What the Lord taught through Hannah
Today the Lord taught four things from Hannah in 1 Samuel. Hannah was a sad woman. She was sad because she was barren. This is something that can cut the very core of a woman's heart - being childless. Adding insult to injury was, her rival, her husband's second wife Peninnah, who taunted Hannah all the time about her barrenness. Peninnah had several children. Year after year, the family went to Shiloh to worship the Lord and to offer sacrifices. Year after year, Peninnah vexed Hannah. Year after year, Hannah broke her heart. It's a sad picture.
But then, one year, it all changed. Hannah prayed earnestly and vowed if the Lord would have mercy on her and give her a son, she would give the child back to God The Lord heard. He answered through a priest called Eli. Hannah conceived and gave birth to a beautiful son. And she returned to the Temple and consecrated him to the Lord, just as she promised. Happy ending!
So what can we learn from Hannah?
A woman of hope
1 Samuel 1:11 And she made a vow, saying, “Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.” Hannah prayed this amazing prayer after several years of barrenness. For all practical purposes, it seemed like there is no hope. Even her husband seemed to think so, as he comforted her saying he was better than 10 sons to Hannah rather than give her hope that she would have a son (V8). Years have gone by in waiting and disappointment. People were mocking her. Her husband who loved her so much had accepted her barrenness. But Hannah hoped in the Lord!!!
A woman of prayer
1 Samuel 1:15 “Not so, my lord,” Hannah replied, “I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the Lord. 16 Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief.” Hannah was so sad she couldn't even eat (V7). However, when her husband comforted her and asked her to eat, seems like she did (V9). And it is after that, she rose up and went before the Lord and poured out her heart unto Him. I find so often, when I am sad, I pray about it very mechanically but I pour my heart out to my husband. But Hannah obeyed her husband, ate and drank, but she poured her heart out to the Lord. Could it be that she is closer to the Lord than even to her beloved spouse?? Hannah submitted to her husband and agonised in prayer with the Lord!
A woman of faith
1 Samuel 1: 17-18 Eli answered, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.” She said, “May your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast. Hannah has prayed, the Lord speaks through Eli, the priest and Hannah knows she has heard from the Lord. Its not just that she ate, but her face was no longer sad. She really believed that she had no need to be sad anymore. Has anything changed in practical terms? No. What really has happened? A servant of God blessed her. But that was enough to revive the faith of dear Hannah. Hannah believed in the Lord!
A woman of her word
1 Samuel 1: 25-28 When the bull had been sacrificed, they brought the boy to Eli, and she said to him, “Pardon me, my lord. As surely as you live, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the Lord. I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord.” And he worshiped the Lord there. So finally the dream has come true. A son has been born to remove her shame forever. And what does Hannah do? Just what she said she would. She gave Samuel - the darling child of her dreams and prayers- back to the Lord. Hannah gave unto the Lord!
She is beautiful and an amazing example. She hoped like Abraham against hope, she sought the Lord like David, she trusted the Lord like Daniel, like Shadrach, Mechak and Abedneggo while facing the lions and the fire, and like Abraham again, she laid her beloved child at the altar. She even sang a song while she did what must have been so hard for her.
She has many things to teach me-this humble Hannah.
O my soul, learn from Hannah!
Today the Lord taught four things from Hannah in 1 Samuel. Hannah was a sad woman. She was sad because she was barren. This is something that can cut the very core of a woman's heart - being childless. Adding insult to injury was, her rival, her husband's second wife Peninnah, who taunted Hannah all the time about her barrenness. Peninnah had several children. Year after year, the family went to Shiloh to worship the Lord and to offer sacrifices. Year after year, Peninnah vexed Hannah. Year after year, Hannah broke her heart. It's a sad picture.
But then, one year, it all changed. Hannah prayed earnestly and vowed if the Lord would have mercy on her and give her a son, she would give the child back to God The Lord heard. He answered through a priest called Eli. Hannah conceived and gave birth to a beautiful son. And she returned to the Temple and consecrated him to the Lord, just as she promised. Happy ending!
So what can we learn from Hannah?
A woman of hope
1 Samuel 1:11 And she made a vow, saying, “Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.” Hannah prayed this amazing prayer after several years of barrenness. For all practical purposes, it seemed like there is no hope. Even her husband seemed to think so, as he comforted her saying he was better than 10 sons to Hannah rather than give her hope that she would have a son (V8). Years have gone by in waiting and disappointment. People were mocking her. Her husband who loved her so much had accepted her barrenness. But Hannah hoped in the Lord!!!
A woman of prayer
1 Samuel 1:15 “Not so, my lord,” Hannah replied, “I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the Lord. 16 Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief.” Hannah was so sad she couldn't even eat (V7). However, when her husband comforted her and asked her to eat, seems like she did (V9). And it is after that, she rose up and went before the Lord and poured out her heart unto Him. I find so often, when I am sad, I pray about it very mechanically but I pour my heart out to my husband. But Hannah obeyed her husband, ate and drank, but she poured her heart out to the Lord. Could it be that she is closer to the Lord than even to her beloved spouse?? Hannah submitted to her husband and agonised in prayer with the Lord!
A woman of faith
1 Samuel 1: 17-18 Eli answered, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.” She said, “May your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast. Hannah has prayed, the Lord speaks through Eli, the priest and Hannah knows she has heard from the Lord. Its not just that she ate, but her face was no longer sad. She really believed that she had no need to be sad anymore. Has anything changed in practical terms? No. What really has happened? A servant of God blessed her. But that was enough to revive the faith of dear Hannah. Hannah believed in the Lord!
A woman of her word
1 Samuel 1: 25-28 When the bull had been sacrificed, they brought the boy to Eli, and she said to him, “Pardon me, my lord. As surely as you live, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the Lord. I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord.” And he worshiped the Lord there. So finally the dream has come true. A son has been born to remove her shame forever. And what does Hannah do? Just what she said she would. She gave Samuel - the darling child of her dreams and prayers- back to the Lord. Hannah gave unto the Lord!
She is beautiful and an amazing example. She hoped like Abraham against hope, she sought the Lord like David, she trusted the Lord like Daniel, like Shadrach, Mechak and Abedneggo while facing the lions and the fire, and like Abraham again, she laid her beloved child at the altar. She even sang a song while she did what must have been so hard for her.
She has many things to teach me-this humble Hannah.
O my soul, learn from Hannah!
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