1 Samuel 2 Second Prayer

Hannah has just released Samuel into the Lord’s hands. Eli will care for him from this day forward. Hanna’s second prayer is full of praise.

Samuel; the promised child of Hannah. He is returned to the Lord through the hands of Eli. This was Hannah’s vow when she pleaded with God for a child. She didn’t shy away from fulfilling her part of the bargain. Her heart goes out to her and honors her strength at the same time. Let’s hear, in her own words, her praise and prayer.

♥ ♦ ♥

Hannah hears the prayer of Eli as he takes Samuel to raise for the Lord. Eli has asked that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, be a personal God to Samuel. This is Hannah’s sincere prayer as well. She cannot hold her joy in any longer. She HAS to extol the Lord with all her heart. Hannah spoke with an enthusiasm and boldness Elkanah had never before seen.

“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.” (1 Samuel 2:1-10)

Tears flowed down Hannah’s cheeks before her last words were spoken. They were tears of joy! Tears that spoke of thanks for all the Lord had done for her, all she knew He would do, and the promise of a future for herself and her son. She was also praying for continued healing of the old wounds between herself and Peninnah.

After Hannah concluded her prayer, Elkanah took her in his arms and wept with her. His tears were tears of joy also. The wife who he loved more than life itself was whole again. The two of them rejoined Peninnah and her children. Together, this rebuilding family returned home to Ramah.

Hannah would be rewarded for her faithfulness to the Lord. Elkanah would have a total of three sons and two daughters with Hannah. Hannah would also visit Samuel each year as Elkanah brought the whole family to Shiloh to sacrifice to the Lord. Each year Hannah would bring with her a new robe that she had made for Samuel. Mother and son both looked forward to these visits, but were ready to return to the roles the Lord had for them at the end of each.

(to be continued)

Hannah’s story is one of absolute dedication. It is not one that I would want to live. One thing about Hannah just struck me. She was a woman of her word. I know. We already know that. But if she was willing to keep her word in the hardest places, imagine how she kept in her everyday life.

I was talking with my daughter earlier this week about discipline and children. One thing I said was that a parent should NEVER make a threat for misbehavior that they are not willing to carry out. There were times when my children were small and I would tell them that if they didn’t stop doing X, I would give them Y. As a parent who loved her children, I had to be willing to ‘deliver on my promise’ or they would never trust my word. The same went for positive promises. Do NOT promise a reward that you are not willing to make good on.

I can just about guarantee that Hannah NEVER visited Samuel with false promises. And we KNOW that the Lord NEVER gave her, or us, any false promises. HIS word is HIS bond. His word is His Name! Without faithfulness to His words, He would be no better than all the false gods in the world.

Father God, THANK YOU that I can trust You with ALL my heart. That I KNOW that I am safe in Your arms. Even if that ‘safety’ means meeting You face to face in the struggle.

I’m asking You to meet my husband in his newest struggle. I’m not ready for him to meet You face to face. I don’t believe that is Your will right now either. I’m holding to Your hand as You hold him in Your arms. Let me be a woman of my word to him in ALL things. No matter what our future brings for us, I trust You to give me the strength to walk beside him and meet his needs; whatever they are.