All right, would you join me in the book of... 1 Samuel, chapter two tonight, as we look at this song or this prayer of Hannah. And as I mentioned, I don't believe that she did this at all to be heard of men. She had this great thought in her heart given to her by the Lord, and she prays, and we find out that this is also filled with the blessings that God has for his people. In verses, 1, 2, and 3, we notice there that Hannah has celebrated in her prayer God's divine perfections. At least three of them that are mentioned there. She mentions God's holiness.

And you know, it is a blessing that God reveals to the church his holiness. And that in that, he lets us know that it's impossible for us to keep the law for righteousness sake. He is holy. We are not. But he commands us to be holy as I am holy. How does that happen? We must be in Christ. We must be born again.

Hannah prayed, it says, her heart rejoiced in the Lord. My horn is exalted, or my strength exalted in the Lord. My mouth is enlarged over my enemies because I rejoice in thy salvation. There is none holy as the Lord, for there is none beside thee. Neither is there any rock like our rock. So Hannah is rejoicing. She's celebrating in this prayer some divine perfections of God, and especially His holiness, His omniscience. that he knows all things.

He knew about her, even though she was tucked away in a country that had grossly gone after idols. And out of that, we have a A blessing is given to us that God has a people even in the darkest of places, even among the Israelites that are going after idols, there is a remnant according to the election of grace. It's not a remnant according to our belief. It's a remnant according to the election of grace.

And then we find that she celebrates God's sovereignty all through this. He's in charge of all things. Her womb was stopped by God. Her womb was opened by God. God gave her a child and it wasn't because she prayed a good prayer. It wasn't because she was diligent. It wasn't because she was working hard for God. It's God opened her womb and she had a child.

Now he's going to be a very special child to us from a historical standpoint, from a spiritual standpoint. He's going to be a very special influence. He's going to be a prophet of God. He's going to be a minister of God. He's going to be one that God is going to watch over.

And to the best of my ability at this point, I've yet to find anything that we could find negative about him. Now, if we visited with him, he'd say, woe is me for I'm undone. If we visited with him, we would also find that he would confess just like Paul did. Oh, wretched man that I am, because he's just a human being like the rest of us.

Verse three, talking no more so exceedingly proudly, let not arrogance come out of your mouth, for the Lord is a God of knowledge. He's omniscient, he knows all things ever going on. And by him actions are weighed. So he's sovereign, he's omniscient, he's holy.

She is rejoicing in these great perfections about God, just as the church does today. We rejoice in the perfections of God, the God that saves his people from their sins. Now, in this song, in her prayer, she is led to take notice of God's dealing with humans in providence and grace. And from this point on, we have several verses of scripture that she shares with us, several insights about her knowledge of God and how she declares what God is.

She says, the bows of the mighty men are broken. Those who are mighty, are no longer mighty. And then she says, and they that stumble are girded with strength. Now that's an anomaly. That's interesting to me that she would say led by the Holy Spirit. that the bows or the things that make people great have been broken, so they're no longer great. And the things that brought people down are, well, as she says there, that they that stumble are girded with strength. So God has given them this strength in this.

Now there's another place I'd like to look at that kind of compares this passage of Scripture, this song, this prayer of Hannah's, with something that Solomon said, and that's found in the book of Ecclesiastes. So would you join me over in the book of Ecclesiastes for just a short reading, Ecclesiastes chapter 3. In Ecclesiastes chapter 3, we find that Solomon was given some insight, some instruction, as he was called on to write in Ecclesiastes chapter three, beginning with verse one, that are similar to Hannah's. Now we're gonna spend much more time with Hannah's than we do here at this time, but Solomon was also given some divine, some insight into divine perfections.

He was able to see here as God directs. It says there, to everything there is a season and a time, to every purpose under the heaven. Ecclesiastes chapter three, verse one. Verse two, at time to be born, God's absolute sovereignty revealed as Solomon blesses us through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and says, at time to die, it is appointed unto man once to die and after that, the judgment. So there's an appointment to be made. Solomon is doing what Hannah was led to do. Solomon is writing by inspiration. Hannah prayed by inspiration, and their prayers and these words are almost identical in many ways.

