Psalm 108: Be Exalted, O God

Psalm 108, a Psalm of David, is one of praise to God. This is another Psalm from which a beautiful chorus was written.  Here is the Psalm in its entirety:

V1-6.  O God, my heart is fixed; I will sing and give praise......  Awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early.  (v 3-5 are the verses on which the chorus is based).  I will praise thee, O LORD, among the people: and I will sing praises unto thee among the nations.  For thy mercy is great above the heavens: and thy truth reacheth unto the clouds.  Be exalted O God, above the heavens; and thy glory above all the earth; that thy beloved may be delivered: save with thy right hand....)

With his praise, David trusts that as one of God's beloved, he will be delivered from this present evil world, even by God's right hand, the hand of power.

Below is the beautiful chorus Be Exalted O God as sung by the Maranatha singers:

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vcg

Bible Women: Hannah - An Answered Prayer

1 Samuel 1:1 - 2:21

Hannah's story presents a beautiful example of love, submission, prayer, praise and worship.  She was a most godly woman.

We meet Hannah in 1 Samuel 1:2.  She is one of two wives of Elkanah. V2 tells us that Hannah had no children, but that Peninnah, the other wife, had children.  Hannah's husband went up each year to worship and sacrifice unto the LORD of hosts in Shiloh where Eli the priest was there with his two sons Hophni and Phinehas. (V3) and his family went with him.  V4-5 tell us that while Penninah  and her children were given portions, "unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: but the LORD had shut up her womb."  This is a testing time for Hannah, but the Lord knew her heart.  V6-7 tell us of the cruelty of Peninnah "her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb." Peninnah is called Hannah's adversary, and there is no mention of her ever doing a kind thing.  Perhaps she was jealous because she knew that Elkanah loved Hannah the most.

V7 tells us that these provocations went on year by year, and "therefore she (Hannah) wept, and did not eat."  Elkanah does not understand why Hannah is so upset, V8 "then said Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? am not I better to thee than ten sons?

In V9 they have gone to Shiloh again, and "... Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the LORD." and now, V10-11 Hannah being in "bitterness of soul, she prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore. And she vowed a vow, and said "O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head." With this prayer we learn that Hannah believes in her heart that the LORD could open her womb and give her a child, and not only that but a boy. She shows great faith by being willing to submit to the LORD's will and promises to give the baby back to the LORD.