The Prayer Of Hannah

Rey Aguas 15 May
In her prayer she was waiting for the Lord, for the will of the Lord. Imagine Eli was unaware that she was praying meaning she got there before Eli did. Now it took some observation and waiting for Eli to go to her and ask. Maybe she checked her mouth first then sit again and wait. It took Hannah a while then Eli got tired of waiting just to confirm what is up to her. Thus, his question "How long are you going to get drunk? Put away your wine."
Download MP3

Scripture:

1 Samuel 2:1-10

Reflection:

Hannah is married to Elkanah who has another wife Peninnah. Yearly they went up from his town to worship and sacrifice to the Lord Almighty at Shiloh. Hannah's womb had been closed by the Lord so Peninnah is always provoking her until she wept and not eat.

We can see that it is not just a simple teasing, but Peninnah will keep at it until she was miserable. This is happening every year so imagine how Hannah is patient about it for she did not go against Peninnah, and to emphasize to her that she was more loved by his husband.

In this story we will learn the process and attitude of Hannah towards prayer.

1. She honestly came to God.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. (Philippians 4:6)

She sought God and presented her request in a way that she may also know the will of the Lord. She openly came to God on what causes her grief.

2. She is focused that she notices no one but the Lord.

While praying, Eli is watching her lips. In order to do that, you need to be really close to her, but Hannah did not noticed him until he took her attention.

Eli thought that she was drunk. Meaning, she was not thinking on how she looked like while praying she was unaware the whole time. She was committed to her prayers. I was reminded that the reason why sometimes we do not follow through in our prayer because we fail to seek the will of the Lord and be willing to commit in our prayer.

3. She poured out her spirit to God.

In her prayer she was waiting for the Lord, for the will of the Lord. Imagine Eli was unaware that she was praying meaning she got there before Eli did. Now it took some observation and waiting for Eli to go to her and ask. Maybe she checked her mouth first then sit again and wait. It took Hannah a while then Eli got tired of waiting just to confirm what is up to her. Thus, his question "How long are you going to get drunk? Put away your wine." (v.14)

4. Eli became a witness of Hannah's testimony.

"Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him" (v.16)

It is always a blessing to have someone to be a part of what you are praying for. Eli took part with her prayers and experience the goodness of God in Hannah's life later we can see on how big the answer to this prayer will affect the life of Eli.

5. She received the peace of the Lord.

"And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:7)

Then she went away and ate something and her face was no longer downcast (v.18)

How many of us that when we pray we no longer worry or get anxious on what we have prayed for. If we really did present it to God, we will receive the same kind of peace Hannah received.

6. Hannah recognized God

Her naming the child Samuel is a clear recognition of God. She had no doubts about it and immediately declares "because I asked the Lord for Him." This statement of her is to declare that, "What I have received it is the Lord's". You see there is no assurance that she will have children again. Her prayer is for a son only not for her womb to be open, but knowing this she does not waver or doubt to claim the child for herself for she knew the will of the Lord.

Take a pause for a moment and realize that everything that we have and received are from the Lord and we are to seek his will accordingly to those who honors God. We are not to stake our claims to them and live our lives doing what we please with them.

7. She sought the will of the Lord.

Remember in point 3 where she sought the will of the Lord. First she presented her requests because she was anguished from the constant provoking of her rival Peninnah. As she prayed, she learned the will of the Lord towards her prayer.

Think of this. There is no reason for her to give Samuel to Eli. Eli and his family are promised to be ministers and Eli has sons. Hannah do not know what was about to happen to his family, but she knew that it was the will of the Lord for his son to be offered to the Lord to minister to Him. And in a very young age God calls to him, he innocently seeks God and grow according to his calling.

"And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him." (1 John 5:14-15)



Photo by: Lot Casquejo