1 Samuel 2:10
He will give strength to his king and exalt the horn of his anointed.
Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 2:1-11
The book of 1 Samuel opens with the story of Hannah. Hannah is married to Elkanah who has another wife as well. Hannah was barren while her “rival” wife was very fertile. Hannah desperately wanted a child.
Hannah made a vow to the Lord while visiting the Tabernacle that of God would give her a son then she would dedicate him to the Lord. The priest Eli observed her praying and requested God to give her what she asked for. God did show favor to Hannah and she bore a son named Samuel.
True to her word, when she had weened Samuel she took him to Eli and dedicated him to the Lord leaving him with Eli to serve in the Tabernacle. In the second chapter, we are given Hannah’s prayer as she leaves Samuel with Eli. Her prayer being clearly inspired by the Holy Spirit contains a prophecy regarding Jesus:
“Those who oppose the Lord will be broken. The Most High will thunder from heaven; the Lord will judge the ends of the earth. “He will give strength to his king and exalt the horn of his anointed”” (1 Samuel 2:10).
There are a couple of remarkable parts to Hannah’s prayer. The first part of this verse speaks of God’s judgement on those who oppose him. That isn’t unusual since Israel had been wiping out one nation after another along their travels.
However, Hannah’s prayer says God will judge the ends of the earth. This is the first time we have heard this language. It speaks of a time when God will judge all people on earth who oppose him. This not only includes the land of Canaan but even the “ends of the earth.”
The other remarkable part of her prayer speaks of a king. Israel has no king – yet. They are still under the care of Judges as Samuel will be the last Judge. So Hannah speaks of God’s king who will be exalted. She calls this king God’s anointed.
The Hebrew word for anointed is Messiah. The Greek word for anointed is Christ. Hannah is speaking of God’s coming Messiah who will be exalted. Jesus fulfills this prophecy upon his resurrection. “Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me’” (Matthew 28:18).
Hannah was given prophetic words about the Messiah who would come to rule with authority to the ends of the earth. All people who oppose him will be judged. God’s word never fails.
Christ in the Old Testament 
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