THE SONG OF HANNAH. by the idea
was' elevated and sublimated
might furnish a contributing
I'Zg
that any mother
link in the chain that
was
to reach to the nation's goal.
Debarred from such a succession, how could one like of her divine acceptance ? Deprived of such a blessing, was she not deprived of one chief 07iHt>ard evidence of God's gracious favour and regard ? It was this that filled her with doubt and despondency from time to time and it was despair of human help and resource that drove her back upon her God, who had ever been the help and hope of His people and this it was that sent her to Shiloh as a humble and meek but And now that her prayer earnest suppliant before God. had been heard, and her son been born and weaned, we find her back again at Shiloh with him. And she brought the child to Eli. And she said, Oh my lord, as thy
Hannah be assured
;
;
'
my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee praying unto the LORD. For this child I prayed and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of Him therefore I also have returned him to the Lord as long as he liveth he is granted to the Lord.' Out of no self-gratifying spirit, nor desire for personal profit and distinction, had she sought a child at This she made abundantly plain the hand of the Lord. by her willingness to forego a mother's pride in having her boy about her, and by surrendering her claim to keep him as an object of doting fondness and maternal satisfaction. Her great concern was to have some tangible evidence, patent and unmistakable to herself and others, that the Lord had regarded the low estate of His handmaid and visited her with a token of mercy. And it is her salvation or deliverance from what seemed a state of disfavour with God and man that now prompts this outburst of grateful and believing song. Of
soul liveth, here,
;
:
;
'
'
I