In Bible Study, we are starting 1Samuel. This starts with a beautiful story of an incredible woman who was barren. The Bible says that “The Lord closed Hannah’s womb”. Having a child seemed to be what she wanted more than anything. Desperate before the Lord, she cried to him. She asked Him to remember her and give her a son. She repeatedly asked the Lord for what she wanted. She cried out so desperately, that her husband asked her why did she continue to get drunk. She merely stated that she was not drunk but was praying to God with her whole soul. She diligently served the Lord even though she laid with her husband and did not get pregnant. She even told the Lord that if he gave her a son, she would give him back to the Lord and he would serve Him all of the days of his life. Hannah did just that. She had a son, and she allowed him to live in the temple and serve the Lord there.
As a mother, I think of the longing that my body had for children. I knew that I always wanted a child. To not be able to do so would have been disheartening for me. This woman prayed as her body was wanting to give in to the natural desire to have children, she had a baby and just as she promised, gave him to the Lord. She gave him to the LORD! How many of us would let our son whom we prayed for for years and years, would actually let him live at the temple for all of his life?
Here’s the prayer:
Then Hannah prayed and said:
“My heart rejoices in the LORD;
in the LORD my horn [a] is lifted high.
My mouth boasts over my enemies,
for I delight in your deliverance.
2 “There is no one holy [b] like the LORD;
there is no one besides you;
there is no Rock like our God.
3 “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.
4 “The bows of the warriors are broken,
but those who stumbled are armed with strength.
5 Those who were full hire themselves out for food,
but those who were hungry hunger no more.
She who was barren has borne seven children,
but she who has had many sons pines away.
6 “The LORD brings death and makes alive;
he brings down to the grave [c] and raises up.
7 The LORD sends poverty and wealth;
he humbles and he exalts.
8 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 honor.
“For the foundations of the earth are the LORD’s;
upon them he has set the world.
9 He will guard the feet of his saints,
but the wicked will be silenced in darkness.
“It is not by strength that one prevails;
10 those who oppose the LORD will be shattered.
He will thunder against them 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.”
I would love to have just a portion of the faith that this woman, Hannah, displays in this story. She was an amazing inspiration to me.