Time to be born, a time to die, a time to plant, a time to pluck up that which is planted. Now, if we apply this to a spiritual context, like we're gonna do that with Hannah's, we'll find out that there's so many similarities between these two. A time to kill, we're gonna find out that God is sovereign over that, and Hannah brings that subject up again. A time to heal, a time to break down, a time to build up.

This is God's ability to do these things. A time to weep, a time to laugh, a time to mourn, a time to dance. So these things that are mentioned here by Solomon in Ecclesiastes chapter 3 verses 1 through 8, We find that they are a declaration of the great perfections of God ruling over all things.

Nothing is left to chance. Nothing is left out. God is not controlling. Item, everything is under his control. Time, verse four, a time to weep, a time to laugh, a time to mourn, a time to dance, a time to cast away stones, a time to gather stones together, a time to embrace, a time to refrain from embracing. a time to get, a time to lose, a time to keep, and a time to cast away, a time to rend, a time to sow, a time to keep silence, a time to speak, a time to love, and a time to hate, a time of war, and a time of peace. So Solomon's led by the Holy Spirit to give us these insights about the perfections of God, that in everything there is God.

There is a season to all things and God is in charge of every season. Nothing is left to chance. All right, keep that in mind. We'll go over it someday. Turn with me back to the book of First Samuel chapter two, if you would, and we'll look at this prayer that Hannah has prayed.

And again, I emphasize the fact she did not do this for glory. She did not do this for recognition. She did this to praise her God. And God was pleased in her prayer to have it recorded in the word so that we can read it and rejoice with her. Hannah did not argue with God.

I just getting more and more believe that that is another gift that God gives us when he gives us the new birth. He gives us righteousness and sanctification and justification and imputation and all those other things, but he also gives us the blessed privilege of not arguing satisfied with him. We don't understand much what he has to say or do. But we do have the knowledge to say, I believe it and God has the right to do it.

We're not going to argue about that. We're not going to argue over Ephesians chapter one or Romans chapter nine, 10 and 11. We're just not going to get into an argument over it. We're not even going to debate it. It's just the truth. I mentioned this some time ago, but brother Gary had someone say that he didn't believe in the election and brother Gary said it's too late. It's already done. God took care of it before the foundation of the world. So that's not even an issue. We're not going to argue about it.

So here we go in the book of 1 Samuel, chapter two, there, as we look at this great song of Hannah's, verse four, let's look at this chapter two, verse four. And we find here the contrast between mighty men and the weak. The mighty man's bows are broken. Those that are weak are made strong. Now she is used of the Holy Spirit to share with us some wonderful spiritual insights.

Now these things happen in the natural world. We could read about God disarming whole armies. And sometimes those armies fell upon each other and the Israelites just went, whoa, what just happened? But God took care of that. He turned themselves against themselves. And that's happened a number of times recorded in scripture. We read with regard to those folks that were in the promised land that God hardened their heart so that they would not ask for peace and that Joshua and the armies of Israel would take complete care of them. Well, that's God doing His business. And far be it from us to argue about God doing His business. Here it says, the boasts of the mighty men are broken.

You know, in the book of 2 Corinthians chapter 12, it's more difficult for me to keep my finger right here. But if you have your printed word, put your finger right there. And go with me over to the book of 2 Corinthians chapter 12. In 2 Corinthians chapter 12, we read this about when I am weak. When is the most strong time a Christian has? What is the most strengthened time a Christian has? Well, the Apostle Paul was used to leave this for us. Therefore, verse 10, 2 Corinthians chapter 12, when are we the strongest? Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake.

For when I am weak, Now, that's a paradox if you finish that sentence. When I am weak, then am I strong. Now, what is he talking about? Well, when we get through trying by ourselves and trust God, we have all power given to us in heaven and in earth. We have God. So as she brings out that subject over there, the bows of a mighty man are broken and those who are weak are made strong. Here we find that the Apostle Paul brings the subject up.

He's writing to the church of Corinth the second letter. But remember that these words were given to him by the Holy Spirit. Now he may have thought them earlier. He may have believed them earlier. but it was the Holy Spirit that had them or caused them to be put in our Bible. That is so important to realize. It's the Holy Spirit that put it there. So who gives us this strength?

