Finding Security in God and Not in Any Other - I Sam. 2:1-10
We live in a society that often teaches people to find their security in their achievements, family and friends.
Hannah was a woman who faced similar temptations, but she learned that only God gave her fulfilling security. After the Lord answered her prayer for a child, Samuel, Hannah praises God for being her Rock of security and her fount of satisfaction.
When you are tempted to find your security in your job, your family or your achievements remember the five characteristics of Hannah’s great prayer of praise for God as the Rock of her security.
1. Hannah praised God because He was the Rock who gave her firm strength in the shifting circumstances of life. When you praise God as your Rock and deliverer He will help you lift your focus above the uncertainty of your circumstances. Friends come and go as do achievements, but only God’s security satisfies the longing soul and fills the hungry soul with what is good. Whoever wants lasting peace needs to go the Rock that is higher than themself.
2. Hannah praised God because He lifted her up above the chiding and arrogant mocking of Peninnah. When people criticize, misunderstood and doubt us we can be assured that the Rock of our God will shelter us in the time of storm. Hannah knew that God was all knowing and that He wil ljudge all sin and pride in His way and time. Never fear when people attack you because His sovereign power is greater than anyone or anything. David wrote, "God is our refuge and strength a very present help in the time of trouble. Therefore, we will not fear though the earth give way and the moutains fall into the heart of the sea." (Psa. 46:1,2)
Illustration: Martin Luther wrote His famous hymn based on this verse because He needed to seek shelter in the Rock of God’s protection from the onslaught of abuse He received at the hand of the religious leaders of His day. He wrote, "A mighty fortress is our God. A bulwark never failing. Our helper, He amidst the flood. Of mortal ills prevailing... One little word (from God) shall fell him (our enemy the devil). There is nothing to fear when we rest in the perfect love that casts out fear. (I JOhn 4:18)
Hannah knew that and she praised God so everyone could join hearts with her in worshiping the Rock of our deliverance.
3. Hannah praised God not because of the gift of a son but because of the GIVER. Do not just focus on what you are given at the time. Do not seek the blessing as much as the BLESSER. Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Hannah knew that she could praise God for His glory, splendor and love in good times and in bad situations.
Praise God when you abound or when you are abased. Learn to be content as Paul did by exercising the secret power given to those of us who have trust Christ as our Lord and Savior.
Paul wrote, "I can do everything God asks me to do with the help of Christ who gives me the strength and power." (Phil. 4:12,13)
Let’s praise God when we are feeling up and when we are feeling down as His glorious attributes are what we should focus our attention on.
Illustration: I have written 641 prayers of praise for the many attributes of God on sermoncentral.com if you will just type "attributes of God" in the sermon title section. Learn to praise God daily for at least five of His attributes and allow His Spirit to transform you from one degree of glory to another. (2 Cor. 3:18)
4. Hannah praised God because she knew that there was no other Rock like our Lord. There are so many people, events and temptations that try to replace God as our idol, but there are all counterfeits to the truth. When you praise God as your Rock, Your Fortress and Your Deliverer, He restores your soul and makes you lie down in green pastures. He leads you beside the still waters. He makes you to walk in the path of righteousness for His name sake. Even though you may walk in the valley of the shadow of death you will not have to fear because You know He is with you. (Psa 23:1-4)
We live in a world where evil abounds but our Rock is greater than any power. Greater is He who is in us than the one who is in the world. Take a walk and sing praise to God, the God of all creation.
Thank Him for being Lord of all and Lord of your life and circumstances. Honor Him for being above and beyond the understanding of man’s mind. For from Him and to Him and through Him are all things." (Rom. 11:31-33)
Praise Him and you will find greater power in your personal life, your relationships, and your ministries as Hannah.
5. Hannah praised God because he makes the strong weak and makes the weak strong. He replenishes those who are lacking and strips away wealth from the greedy. He breaks down barriers from those who think they have impregnable castles and He gives freedom to the prisoners. He speaks a word and the bows of mighty men are broken, they are disarmed and run in fear of a shadow.
6. God lifts up the feeble and give friends to the lonely and companionship to those who are without a sense of family. He feeds the hungry and takes away the appetite of those who are hoarding what they have. He gives strength to the weary and humbles the proud. He works wonders to those who believe His promises and He disappoints those who brag of their great abilities.
7. God’s grace is sufficient for whatever we need and He deserves our continual praise despite the way we may be feeling.
Let us say like Jeremiah, "Let not the rich man boast in His riches. Let not the mighty man boast in His might. But let Him who boasts, boast of this. That He understands and knows Me that I am the God who exercises lovingkindness on the earth." (Jer. 9:23,24)
8. Let us praise God every moring so as to program our thinking throughout the day to honor Him as our Rock, OUr Deliverer and Our God who works wonders. Pray as Hannah did, "There is none holy as the Lord. There is none besides You. Neither is there any Rock like our God. There is none holy as the Lord."
Illustration: A boy came home from Sunday school and His Mother said, "What did you discuss at Church?" The boy said, "Marriage"! His MOther said inquisitively, "What did you learn about marriage?" The little boy thought for a moment and said, "Jesus said, "Father, forgive them for them know not what they do!"
When we are confused, disappointed or unsure of what to do we can always praise God as our Rock who delivers us from any circumstance. Just praise Him as a way of solving any problem and preventing many more.
