1 Samuel 2:7-9 - The LORD sends poverty and wealth; he humbles and he exalts.

The LORD sends poverty and wealth; he humbles and he exalts. He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes and has them inherit a throne of honor. "For the foundations of the earth are the LORD's; upon them he has set the world. He will guard the feet of his saints, but the wicked will be silenced in darkness. "It is not by strength that one prevails;

The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up. He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD's, and he hath set the world upon them. He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.

The LORD makes poor and rich; He brings low, He also exalts. He raises the poor from the dust, He lifts the needy from the ash heap To make them sit with nobles, And inherit a seat of honor; For the pillars of the earth are the LORD'S, And He set the world on them. He keeps the feet of His godly ones, But the wicked ones are silenced in darkness; For not by might shall a man prevail.

1 Samuel 2:7-9

Commentary

The pillars of the earth is poetic imagery. Since the very "pillars" that uphold the earth belong to God, all creation is stable and secure under His care. In line with the pattern of ancient wisdom literature, Hannah contrasted the righteous and the wicked. The Lord would keep His saints from stumbling, but the adversaries of the Lord would face certain calamity. The Hebrew word for anointed means "Messiah." This phrase points to the ultimate King, before whom every knee shall bow (Phil. 2:10).

Radmacher, E. D., Allen, R. B., & House, H. W. (1999). Nelson's new illustrated Bible commentary (1 Sa 2:7-10). Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers.