IS JESUS CHRIST THE ROCK ON WHICH YOU HAVE LAID THE FOUNDATION, ON WHICH YOU ARE BUILDING YOUR LIFE?
Hannah’s Song
Sakkie Parsons
Translated from Afrikaans: “Is Jesus Christus die Rots waarop jy die fondament gelê het, waarop jy jou lewe leef?”
Someone wrote to me asking about the connection between 1 Samuel 2:5 and Jeremiah 15:9.
The only obvious similarity I can see is the number seven.
The reason I’m sharing this with you, my reader, is because I want to reveal a great truth from the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Now then—
I don’t believe that 1 Samuel 2:5 and Jeremiah 15:9 is about the same subject. The only clear connection is the number seven.
In 1 Samuel 2:5, we read of Hannah’s deep and joyful gratitude for what the Lord had done for her. And, in a very human way—as we also do when writing songs today—she reflects on phrases from earlier songs sung before her time. Let me give you an example:
Deuteronomy 32:3-4 (AMP)
“For I proclaim the name [and presence] of the LORD; Ascribe greatness and honor to our God!
The Rock! His work is perfect, For all His ways are just; A God of faithfulness without iniquity (injustice), Just and upright is He.”
And then, an example from someone after her—David, who did the same:
Psalm 9:9
“The LORD also will be a refuge and a stronghold for the oppressed, A refuge in times of trouble.”
The reason I share these examples is because Hannah did exactly the same in her song when she used the number seven.
People in biblical times often used the number seven to symbolize fullness or abundance. Let me share a few examples:
1 Samuel 2:5
“Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, But those who were hungry have ceased to hunger. Even the barren woman has given birth to seven, But she who had many children has languished.”
Job 5:19
“He will rescue you from six troubles; Even in seven, evil will not touch you.”
Ruth 4:15
“May he also be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher and supporter in your old age; for your daughter-in-law, who loves you and is better to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.”
And of course, also:
Jeremiah 15:9
“She who has borne seven sons languishes; She has breathed out her last breath. Her sun has set (has gone down) while it was still day; She has been ashamed and humiliated. So I will hand over the rest of them to the sword Before their enemies,” says the LORD.
Now, there is something wonderful in Hannah’s song that I’d also like to share with you.
Remember that when Hannah sang this song, Israel had no king yet. The people were still led by judges, and at that time, it was Eli. Later, her own son Samuel would also become one of the judges. So this was long before Israel had its first king, Saul.
If you read her song from verse 6 onward with that in mind, I believe you’ll see one of the clearest prophecies pointing to our King and Savior, Jesus Christ:
1 Samuel 2:6–10
“The LORD puts to death and makes alive;
He brings down to Sheol (the grave) and raises up [from the grave].
The LORD makes poor and makes rich;
He brings low and He lifts up.
He raises the poor from the dust;
He lifts up the needy from the ash heap
To make them sit with nobles,
And inherit a seat of honor and glory;
For the pillars of the earth are the LORD’s,
And He set the land on them.
He guards the feet of His godly (faithful) ones,
But the wicked are silenced and perish in darkness;
For a man shall not prevail by might.
The adversaries of the LORD will be broken to pieces;
He will thunder against them in the heavens,
The LORD will judge the ends of the earth;
And He will give strength to His king,
And will exalt the horn (strength) of His anointed.”
Let’s return for a moment to the prophecy in 1 Samuel 2:10, and briefly look at Jeremiah 15:9, since that was part of the original question.
In Jeremiah 15, the focus is on Judah and Jerusalem.
The judgment spoken over them is truly terrifying. But something that stands out to me in this judgment is this:
In those days, it was considered a tragedy for a woman to be barren. And then we read:
Jeremiah 15:8 (AMP)
“I will make their widows more numerous before Me Than the sand of the sea; I will bring against them, against the mother of the young men, A destroyer at noonday; I will suddenly bring down on her Anguish and dismay.”
