The Prayer of Hannah

Bible Reading: 1 Samuel 2:1-11

Many times, we pray and wonder why our prayers are not answered immediately.  There are some times when God delays the answer to our prayers. Hannah no doubt had been praying about a son for a long time. Cursed with barrenness, she had no doubt brought it before the Lord many times in prayer. ‘Oh God, give me a son. Lord, I want a son. God, why haven't You given me a son?’ Yet there seemingly was no answer to her prayer. God delayed the answer. Mary, the mother of Jesus, was familiar with Hannah's prayer because the rejoicing of Mary, known as the Magnificat, is much the same pattern as the prayer of Hannah. This song records the worship Hannah offered on the very day she left her little boy – her only child – at the Tabernacle, never for him to live with her in her home again! Only after she left Samuel behind, the finality of her decision must have hit her hard!

How could she sing a song of praise at such a time?

Hannah definitely could not have been happy about leaving her only son behind, but she was glad that the Lord had vindicated her. She declared that now she can smile at her enemies, and no one can talk arrogantly, saying she was barren. She understood how the Lord had lifted her from the dust and the ash heap to set her among the princes! Hannah made a conscious choice to focus on the God who answered her prayer! Hannah will never be a loser in giving her son to God! When Peter told Jesus that they had left everything to follow Jesus, Jesus said, "Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel's, who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time and in the age to come, eternal life" (Mark 10:28-30). Hannah just focussed on the deliverance provided by God. She would henceforth never be called barren! But God in His mercy gave Hannah five more children! God is no man's debtor!

My friend, look to God alone to vindicate us. The Bible says, "… we do not know what we should pray for as we ought …" (Romans 8:26), and this is very true. The waiting may be difficult, but God is using that period to align our purpose with His! 

Prayer: Save me, O God, by Your name, and vindicate me by Your strength. Amen. (Psalm 54:1)

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