Hannah’s passionate prayer for a baby and God’s answer is truly one of the most moving stories in the Bible. It’s a testimony of a faithful woman of God who brought her pain and grief to the Lord and did so with a promise — and then followed through on that promise.
If you’ve not read Part 1 of my look at Hannah’s story, I encourage you to do so by clicking here. This post is a continuation of that one.
As a quick recap of this story, let’s look at the opening verses in I Samuel 1:
Now there was a certain man of Ramathaimzophim, of mount Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephrathite: And he had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children. And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the Lord of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the Lord, were there. And when the time was that Elkanah offered, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions: But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: but the Lord had shut up her womb. And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the Lord had shut up her womb. And as he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of the Lord, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat. Then said Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? am not I better to thee than ten sons? So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the Lord. And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the Lord, and wept sore.
I Samuel 1:1-10, KJV
Hannah was “in bitterness of soul.” The circumstances of her plight are well described in the biblical text, but it’s important to acknowledge the emotional anguish with which she was dealing. And it’s crucial that we see what she did with that anguish.
Rather than turn away from God in her pain, she turns toward God.
This is a lesson for all of us today.
We will now take up the remainder of this passage verse by verse in the classic King James Version:
11 And she vowed a vow, and said, O Lord of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the Lord all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.
As we covered in Part 1, Hannah pours her heart out before God in a context of worship and submission.
What’s more, she doesn’t just ask for God to relieve her pain, she asks for God to transform her pain into His progress.
Eli’s sons were immoral priests who had corrupted the priesthood. As we covered in Part 1, I believe Hannah knew this. In fact, I’m sure most Israelites who came to the tabernacle knew this.
So Hannah doesn’t just think of what she wants. She thinks about what God wants!
With God’s desires in mind, Hannah pledges that, if God will give her a son, she will give him back to God. She essentially surrenders him to lifelong service to the Lord.
It’s important to understand that God generally doesn’t give us things simply or exclusively for our enjoyment and pleasure. Sometimes, He does. But usually, God gives us things, so that we will use them for His glory.
Hannah’s prayer is an example for us all.
12 And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the Lord, that Eli marked her mouth.
This means Eli was trying to read her mouth, trying to understand what she was saying.
13 Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken.
14 And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee.
It is not uncommon for people to sometimes misunderstand and mischaracterize others who are in pain. When we do this, we can add to people’s pain. And for this reason, it’s important to approach people with humility and not judgment.
15 And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the Lord.
It was common then – and now – for people to turn to drunkenness to escape their pain. Even though Hannah was innocent, it’s worth noting that alcohol is not the answer to your problems.
Drunkenness may give you a brief, artificial escape, but ultimately, it only deepens your pain.
16 Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto.
Hannah explains that she is approaching God in grief and pain. And this speaks to Eli’s heart, which we see in his response.
17 Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him.
Eli affirms Hannah’s prayer. In this statement, he is committing himself in agreement with her and interceding with God on her behalf. There’s also the implication that God is speaking to Hannah through Eli — using Eli to assure Hannah that she has been heard.
18 And she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad.
We see a big lesson here. Hannah receives Eli’s affirmation and assurance. And most of all, she is content in the knowledge that she has poured her entire heart out before God. She’s given her burden to God. Now, the matter is in God’s hands.
And Hannah is able to go her way, to eat, and to no longer be sad.
This is the promise that Paul speaks to in his letter to the church in Philippi:
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7, KJV
Once you’ve given your cares and worries to God, it’s time to trust Him and leave them with Him. And receive His peace.
19 And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the Lord, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the Lord remembered her.
It is likely that Hannah told Elkanah of her prayer, and so Elkanah and Hannah did what they needed to do in order to receive God’s blessing. An important lesson here is that, if Hannah had still been operating in fear and dread, it may have interfered with her ability to be fully intimate with her husband. Instead, we see an indication that Hannah and Elkanah are proceeding in their marriage in peace and faith.
When you pray and ask God for something, how do you act moving forward? Do you live in faith? or do you live in doubt and fear?
20 Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the Lord.
Hannah honors God immediately by naming her son in the context of her praise to God.
21 And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer unto the Lord the yearly sacrifice, and his vow.
22 But Hannah went not up; for she said unto her husband, I will not go up until the child be weaned, and then I will bring him, that he may appear before the Lord, and there abide for ever.
23 And Elkanah her husband said unto her, Do what seemeth thee good; tarry until thou have weaned him; only the Lord establish his word. So the woman abode, and gave her son suck until she weaned him.
We see that Elkanah and Hannah are on the same page and that Hannah is making it clear that (though she will nurse Samuel through his infancy), she intends to honor her vow.
24 And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house of the Lord in Shiloh: and the child was young.
25 And they slew a bullock, and brought the child to Eli.
26 And she said, Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the Lord.
27 For this child I prayed; and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of him:
28 Therefore also I have lent him to the Lord; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the Lord. And he worshipped the Lord there.
Hannah does two very important things here. First, she acknowledges to Eli (the man who had affirmed her prayer request) that God had indeed answered her prayer. How many times do we pray for things and even ask others to pray for things, and then never report back when God answers those prayers?
Second, Hannah fulfills her vow. She honors her commitment to God.
And we see Hannah’s praise to God in the next chapter:
And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the Lord, mine horn is exalted in the Lord: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation. There is none holy as the Lord: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God. Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength. They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; and they that were hungry ceased: so that the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble. The Lord killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up. 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 adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the Lord shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed.
I Samuel 2:1-10, KJV
And a few verses later in the second chapter of Samuel, we see God continued to bless Hannah:
But Samuel ministered before the Lord, being a child, girded with a linen ephod. Moreover his mother made him a little coat, and brought it to him from year to year, when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice. And Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife, and said, The Lord give thee seed of this woman for the loan which is lent to the Lord. And they went unto their own home. And the Lord visited Hannah, so that she conceived, and bare three sons and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew before the Lord.
I Samuel 2:18-21, KJV
The legacy of Samuel is due to the faithfulness of Hannah, who is truly one of the most remarkable women in the entire Bible. And her legacy still speaks to us today.