Now consider this:
God had said to Abraham that his descendants would be more numerous than the sand of the sea:
Genesis 22:16–18
“… By Myself (on the basis of Who I Am) I have sworn [an oath], declares the LORD, that since you have done this thing and have not withheld from Me your son, your only son, indeed I will greatly bless you, and I will greatly multiply your descendants like the stars of the heavens and like the sand on the seashore; and your seed shall possess the gate of their enemies [as conquerors]. Through your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have heard and obeyed My voice.”
And now, that very same offspring of Abraham hears that because of their sin, their widows will be as numerous as the sand of the sea.
In other words—
Their men will be killed in such vast numbers that their widows will be too many to count.
I feel compelled in my spirit to cry out:
“How terrifying is this judgment!”
Jeremiah 15:8
“I will make their widows more numerous before Me Than the sand of the sea…”
Now I want to return to the end of Hannah’s song in 1 Samuel 2:10, and link it directly to God’s promise to Abraham in Genesis 22:16–18.
Let’s read these two prophecies together:
Genesis 22:16–18
“… By Myself I have sworn [an oath], declares the LORD, that since you have done this thing and have not withheld from Me your son, your only son, indeed I will greatly bless you… Through your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have heard and obeyed My voice.”
1 Samuel 2:10
“The adversaries of the LORD will be broken to pieces;
He will thunder against them in the heavens,
The LORD will judge the ends of the earth;
And He will give strength to His king,
And will exalt the horn (strength) of His anointed.”
Hannah’s song, which ultimately becomes a prophecy about our Redeemer and Savior, actually begins with a prophecy about Him too:
1 Samuel 2:2
“There is no one holy like the LORD,
There is no one besides You,
There is no Rock like our God.”
Then, in the New Testament, after the prophecies about Jesus were fulfilled, we read:
Romans 9:33
“…‘Behold, I am laying in Zion a Stone of stumbling and a Rock of offense,’
But he who believes in Him [who adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Him] will not be disappointed [in his expectations].”
Who is this Stone of stumbling and Rock of offense for those who are lost?
1 Corinthians 10:1–4
“…all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ.”
1 Peter 2:7–10
“This precious value, then, is for you who believe [in Him as God’s only Son—the Source of salvation]; but for those who disbelieve,
‘The [very] stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief Cornerstone,’
and,
‘A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense’;
for they stumble because they disobey the word [of God], and to this they [who reject Him as Savior] were also appointed.
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a consecrated nation, a [special] people for God’s own possession,
so that you may proclaim the excellencies [the wonderful deeds and virtues and perfections] of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
Once you were not a people [at all], but now you are God’s people;
once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”
Now I want to ask you, who have read this far:
Have you accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior?
In other words, is Jesus Christ the Rock on which you’ve built the foundation of your life?
If you cannot confidently answer yes, then you have not yet surrendered fully to Jesus.
Also remember: Once someone has heard of Jesus and His loving sacrifice and saving grace, they can no longer remain neutral toward Him.
Jesus Himself said:
Matthew 12:30
“Whoever is not with Me [believing in Me as Lord and Savior] is against Me; and whoever does not gather with Me scatters.”
There is truly no other Rock—
Yes, there is no other Lord:
1 Corinthians 3:11 (AMP)
“For no one can lay a foundation other than the one which is [already] laid, which is Jesus Christ.”
Therefore, if you’re unsure, and you want assurance in your heart, you can—right now, where you are—say to Him with full sincerity:
“Lord Jesus, I am a sinful person, and right now I am lost and headed for hell.
I want to have a love relationship with You and live my life according to Your ways.
Please help me.”
Then look for a Christian church that believes the entire Bible is the infallible Word of God.
Attend one of their services and speak with the pastor for further guidance.
Just a note: If you attend a Pentecostal church, the pastor usually stands at the door after the service to greet people, making it easy to approach him.
If you can’t find such a church in your area, please contact me—I’ll try to help.
Sakkie