Written ~ 07-11-2023
1 Samuel 2:1-2
Then Hannah prayed: “My heart rejoices in the LORD! The LORD has made me strong. Now I have an answer for my enemies; I rejoice because you rescued me. No one is holy like the LORD! There is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God.”
I love this prayer from Hannah. After many years of not being able to have a child, she went to the Tabernacle and prayed fervently for God to answer her plea, she wanted a son. She made an oath before the LORD that if she had a son, she would give him to the LORD to serve Him for his entire life.
After Hannah returned home, she became pregnant! God answered her prayer by giving her a son.
Now you would’ve thought this prayer from Hannah in verses 1-2 would have been spoken right when her son Samuel was born! A response of praise for God answering her fervent prayer.
But No!
This prayer was spoken after her boy was weaned, after she brought him to the Tabernacle, after she dedicated him to the LORD, and after she left him in the care of Eli the priest. Samuel was to remain there and belong to the LORD his whole life.
Wow. I admire Hannah so much. I could not imagine, after pleading with God, receiving the son I had fervently prayed for… but then give him up so he could belong to the LORD! Again WOW!
If you continue reading chapter 2… It shows Hannah visiting her son once a year… These four verses could almost be missed! But 1 Samuel 2: 18-21 tells us how Hannah and her husband Elkanah would go to the Tabernacle to offer their annual Sacrifices. Hannah made Samuel a small coat each year. But then in verse 21 it says that Eli blesses Hannah and Elkanah, so they wound up having three more sons and two daughters!
What a wonderful lesson for us today!
Praying for something – pleading with God, is one thing… but to pray for something with great intensity then attach an oath to it! Wow.
It’s kind of easy to promise God you’ll do something if God would just answer your prayer. Then when it is answered – how difficult is it to follow through on our promise? What if we don’t follow through? If Hannah had kept Samuel for herself and not dedicated him to the LORD, not only would we not have a wonderful prophet, but Hannah may also not have been blessed with five more children!
I’m wondering now, if I have ever truly given something over to the LORD, something I absolutely loved and cherished and rejoiced afterward?
I actually need to think about that.
Anyway, I love Hannah’s heart in this prayer. She’s rejoicing in a way that brings power to her very soul. “The LORD has made me strong.” Praising the LORD and rejoicing in the LORD for all God has done for you – even during turmoil. In this prayer it’s giving all Honor and Praise to the LORD! Let’s be reminded of Hannah’s prayer.
The next time need to make a tough decision and do what the LORD has asked, let’s go to God with praise, rejoicing, tell God how wonderful He is! Tell God who He is to you!
Hannah lets us know that she believes God is her strength, He’s her protector, God is her rescuer. She also knows God is Holy, that He is the One and Only! She knows Him to be her Rock.
It doesn’t say that Hannah was at all distraught by leaving her son behind. But can you imagine the final hugs and good-byes? She is leaning on the LORD as her rock. DEFINITELY!
Psalm 62:2 says,
“He alone is my Rock and my salvation, my defense and my strong tower; I will not be shaken or disheartened.”
That Psalm could’ve come straight out of Hannah’s heart.
My prayer is, that I would always go to God with this kind of praise – NO MATTER what is going on! To acknowledge Who He is to me and remember WHO the LORD is!
This is a wonderful prayer to model after.
Hannah’s heart was bursting with Joy – even though there could’ve been a touch of heartbreak.
Give praise to the LORD!
Rejoice in Him Alone!
~AMEN~