My goodness, when we are the weakest, the Holy Spirit shares with us, that's when we're the strongest. That's when God's people, well, he said, and it wouldn't take us very long to go through Paul's life and say, well, there he's having infirmities, and there he's having reproaches, and over here he's in necessities, and over here in persecutions. It doesn't take us very long to follow him in that boat ride to Rome. to find out that almost all of these things took place in rapid succession. And yet we find when he's the weakest, that's when he's the strongest. That's when we see the God of heaven, the glory and power of God. And then he says, for all these things for Christ's sake, for when I am weak, then am I strong.

What a paradox. Oh, I don't know about you, but there are some times I'd rather not be strong. It's a lot of work to go through all that. but Saul of Tarsus, Paul the apostle, went through that. So the defense of the mighty is broken by God, and those who are feeble are made strong by God.

In this same book, in 2 Corinthians chapter four, would you turn there as we think about this part that Hannah is bringing out in this, her song, her prayer about God as she dwells on the blessings that God has given to her In the book of 2 Corinthians chapter four, 2 Corinthians chapter four, beginning with verse eight, we read this. Paul again brings this out, but he's like so many.

There's not many days go by that there is not some difficulty that is in the life of a believer. Here he says, we are troubled on every side. 2 Corinthians chapter four, verse eight. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed. We are perplexed, but not in despair. Persecuted, but not forsaken. Cast down, but not destroyed.

Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. Now, I think that has a double meaning because I think the body here could apply to his body or a Christian's body or the church body. That's the church. They're always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus. What is our message? It's the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. So that's our business, is to preach Christ. But we also, in our physical body, in the body that God has given to us in our salvation, we find these things are also bore about.

In the Book of Romans, Chapter 8, as we think about this principle that Hannah brings out, that the defense of a mighty is broken by God, and those who are feeble are made strong by God, here in the Book of Romans, Chapter 8. Now, again, I found a word here that I have always misused. Romans chapter eight, I've just never thought about it until I was going through this lesson and preparing for tonight. And here in the book of Romans chapter eight, verse 35, have you noticed this? You probably have, but I have not paid much attention to it.

Who, who? Who, not what? Verse 35, who shall separate us from the love of Christ, and then goes on and uses these terms. Now, by and large, we would say, what? shall separate us from the love of Christ. And I think I have used that phrase, but here we find it's a who, not a what. And so these things by and large are gonna be people that God brings up in our lives. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, shall somebody with tribulation, or distress? It's not just an entity out here, it's somebody that has this in the way. Or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword. Now why are these brought up?

They're brought up to prove that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ. None of these things, no who can do it. And all of the what's that the who's have cannot do it, cannot separate. There is such a grafting in, there's such a... a binding that God Almighty has given to us in Christ Jesus, that there's nothing can remove that relationship. Nothing. Now, he goes on, for it is written, for thy sake we are killed all the day long. We are counted as sheep for the slaughter. In all these things we're more than conquerors through him that loved us.

For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, or things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Nothing can separate God's people from God. Nothing can separate the people of Christ from Christ. Nothing can separate us from the love of God. It's no who can bring any what against anybody that God has. They cannot destroy. So we find here that though we are made weak, we are made strong because God is not going to allow anybody to be removed from the position that they have in Christ Jesus. Nobody. I've heard people say, well, we can remove ourselves. No, no. And number one, God's people really don't want to do that.

It's too deep and too dark outside of Christ. All right, join me, if you would, in the book of 2 Chronicles, chapter 20. In the book of 2 Chronicles, there's a king, and I love what he has to say here. He's in trouble. He is in trouble. He's been surrounded by the enemy. He's in trouble, he knows he's in trouble, and here he is, he's doing what Hannah did, he takes it to God. In the book of 2 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles chapter four, in 2 Chronicles chapter four, beginning with verse eight, we read this. Nope, nope, nope. Oh. Excuse me, 2 Chronicles chapter 20, 2 Chronicles chapter 20, and verse 10. Now, 2 Chronicles chapter 20, verse 10, and now behold, the children of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir, whom thou wouldest not let Israel invade when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them and destroyed them not.

