I think it’s safe to say that David was one of the greatest men in the Bible. He was a man after God’s own heart. He redeemed the kingship after the failure of Saul. His kingship would extend to all time by the work of Jesus his son, his father. He instituted a revolution in music and gave us much of the Psalter. The great Solomon, possibly the greatest philosopher-king the world has ever known owes much to his father, and still sits in his shadow to some degree. Even as David sinned with Bathsheba and the dramatic follow-up sins, he repented just as dramatically. David was an incredible man.

But the story of David doesn’t begin with David. It doesn’t even begin with Samuel who anoints him and guides him on his way. It begins with a woman, a barren woman, as all good Bible stories start out, it begins with Hannah.

Hannah didn’t make a name for herself for all of time by breaking the glass ceiling. She didn’t demand he rights or try to do man things. She was faithful with her sex as her sex. She began by praying. She prayed for a child. Then she raised him up faithfully and gave him to the service of God. Her prayer is an amazing work. She was no fool.

And Hannah prayed and said,
“My heart exults in the Lord;
my horn is exalted in the Lord.
My mouth derides my enemies,
because I rejoice in your salvation.
“There is none holy like the Lord:
for there is none besides you;
there is no rock like our God.
Talk no more so very proudly,
let not arrogance come from your mouth;
for the Lord is a God of knowledge,
and by him actions are weighed.
The bows of the mighty are broken,
but the feeble bind on strength.
Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread,
but those who were hungry have ceased to hunger.
The barren has borne seven,
but she who has many children is forlorn.
The Lord kills and brings to life;
he brings down to Sheol and raises up.
The Lord makes poor and makes rich;
he brings low and he exalts.
He raises up the poor from the dust;
he lifts the needy from the ash heap
to make them sit with princes
and inherit a seat of honor.
For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s,
and on them he has set the world.
“He will guard the feet of his faithful ones,
but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness,
for not by might shall a man prevail.
The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces;
against them he will thunder in heaven.
The Lord will judge the ends of the earth;
he will give strength to his king
and exalt the horn of his anointed.”