Bethany Community Church

This is a song about how God opposes the proud, how he opposes those who try to put themselves about others, but that he honours the humble

- What stands out to you from Hannah's song
- What do you notice about your own responses?

Notice how often Hannah's prayer revolves around the theme of God opposing the proud but exalting the humble

My heart exults in the Lord;
My horn is exalted in the Lord

God is our rock. He is our firm foundation and a refuge to find help

This song is meant to be unsettling for the oppressor or the ones putting someone down or causing someone suffering

God exalts the humble but opposes the proud

If these verses unsettle us, we need to consider the possibility that we're not in line with God's rule of humility of self and love of others

The promise is God breaks the weapons of strong. The weak face won't last forever

The concept of God's concern for the poor and oppressed predates, surpasses and supersedes any political platform or ideology

God consistently identifies with the oppressed/hungry/weak/low status, and he elevates them

God himself will fight against our enemies. As verse 10 says, God himself will "thunder against them and judge throughout the earth"

And the word "anointed one" could be translated as "chosen one". It's the Hebrew word "meh-shee-akh" which we pronounce as "messiah"

God's King, our Messiah, Jesus will rescue us and free you from this burden

The Three Promises

- God opposes the proud but exalts the humble
- Despite ongoing human evil, God is at work
- God's kingdom of love, hope and restoration is coming