Behold, I say now, how they reward us to come to cast us out of thy possession, which thou has given us to inherit. So this king brings a situation up in this prayer that they are surrounded by some of the enemy that God would not allow them to destroy when they came out of Egypt. Behold, I say how they reward us and come to cast us out.

Verse 12, O our God, wilt thou not judge them? For we have no might against this great company that cometh against us, neither know we what to do. I don't know if you've ever said that before. Recently, I've said that a hundred times in my, Lord, what am I going to do? Lord, what am I going to do? What do you want me to do? Lord, what do you want me to do?

And here he says, neither know we what to do, but our eyes are upon you. And all Judah stood before the Lord with their little ones, their wives and their children. We don't know what to do, but our eyes are upon you. Now he knows what to do. He knows what's going to be done. He's already purposed what's going to be done. And if we follow this out, we find out that the whole army of Moab was destroyed. God took care of them. Here we have a king concerned, and he's concerned about his people. And he's concerned about what's going to happen because it looks bad. Everything looks so bad, so bleak. And we find him praying, Lord, we don't know what to do. Do we raise an army? Do we stand still? Do we give up? Do we quit? What do we do?

But our eyes are upon you and how important that is for believers. And you know what? That's what believers do. They don't have to be reminded to do that so much. We have a heart to believe. And then if you will turn with me way back over in the New Testament again, 1 Peter 1. In 1 Peter 1, we have again these wonderful blessings that God has given the church through the writings of the apostles and prophets. Here in 1 Peter 1, verse 1, we read this.

Now, Peter is writing this letter to a whole group of people that are scattered abroad. Now, it's not because they found better jobs. They have been persecuted. And in their persecution, they left where they were living and went somewhere else. And here it says, Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. Now that's a pretty good chunk of territory that he's talking about. And these strangers. have been scattered abroad there. Now he gives us some wonderful things to delight in. If we're a stranger, scattered abroad, we have this right here.

Elect according to the foreknowledge of God. God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus. Trinity, right there. For knowledge of God, the Father, through sanctification of the Holy Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling with the blood of Jesus Christ, grace be unto you and peace be multiplied. The Godhead, the Trinity is there on your behalf.

You are scattered abroad and a lot of things are happening while you're being scattered abroad. You're under serious persecution, but never forget you're standing in Christ. Never forget that you're elect. Never forget you're elect according to the foreknowledge of God.

And that does not mean that God looked down through time with a telescope and saw who's going to raise their hand in time. That means God looked down through time and saw nobody that was able to raise their hand. So he took care of it for us. That's what it is. Nobody could raise their hand. Election is not on foreseeing faith. It's based upon foreseeing unbelief. So he took care of it for us way ahead of time. We couldn't.

So verse three, blessed be the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ. which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Now isn't it interesting right here at the very beginning of this letter that Peter is writing by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he brings up the problem that they are in. And then he says, but just wait, just think about who you are in and who is on your side and who's standing with you, even in that great persecution that you're going through.

Or as we find out, they are now strangers scattered abroad. They've been pushed out by people who don't agree with him. There's a lot of souls of Tarsus at this time that want people be gone foul spirit of this way. So they have become strangers, they're scattered abroad, but never forget where you are.

They've been made low, but they have been given great heights. Think about this. Our eyes are upon you. And then in verse four, It doesn't stop. You have been scattered abroad. You're suffering great persecution. how difficult that is, the move that you've had to make under such quick time and all of this.

And it says, but you have an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you. And we're not gonna stop there, Peter says, who are kept by the power of God through faith and the salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. So you are kept by the power of God you have an inheritance incorruptible, you have the blessings of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, and you're elect according to the foreknowledge of God. There's no better place to be spiritually than you are in right now.

Even though you're strangers scattered abroad, you face great persecution, and then we notice over here Verse six, we're in greatly rejoiced. Though now for a season, if need be, you are in heaviness through manifold testings. The trial of your faith being much more precious than gold at Paris, though it be tried but with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ. It doesn't take very long for us to be visiting with friends or family, particularly in the church, and find out what difficult times people have. health issues, passing of friends, family, all of these things, and yet God says, never forget, believer, where you are, and who you have, and who has a hold of you.

