It's Time to Dance

"1) HANNAH PRAYED, and said, My heart exults and triumphs in the Lord; my horn (my strength) is lifted up in the Lord. My mouth is no longer silent, for it is opened wide over my enemies, because I rejoice in Your salvation. 2) There is none holy like the Lord, there is none besides You; there is no Rock like our God. 3) Talk no more so very proudly; let not arrogance go forth 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, and those who stumbled are girded with 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 languishes and is forlorn. 6) The Lord slays and makes alive; He brings down to Sheol and raises up. 7) The Lord makes poor and makes rich; He brings low and He lifts up. 8) He raises up the poor out of the dust and lifts up the needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with nobles and inherit the throne of glory. For the pillars of the earth are the Lord's, and He has set the world upon them. 9) He will guard the feet of His godly ones, but the wicked shall be silenced and perish in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail. 10) The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces; against them will He thunder in heaven. The Lord will judge [all peoples] to the ends of the earth; and He will give strength to His king (King) and exalt the power of His anointed (Anointed His Christ)." 1 Samuel 2:1-10, Amplified Bible

It's been a little while since we visited Hannah in 1 Samuel. Today, I'd like us to sit down with her and rejoice with her over her answered prayer. If you'd like to read any of our other encounters with Hannah and 1 Samuel you can go here, here, here, and here.

When we first saw Hannah her heart was full of bitterness and she was spilling forth her soul in anguish before the Lord. We see her now as a woman whose heart is overjoyed as she spills forth, not bitterness, but praise to her God. I had to look up the exact meaning of the word "rejoices"- something told me there was a little more to it than just a simple joy or gladness of heart. God did not disappoint. Here's what it means in the original Hebrew language- to jump for joy. Do you see that? To JUMP for joy! Hannah's heart had been so heavy that she was only able to prostrate herself before the Lord. Her bitterness and sorrow had weighed down not only her heart, but her physical body as well leaving her vulnerable and weak before the enemy.

Ah, but now! But now, her God had heard her heart's cry and she could not help but rise to the occasion and praise the One from whose stregth had lifted her above the enemy. I believe she was literally (as the definition says) jumping for joy. She was doing a "praise dance" before her Father and I bet He was dancing right along with her. There was absolutely no and I mean NO god like Hannah's God.

Her faith and trust in God resulted in some supernatural, holy power. No longer was she vulnerable and weak in the face of her enemy- she was standing tall on the Rock, hands lifted in honor of her King, mouth wide open singing praises to the Creator of the universe. God had loosed the grip her ememies had on her and gave her a new song to sing and the strength to sing it. God made her alive again, bringing her up from a grave of despair. She was no longer poor in spirit, but rich with blessings from on high.

When was the last time you danced for joy in the presence of the Lord? He is waiting with out-stretched arm to twirl you around the dance floor. Put on your dancin' shoes, let your hair down, and dance with your Daddy.