Hannah's Prayer

'Hannah's backstory':

In case you don't know Hannah is a prominent figure in the Old Testament, who is remembered for her deep faith and devotion to God. She was one of Elkanah wives. However, Hannah was unable to have children which brought her great distress, especially as she was often taunted by Elkanah's other wife, Peninnah, who did have children. Despite her struggles, Hannah remained steadfast in prayer, pouring out her heart to God at the Tabernacle. Finally, her earnest prayers were answered when she bore a son, Samuel, whom she dedicated to the Lord's service, meaning she gave the child back to the service of God! Hannah's story is a powerful testament to faith, perseverance, and the fulfillment of God's promises. You can read her story in 1st Samuel.

This is her prayer;

“My heart rejoices in the Lord;
    in the Lord my horn is lifted high.
My mouth boasts over my enemies,
    for I delight in your deliverance.

“There is no one holy like the Lord;
    there is no one besides you;
    there is no Rock like our God.

“Do not keep talking so proudly
    or let your mouth speak such arrogance,
for the Lord is a God who knows,
    and by him deeds are weighed.

“The bows of the warriors are broken,
    but those who stumbled are armed with strength.
Those who were full hire themselves out for food,
    but those who were hungry are hungry no more.
She who was barren has borne seven children,
    but she who has had many sons pines away.

“The Lord brings death and makes alive;
    he brings down to the grave and raises up.
The Lord sends poverty and wealth;
    he humbles and he exalts.
He raises the poor from the dust
    and lifts the needy from the ash heap;
he seats them with princes
    and has them inherit a throne of honour.

“For the foundations of the earth are the Lord’s;
    on them he has set the world.
He will guard the feet of his faithful servants,
    but the wicked will be silenced in the place of darkness.

“It is not by strength that one prevails;
those who oppose the Lord will be broken.
The Most High will thunder from 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 2:1b-10

Hannah's prayer is a prayer of thanksgiving from a grateful mother that reveals a deep expression of faith, hope, and understanding of God's character. From it, we can learn how to respond to God's many blessings and challenges with humility and trust.

Hannah begins her prayer with her heart overflowing with joy:

“My heart rejoices in the Lord; in the Lord my horn is lifted high. My mouth boasts over my enemies, for I delight in your deliverance"

Here the word 'horn' means strength, which comes from enduring a lengthy personal struggle with barrenness, societal pressure, and even bullying from 'Peninnah', her husband's other wife.

There are two points worthy of note here,

Firstly, Hannah's joy is not just from being blessed with the gift of a child, but also in the Giver. She praises the Lord, exalting Him as the source of her strength and victory. Here we see that true joy is not rooted in, or comes from our circumstances but rather, in our relationship with God.

Secondly, Hannah acknowledges God's uniqueness when she declares,

“There is no one holy like the Lord; there is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God".

This recognition of God's holiness and uniqueness remains a key principle of our faith. Reminding us that no one is like our God in power, purity, and provision.

Then in verses 3-8, Hannah reflects on the reversal of her fortunes. Throughout the Bible, we often read of the lowly being lifted, and the proud being brought low.

Firstly, Hannah warns against arrogance and pride,

“Do not keep talking so proudly or let your mouth speak such arrogance, for the Lord is a God who knows, and by him deeds are weighed".

God sees and knows everything, and He resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.

Secondly, in verses 4-5, we see God's power to change circumstances

“The bows of the warriors are broken, but those who stumbled are armed with strength"

Hannah describes how God can alter situations dramatically: the strong can become weak, the hungry can be satisfied, and the barren can bear children. This emphasises God's sovereignty and ability to bring about radical change in our lives.

Thirdly, in verses 6 -8 Hannah considers the lifting up of the Humble,

“The Lord brings death and makes alive; he brings down to the grave and raises up. The Lord sends poverty and wealth; he humbles and he exalts. He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes and has them inherit a throne of honour."

This shows us that everything, including life and death, are ultimately in God's hands. He can exalt the humble, and humble the exalted, as experienced by Hannah in her life.

In verses 9 - 10, Hannah brings her prayer to a close by affirming God's sovereignty and justice.

Hannah affirms God's protection in verse 9,
'He will guard the feet of his faithful servants, but the wicked will be silenced in the place of darkness'.

God's protection is assured for those who are faithful. This doesn't mean our lives will be trouble-free, rather God will sustain and protect His people throughout their lives.

Then in verse 10, Hannah acknowledges that God is our ultimate judge

'the Lord will judge the ends of the earth. “He will give strength to his king and exalt the horn of his anointed'

Here the words 'King and Anointed' are a direct reference to 'Jesus' the 'Messiah' A prophetic statement that points forward to God's ultimate justice and the coming of a righteous King who would ultimately judge the nations of the world. Remember, these words were written before Israel even had its first king! This Anointed King is, as Christians throughout the world already know, is the 'Messiah' 'King Jesus,' the only Son of God.

Hannah's prayer is a rich tapestry of theological insights gained through the challenges Hannah faced and revealed in her testimony.

likewise, we are challenged to:

Praise God no matter what the circumstances are. Whether in times of joy or sorrow, we should turn our hearts to God, knowing His hand is in every situation.

Even when we don't understand His ways, remember God is sovereign! the Lord above all lords, and we can trust that He is working all things for our good and His glory.

Remember, God lifts the humble and brings low the proud, so we should strive to live lives of humility and faithfulness.

When we do this then like Hannah, we can lift our voices in God's praise, confident that He hears our prayers and works in all things for the good and His glory.

Hannah through her faith-filled approach to seeking and receiving God's blessings, is a wonderful example and role model for each of us. Amen

Whatever you're doing this week may God bless you,

Trev. 😄