Hannah’s Three Thanksgivings (1 Samuel 2:1–10)
Hannah’s Three Thanksgivings (1 Samuel 2:1–10) 8/30/2026
The passage is Hannah’s prayer of thanksgiving as she dedicated Samuel to God according to the vow she had made, after receiving him in the midst of suffering and despair. When we meditate deeply on this passage, we see that her thanksgiving was not simply because her problem of suffering had been resolved or because she had received a special son.
Generally, when we think of “thanksgiving,” we think of being thankful for something we have received from God or from someone else. This is a basic human response. Yet because people live without even this basic heart of gratitude, the world has become more difficult and increasingly corrupt (2 Timothy 3:2).
Even after receiving an answer from God or receiving someone’s help during the most difficult time, people often forget it and go on with their lives. Some receive so much, yet instead of being thankful, they complain and resent even more. This is where all relationships begin to break down. This is what Satan does.
Hannah’s thanksgiving in this passage goes beyond basic gratitude for the answers and blessings she received. Here we discover the thanksgiving the Bible teaches, the thanksgiving God desires, and the secret by which our lives become an eternal blessing.
- Thanksgiving that comes from our relationship with God
In verse 1, Hannah confesses, “My heart rejoices in the Lord.” Her joy and thanksgiving did not begin with the answers and blessings God had given her. She simply rejoiced and was glad because of God Himself.
1) Here lies the secret to receiving answers, enjoying blessings, and overcoming every problem in this world.
① It is thanksgiving for my relationship with God. Next to the Apostles’ Creed, one of the most important confession is the Westminster Confession of Faith. The Larger Catechism and the Shorter Catechism were written to teach the Westminster Confession of Faith to believers and to the next generation.
The first question asks, “What is the chief end of man?” The answer is, “Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever.” This is God’s purpose in creating us, and especially His purpose in creating us in His image.
② Apply this to the relationship between parents and children. Parents are not happy just because their children become successful and repay them with many things. They are happy simply because they have children to whom they can give their love and because they can see those children. The same should be true for children. No matter how inadequate our parents may be, we should be happy and thankful simply because we have parents, and we should continue to be thankful for them. God gives life, but we were born through our parents, we grew through our parents, and through them we are where we are today.
2) Then who is God to me?
① Isaiah 43:1 gives us one of the most important confessions. He created me, He redeemed me, and for this purpose He called me by name out of countless people. Therefore, He tells me not to fear anything. In verse 1 of today’s passage, Hannah also says, “I rejoice in Your salvation.”
② Because I am His saved child and His people, He is with me and protects me (Isaiah 43:2). Hannah made the same confession, “There is no one besides You, and there is no Rock (background, bartizan) like our God—my foundation and my strong tower” (v. 2).
③ How much does the God who created and saved us love us? He says, “You are precious in My sight, honored, and I love you.” We would be happy even to hear such words from another person, but God Himself says this to us regardless of our weaknesses and failures. Hannah realized this as well. People had despised and mocked her because she had nothing and because of what she lacked. But God is the One who puts the proud and arrogant to shame and silences their words (v. 3).
④ He is also the God who possesses the authority and power to do this (v. 5–7). Hannah realized and experienced that God has the power to put to death and to bring to life, to raise up and to bring down. My loneliness, suffering, and failures are all opportunities to experience God’s unique love, deep love, and unfailing love. Before giving thanks because your problem has been solved or because you have received answers and blessings, give thanks simply because you are in God.
- Fundamental thanksgiving for what God has done
1) It says that she rejoiced and gave thanks because of God’s salvation (v. 1). This is not simply about having a problem solved. The emphasis is not that she had no son and cried desperately, and then God gave her a son. It is thanksgiving that comes from realizing what true salvation is. This is what Christ, the Son of God, came and accomplished.
① The holy and only God has come to be with me (v. 2). He has come to be with me. This is the work of Christ, who came as our Prophet, became the Way for us, and remains with us (John 14:6, 14:16–18).
② He raises us from the ash heap, seats us with princes, and gives us a place of honor (v. 8). He has delivered us from sin, curses, and destiny and has established us as His precious children (John 1:12), as source of blessing (Eph. 3–5), and as heirs (Rom. 8:17). This is what Christ accomplished when He came as our Priest, redeemed us, and blessed us.
③ He enables us to overcome evil people and the powers of darkness that deceive us, hinder us, mock us, and do evil against us (v. 9). This is the blessing Christ accomplished when He came as our King, crushed the authority of Satan (Gen. 3:15), and destroyed the works of the devil (1 John 3:8).
2) Because I have received this salvation, no matter what problem comes, it does not ultimately matter, and my family, my children, and my future are also guaranteed in God’s covenant.
① When we receive salvation, God seals us with the promised Holy Spirit and gives Him as the guarantee of our entire inheritance and blessing (Ephesians 1:13–14).
② We are not thankful only for the answers we have already received. When we observe the feasts, we are told to rejoice and give thanks for the blessings we would receive (Deuteronomy 16:15). That is the covenant, and that is true faith. It is to take hold in advance of what God will do, see it in advance, rejoice in it, and give thanks for it in advance (CVDIP).
③ We must restore the faith that enables us to rejoice and give thanks even when we have nothing at the moment. This is the famous thanksgiving of Habakkuk (Habakkuk 3:17–18). This kind of thanksgiving creates miracles and produces God’s masterpieces.
- Eternal thanksgiving for what God will do
This is the eternal desire that we must hold on to. This is the conclusion of the entire Bible and the conclusion of the Book of Revelation. Hannah’s thanksgiving reached even this point (v. 10).
1) “Those who oppose the Lord will be shattered.” Satan, who brought down the first man and who desperately seeks to destroy the church and God’s people, will be cast into hell (Revelation 20). It also says, “He will judge the ends of the earth.” Christ will surely come as the Judge, and the day of judgment will surely come.
2) “He will give strength to His king and exalt the horn of His anointed.” This is a prophecy concerning Christ, who will come as the King of kings (1 Timothy 6:15; Revelation 17:14; Revelation 19:16). At that time, the new heaven and the new earth will be opened (Revelation 21), and the new Garden of Eden will be given (Revelation 22). There, the believers who followed only Christ through every tribulation and persecution (Revelation 14:4), kept the faith (Revelation 14:12), and overcame (Revelation 21:7) will reign together over all things (Revelation 22:5).
3) At that time, there will also be eternal blessings, rewards, and recompense specifically prepared for believers who possess true faith (Revelation 22:12).
Conclusion – May you live a life that gives thanks for your relationship with God, offers fundamental thanksgiving for the salvation you have received, and restores eternal thanksgiving for what God will do.
8.30.26 Hannah’s Three Thanksgivings