This is the Bible Book Club. I'm Heather and I'm Susan. And we're in the book of First Samuel.

Welcome to the club.

In episode one of season nine, we learned that the books of First and Second Samuel are the story of Israel's leadership transition from judges to the first two kings, which they asked for.

Saul, who failed due to pride and disobedience, and then David, who is called a man after God's own heart.

We also discuss that Israel has a problem.

Everyone does as they see fit because they had no king.

The truth is God was supposed to be their king. Israel was a theocracy, but they wanted a real live king and they asked for one. So God's

solution to their problem was to provide a human king, chosen by God and anointed to lead the people.

In chapter one, we read the story of Hannah and Samuel. It's a beautiful story about a

faithful woman struggling with infertility. Hannah turned to God in her distress, promising that if

God gave her a son, she would dedicate him to God's service for life. Samuel was conceived,

born, nursed, and weaned as a toddler, then given to the high priest Eli to serve the Lord.

All right, in scene one, Hannah's joy overflows in public praise.

Hannah's prayer is really a song or psalm of praise.

Hannah's song is sometimes called the Magnificate of the Old Testament.

Because it parallels Mary's song and Luke I, the Magnificate of the Old Testament because it parallels Mary's song in Luke 1,

the Magnificate of the New Testament. Like Hannah, Mary sings or praises as a response to a child.

Hannah's song also serves as a bookend to David's song. Hannah's song is sung in the beginning of 1st Samuel,

and David's song is sung at the end of 2nd Samuel.

Hannah begins the book by singing in celebration of what God has done

and looking forward to what he will do in the future,

while David ends the book singing in celebration of God's

...