Who truly marks the chapters in God’s unfolding drama that we call history?
When I studied historiography in my doctoral program in the UK, I remember being introduced to the concepts of “higher history” and “lower history.” Higher history essentially “marks time” through kings and queens, wars and generals, notable figures in art and literature, as well as prime ministers and presidents. We understand this intuitively:
• “Sue was born in the Eisenhower era.”
• “Jim joined the Army one week before 9/h11.”
• “Rick and Rachel were on vacation in Britain when Queen Elizabeth died.”
This is how history is often framed—through prominent figures and world-shaping events. Historians seek to understand culture, people, and their actions by anchoring them to these larger narratives.
In contrast, lower history seeks to understand an era through the small, often obscure details: county records, agricultural yields, anonymous family events. When I examined how Bible-believing Christianity became intertwined with the English Civil War—public theology in seventeenth-century England—I studied everything from handwritten parish notes from the 1640s in Kent to wool prices recorded in Lavenham, East Anglia. At first glance, one might think that reconstructing history from a sheep market is tedious compared to evaluating major battles. But in truth, both higher and lower histories are necessary to gain the depth and context needed to understand motivations, decisions, and ultimately, history itself.
Now, keep that in mind as we study the story of Hannah.
God’s greater redemptive plan is revealed through the leaders in the Book of Judges. This is unquestionably a “higher history” account of God’s work. And yet, Judges concludes with this infamous and sobering line:
“In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” (Judges 21:25, ESV)
If we were to assess God’s plan by the lens of higher history alone, things would look bleak. But the next two books, Ruth and 1 Samuel, shift our focus to Israel’s lower history. And by lower history, we do not mean less important, but less visible—quiet, unseen by most, yet known to God.
We are introduced to Ruth, a Gentile woman who would become the great-grandmother of King David and thus part of the lineage of Jesus Christ (Ruth 4:13–22; Matthew 1:5). And then, we meet Hannah—a childless woman in a polygamous household, suffering under the weight of her barrenness and the cruelty of her husband’s other wife, Peninnah (1 Samuel 1:1–8). Yet, from her deep sorrow and fervent faith, God would raise up a mighty prophet—Samuel—who would anoint Israel’s first kings and usher in a new era of God’s covenantal leadership (1 Samuel 1:9–20).
The faith of Hannah, like that of Ruth, reminds us that when the grand narrative of history appears to be unraveling, God is still at work in the small things, the hidden things. He brings great things from the seemingly insignificant.
As you listen to this message and study the Scriptures, I pray you will be encouraged. The God who knows every sparrow that falls from the sky (Matthew 10:29) knows every detail of your life. And your life is no less important than that of someone in a position of prominence or power. We might insensitively assign such weights to the relative value of human beings. God doesn’t.
For those who are in leadership, be reminded that God can accomplish His will without you. And for those who feel overlooked, take heart—He delights in exalting the humble and using the brokenhearted to fulfill His purposes (1 Samuel 2:1–10; Psalm 147:3). This is the glory of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
We pray you are encouraged in Christ with the Bible message that follows. Some questions from seminary students follow the sermon. The Lord strengthen you by His presence and power.
The faith of Hannah, like that of Ruth, reminds us that when the grand narrative of history appears to be unraveling, God is still at work in the small things, the hidden things. He brings great things from the seemingly insignificant.—Michael A. Milton, PhD
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