So it may be a trial of your faith, but my goodness, never forget what you have. You've been elevated by the Most High God. You, though, as Hannah said over there, The defense of the mighty is broken down by God, and those that are feeble are made strong by God. Boy, there's no place to be but as be as strong as you are in God and as weak as we are in ourselves. Oh, wretched man that I am.

Well, let's go back over, if you would, to the book of 2 Samuel. Second Samuel, as we hear some more that come in this great prayer that Hannah prays, a prayer of thanksgiving, a prayer of adoration. prayer to acknowledge her great beliefs in the sovereignty of God, the deity of God, all of these great truths that she's heard about God. As she's heard the gospel and brought up these subjects, she found out they're absolutely the truth. She's not gonna argue about it. She's just going to accept it. So in 2 Samuel chapter two, there in verse five, it says, For they that were full have hired out themselves for bread, and they that were hungry ceased. So that the barren hath born seven, and she that hath many children are wax feeble. What a contrast back and forth here.

You know, there is an incident over in the New Testament that I want to go to, and that's found in the book of Luke chapter 16. In Luke chapter 16, verse 19, we read about a person that is so full, he's gonna tear down his barns and make bigger barns because he has much more to put in them. Now, this is just like religion. My goodness. Luke chapter 16, join me over there. Here is a man that, it tells us here, Luke chapter 16, verse 19, as Hannah brings out this great truth, those that are full have hired themselves for food. It isn't gonna be but a second. He's gonna be looking for help. and he's going to be looking for help from Abraham. Now look at the contrast here, if you would.

There was a certain rich man which was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. Now I might say that about Sunday's fellowship dinner. I fared sumptuously. I'm glad I wasn't in purple. Anyway. There was a certain beggar named Lazarus which was laid at his gate full of sores, just like in Hannah's prayer, The Contrast.

Here is a man wealthy beyond compare. He fares sumptuously. He has all the food he can have. And here's a poor man out here that doesn't have enough to eat. And it goes, desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table. Now, we know where this man got his crumbs from. The Syrophoenician woman answered that for us. Even the beggars, the dogs, can eat the crumbs that fall from the master's table. And you know the crumbs that fall from the master's table?

They are overabundance in ability to feed the saints. Spiritual blessings. So here we have somebody that fared sumptuously. He had more than he could have. A man here that is begging to have crumbs from the rich man's table. And moreover, the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass that the beggar died. We read that over in Hannah's prayer. We read that in Solomon's statement, time to die. He died. How old was he? We don't know. Was he in good shape? Not health-wise. Was he filled? Nope.

But he had something that the poor, the rich man did not have. He had a relationship with Almighty God. He was in distress on every side, but he was elect before the foundation of the world. He had a reward. a blessing given to him that no man could take away from him.

And it tells us there that he died and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. Now, I can't help but think that they didn't bury the poor man too. It wasn't important. His spirit was taken to heaven. Now, I don't understand all I know about that. But I know this, to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. I don't understand that, but I'm gonna take it to the bank. As soon as my eyes close in death, there is a part of me that will be in the presence of the Lord, waiting till he comes back and gives me that new body.

All right, came to pass, the beggar died and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom, which is another name for heaven. The rich man also died and was buried, and in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off in Lazarus and his bosom. Now we know the rest of the story, but here is a man that has every physical blessing that he could possibly have. but he had no spiritual blessings, and here's a man that didn't have much in this world, but he had spiritual blessings, and God watched over him in his death. In chapter 18 of the book of Luke, we have another incident that is similar to this, and it's a rich young ruler, chapter 18, verse 18, and the scriptures share this about this certain ruler. Ask the Lord God Almighty, good master, Luke chapter 18, verse 18, a certain ruler asked him saying, Lord, not saying good master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

Now he's just doing exactly what the Philippian jailer did. He's doing what they did on the day of Pentecost. He's asking, what can I do? What can I do? Well, I can say, trust Christ and don't move a muscle. And that's not something we can do. It's something he's done for us.

All right, Jesus said, why callest thou me good? Now, if he really knew him as good master, he would know that there's only one good and that's God. But he didn't know that. Why callest thou me goods? None is good save one that is God. Thou knowest the commandments. Do not commit adultery. Do not kill. Do not steal. Do not bear false witness.

