brings down to Sheol and raises up.

7 “The Lord makes poor and rich;

He brings low, He also exalts.

8 “He raises the poor from the dust,

He lifts the needy from the ash heap

To make them sit with nobles,

And inherit a seat of honor;

For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s,

And He set the world on them.

9 “He keeps the feet of His godly ones,

But the wicked ones are silenced in darkness;

For not by might shall a man prevail.

10 “Those who contend with the Lord will be shattered;

Against them He will thunder in the heavens,

The Lord will judge the ends of the earth;

And He will give strength to His king,

And will exalt the horn of His anointed.”

Mary is the mother of Jesus and the wife of Joseph. It was after the Angel Gabriel came to Mary to announce that she was pregnant by the Holy Spirit of God with the baby Jesus and he told her that her child was the very Son of God. Soon afterwards Mary went to visit her cousin Elizabeth where Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and brought forth a blessing upon Mary. The following is Mary's response to this great blessing.

The Magnificat

46 And Mary said:

“My soul exalts the Lord,

47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.

48 “For He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave;

For behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed.

49 “For the Mighty One has done great things for me;

And holy is His name.

50 “And His mercy is upon generation after generation

Toward those who fear Him.

51 “He has done mighty deeds with His arm;

He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their heart.

52 “He has brought down rulers from their thrones,

And has exalted those who were humble.

53 “He has filled the hungry with good things;

And sent away the rich empty-handed.

54 “He has given help to Israel His servant,

In remembrance of His mercy,

55 As He spoke to our fathers,

To Abraham and his descendants forever.”

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