April 23 - Hannah's Prayer

Read 1 Sam 2:1-10

Context: Hannah was married to Elkanah and she was unable to bear children. Elkanah's other wife, Peninnah, had many sons and daughters, and she loved to tease and taunt Hannah about it. At their annual trek to worship and sacrifice to the Lord at Shiloh, a priest saw Hannah praying fervently (he thought she was drunk). Hannah promised the Lord that, if he would give her a child, she would give him over to the Lord. Samuel was born, and after he was weaned Hannah too him to Shiloh and left him there with the priests to serve the Lord. This is her prayer after she turned him over.

Text:
1 Then Hannah prayed and said:
"My heart rejoices in the LORD;
in the LORD my horn [a] is lifted high.
My mouth boasts over my enemies,
for I delight in your deliverance.
2 "There is no one holy [b] like the LORD;
there is no one besides you;
there is no Rock like our God.
3 "Do not keep talking so proudly
or let your mouth speak such arrogance,
for the LORD is a God who knows,
and by him deeds are weighed.
4 "The bows of the warriors are broken,
but those who stumbled are armed with strength.
5 Those who were full hire themselves out for food,
but those who were hungry hunger no more.
She who was barren has borne seven children,
but she who has had many sons pines away.
6 "The LORD brings death and makes alive;
he brings down to the grave [c] and raises up.
7 The LORD sends poverty and wealth;
he humbles and he exalts.
8 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.
9 He will guard the feet of his saints,
but the wicked will be silenced in darkness.
"It is not by strength that one prevails;
10 those who oppose the LORD will be shattered.
He will thunder against them from heaven;
the LORD will judge the ends of the earth.
"He will give strength to his king
and exalt the horn of his anointed." (NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

I admire Hannah's strength and her willingness to follow through on a promise to God. While I imagine she had plenty of talks with God on her way up to Shiloh begging him to release her from her vow, she still carried through. This prayer is not one of a distraught mother losing her only child, it is the prayer of a faithful woman worshiping and praising God.

It helps me to remember this prayer in difficult times. Our God is so much bigger than any trials and troubles we have. His strength will prevail!