““My heart exults in Adonai!
My dignity has been restored by Adonai!
I can gloat over my enemies,
because of my joy at your saving me.
No one is as holy as Adonai,
because there is none
to compare with you,
no rock like our God.”
-1 Samuel 2:1-2
In the last few words of verse 1 of Hannah’s prayer we read an amazing statement!!!
Hannah says she is filled with “joy at God saving her”.
Other English Bible versions will say things like “I have rejoiced in your salvation“.
But it’s when we examine the original Hebrew that things get really exciting.
The Hebrew says…
“I have rejoiced in your YESHUA“.
That’s right.
The Messiah’s name makes an appearance here.
Isn’t that seriously goose-bump inducing?
Hannah without even knowing it uttered a prophetic prayer 1200 years before the actual event.
I love how the Lord works!
But wait…
Things get even more exciting.
Notice the part where it says…
“…because there is none to compare with you”.
This was a new idea that was only now beginning to gather steam in the Hebrew mindset…
The idea that YAHWEH is not just Israel’s god…
But is actually the only God in existence.
We can see that slowly but surely Israel’s mindset was transforming from polytheistic to monotheistic.
Also notice the use of the word “rock”.
At this stage the term “rock” was just another metaphoric way to refer to God in the Hebrew culture…
It would be a while before it began to take on messianic overtones…
However, Hannah’s prayer was the start of the word “rock” evolving to have messianic significance.
Finally, here’s another thing I betcha 99.9% of the pastors, preachers and teachers have no idea about.
In the New Testament, remember Miryam’s prayer (otherwise known as “Mary” in gentile land) to God when she found out she was pregnant with a child conceived by the Holy Spirit?
Her prayer is patterned EXACTLY after Hanna’s prayer here 1 Samuel Chapter 2.
That’s right homies.
It’s nothing more nor less than a paraphrase of Miryam’s prayer…
Hannah’s prayer indirectly refers to the coming Messiah…
While Miryam’s prayer DIRECTLY refers to the coming Messiah.
Think I’m jive-talking you here man?
Well, you can check out Miryam’s prayer below and see for yourself that I kid you not.
Over and out.
CONNECTING THIS TEACHING TO THE NEW TESTAMENT
“Then Miryam said,
‘My soul magnifies Adonai;
and my spirit rejoices in God, my Savior,
who has taken notice of his servant-girl
in her humble position.
For — imagine it! — from now on,
all generations will call me blessed!
“The Mighty One has done great things for me!
Indeed, his name is holy;
and in every generation
he has mercy on those who fear him.
‘He has performed mighty deeds with his arm,
routed the secretly proud,
brought down rulers from their thrones,
raised up the humble,
filled the hungry with good things,
but sent the rich away empty.
‘He has taken the part of his servant Isra’el,
mindful of the mercy
which he promised to our fathers,
to Avraham and his seed forever.'”
-Luke 1:46-55
Dear Richo,
Please verify that the word “yeshua” (in Hannah’s prayer) means “salvation”; whereas Messiah’s name “YeHoshua” means “YaH’s Salvation”.
If so, strictly speaking, we cannot say that Messiah’s name appeared or was mentioned in Hannah’s prayer?
The Messiah’s name is Yeshua. Same difference.
Shalom Richo,
In Heb 4:8, all common bibles (except KJV) translate the name “Iesous” as “Joshua” (Yehoshua), which context is referring to the son of Nun (Mosheh’s assistant).
The Mashiach’s name is also written as “Iesous” in the messianic testimonies and letters.
So, is the name “Iesous” a Greek translation/ transliteration of the Hebrew word “yeshua (salvation)” OR is it a Greek translation/ transliteration of the common Hebrew name “YeHo-shua”?
Please give us your usual fearless and no-holds-barred answer.
Gim