Honor thy father and thy mother. And here he has the audacity to say this, just like the Pharisee said there at the temple. I'm glad I'm not like other men. He said, I, all these things have I kept from my youth up. I tithe twice a week, on and on it goes. There's no difference.

And now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, yet lackest thou one thing, sell all that thou hast and distribute unto the poor and thou shall have treasure in heaven and come follow me. And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful for he was very rich. And when the Lord saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, how hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of heaven. Fool have hired out themselves for food. Here is a man has oh so much and he has nothing spiritual.

Well, let's look at another before we close and that's over in the book of the Psalm, Psalm 73. In Psalm 73, we have you and I, you and I on a bad day when we think We don't think we have everything that we should. Psalm 73. This writer was given this by inspiration. Same inspiration he gave to Anna, same inspiration he gave to Solomon, same inspiration he gave to Peter or Paul. Here we have the psalmist.

Now it says it's Asaph, and he says, truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart. But as for me, my feet were almost gone. My steps had well nigh slipped. And you know why? He looked on what other people had. Look at that. Look at that. For I was envious at the foolish when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

For there are no bands in their death, but their strength is firm. They are not in trouble as other men, neither are they plagued like other men. Therefore pride compasses them about as a chain. Violence covers them as a garment. Their eyes stand out with fatness. They have none more than heart could wish. They are corrupt and speak wickedly concerning oppression and speak loftily. They set their mouth against the heavens. Their tongue walketh through the earth. They do not agree with God. They find fault with God. They speak out against God.

And you know, when God saves His people, He gives them a compassion for God and His word. Verse 10, therefore, his people return hither. The waters of a full cup are wrung out of them. They say, how doth God know? And is there knowledge in the Most High? Behold, these are the ungodly who prosper in the world. They increase in riches.

Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain and washed my hands in innocency. For all the day long have I been plagued and chastened every morning. If I say I will speak thus, behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children. When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me, until I went into the sanctuary of God. Now, is that part of the building the sanctuary of God?

I hope you don't say it is. It's a nice auditorium. It's dry. It's warm. It's fairly comfortable. But it's not the sanctuary of the Lord. We let coffee in there, and tea, and drinks. This sanctuary of the Lord, it says, until I went into the sanctuary of the Lord, where is that? I went to Christ, I went to God.

Then understood I their end. When I understood their end, I no longer had any more jealousy about what they had. So he took it away. They have everything they want. I have election, predestination, sanctification. I have redemption. I have imputation. I have all of the blessings of God in Christ Jesus. I have all the bread of life. I have all of these things. Now, we have it all.

And once in a while, we're kind of like Asaph and we say, oh my, my, my. but when we are shown in the sanctuary of the Lord, when we are in Christ and see their end. You know, Brother Roth Barnard said one time, and we're gonna close with this, because in verses six through nine of our great song, it talks about the Lord killing people. Turn over there, let me share that with you.

I remember, Brother Rothbarner preached a sermon one time that was not very popular. It was the God that kills people. And there were not very many people that thought that was a great sermon. Now, the people that didn't think it was a great sermon were the people that didn't know Christ.

That's it. Because God has done that, and he is doing that, and he will continue to do that. But here in the book of First Samuel, chapter two, verse six, it says, the Lord killeth. Now we're either gonna say he does that or he doesn't. Now I know this for a fact. He certainly does that spiritually. And that's what we'll look at. Brother Rolfe preached that sermon, the God that kills. You may assume that was not very popular, but we will find Now, we're just going to leave it at this. When Jesus Christ told his disciples that Lazarus was sick and stayed where he was, he let the course of God follow. He let him die. Did he purpose him to die? Absolutely. Did he want him to die? Of course. He said he's dead now. And then he went and did what he does when it comes to spiritual matters.

He calls us from our death. That's where he calls us from. We're gonna stop there tonight. We'll pick this up. There's so much in verses six, seven, eight, and nine in this prayer of Hannah that applies to us spiritually and we wanna look at as such. So we'll stop here tonight with the Lord killeth and maketh alive, he bringeth down to the grave and bringeth up, and that she's declaring his absolute sovereignty over all things. All right, let's stop there tonight.