GREAT PRAYERS BIBLE HANNAH LONGED FOR A SON 1 Samuel 1

Hannah was a woman of prayer. Surprised, , her husband Elkanah said to her, ‘Hannah, why do you weep? Why do you not eat? Why is your heart grieved? Am I not better than ten sons? That logic did not satisfy the deep yearning of this godly woman, longing for a son. She was infertile; her diagnosis was Anorexia Nervosa, showing loss of appetite, loss of condition, hormonal insufficiency, with loss of reproduction. It is a complex spiritual, psychological and physical condition.

Despite her bitterness of soul, Hannah prayed to the Lord, and wept in anguish. . ‘And then she vowed saying, ‘O Lord of hosts, ( notice her reverence for her Lord ) If You will indeed look on the affliction of your maidservant and remember me, and not forget your maidservant, but will give your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head.’

‘She continued praying before the Lord.’ Eli watcher her mouth. Hannah spoke in her heart. Only her lips moved, with her voice not heard. Indeed Eli the priest wrongly assumed that Hannah was drunk; so she explained to him,’ My lord, I am a woman of sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor intoxicating drink, but have poured out my soul to the Lord.’ Do not consider your maidservant a wicked woman, for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief I have spoken. (v15) Notice Hannah reminds the priest she is a normal woman, and certainly not a wicked one: and a servant of the temple. God loves the prayer of womanhood.

I recall seeing my dear Mother on her knees , praying for her children. I remember my grandmother taking me on her lap with the old family bible- and training me. These gentle woman taught me to pray. More than eighty years have passed since they inducted me into family prayer. Mary, the mother of the Lord Jesus, would have often taught and prayed with her Son, knowing HE was the Son of God as well as her born child, though conceived of the Holy Spirit.

Eli as priest prophesied to Hannah, ’ Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition which you have asked of Him.’(v17) Her Anorexia faded as she said,’ Let your handmaiden find favour in your sight ( seeing you speak for the LORD ) . So the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad. ’They rose early in the morning to worship before the Lord, returning to their home in Ramah.

Her natural desire for her husband had returned, for Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the Lord remembered her.’ God the Creator of womanhood as well as manhood answered her heart prayer. ’Hannah conceived ( with what joy ) and bore a son, ( God’s promise more certain than ultrasound for sex determination), and called his name, Samuel, ’Because I have asked him from the LORD.’

Hannah stayed home while ’Elkanah and all his house went up to offer to the Lord the yearly sacrifice and his vow.’ Hannah explained ‘I will not go up until the child is weaned, then I will take him, that he may appear before the Lord and remain there for ever.’ Only let the Lord establish HIS word. So the woman stayed and nursed her son until she had weaned him. Scripture does not tell how Hannah’s praying influenced the development of that little precious life.

Hannah weaned Samuel. ’F or she took him with her, three bulls, one ephah of flour (corn ground was typical of Christ’s sufferings ) and a skin of wine; and she brought him to the house of the Lord. The child was young. Then she told her story:

‘O my lord, as your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood by you here, praying to the Lord. For this child I prayed, and the Lord ha granted me my petition which I asked of HIM. Then the great, motherly sacrifice: therefore I have lent him to the Lord: as long as he lives, he shall be lent to the Lord. So they worshipped the LORD there.‘ The Father heart of God rejoices with such praying.

In a majestic prayer-Hannah prayed and said,

My heart rejoices in the Lord. My horn is exalted in the Lord.

I smile at my enemies, Because I rejoice in your salvation.

There is none holy like the Lord. For there is none besides You.

Nor is there is any rock like our God.

Talk no more so very proudly, Let no arrogance come from your mouth;

For the Lord is the God of knowledge, and by Him actions are weighed.

The bows of the mighty men are broken, and those who stumbled are girded with strength; Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread.

Those who were hungry have ceased to hunger, even the barren has borne seven,

And she who has many children has become feeble.

The Lord kills and makes alive, He brings down to the grave and brings up.

The Lord makes poor and makes rich: He brings low and lifts up.

He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the beggar from the ash heap. To set them among princes, and make them inherit the throne of glory.

For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s, And He has set the world upon them.

He will guard the feet of His saints, But the wicked shall be silent in darkness.

For by strength shall no man prevail, the adversaries of the Lord shall be broken in pieces: From heaven He will thunder against them, the Lord will judge the earth.

HE will give strength to His King, and exalt the horn of His anointed.

How does your prayer compare with Hannah’s? Rating 1-10 No limit to the godly.