It was a bad time for Israel. The leadership was feeble and they faced strong enemies. Their knowledge of God supported them knowing that the God they served was The Lord of hosts, of all the hosts both of heaven and earth.
The mother of Samuel approached God through prayer for a child. Hannah was her name. She was childless and her affliction was aggravated by her rival’s uncomfortable insolence. However she did have a kind husband. His kindness toward her brought her some relief.
Hannah prayed to God and made a vow to God because of her lack of children. At first, the high priest, Eli, did not approve of Hannah’s attitude. Then after Hannah explained her situation he changed his mind and encouraged her.
You may read the story in:
1 Samuel 1:1-20 (NKJ)
1 Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim Zophim, of the mountains of Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. 2 And he had two wives: the name of one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children. 3 This man went up from his city yearly to worship and sacrifice to the Lord of hosts in Shiloh. Also the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the Lord, were there. 4 And whenever the time came for Elkanah to make an offering, he would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters. 5 But to Hannah he would give a double portion, for he loved Hannah, although the Lord had closed her womb. 6 And her rival also provoked her severely, to make her miserable, because the Lord had closed her womb. 7 So it was, year by year, when she went up to the house of the Lord, that she provoked her; therefore she wept and did not eat.
Hannah’s Vow
8 Then Elkanah her husband said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep? Why do you not eat? And why is your heart grieved? Am I not better to you than ten sons?”
9 So Hannah arose after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat by the doorpost of the tabernacle of the Lord. 10 And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the Lord and wept in anguish. 11 Then she made a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head.”
12 And it happened, as she continued praying before the Lord, that Eli watched her mouth. 13 Now Hannah spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli thought she was drunk. 14 So Eli said to her, “How long will you be drunk? Put your wine away from you!”
15 But Hannah answered and said, “No, my lord, I am a woman of sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor intoxicating drink, but have poured out my soul before the Lord. 16 Do not consider your maidservant a wicked woman, for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief I have spoken until now.”
17 Then Eli answered and said, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition which you have asked of Him.”
18 And she said, “Let your maidservant find favor in your sight.” So the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.
Samuel Is Born and Dedicated
19 Then they rose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord, and returned and came to their house at Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah, his wife, and the Lord remembered her. 20 So it came to pass in the process of time that Hannah conceived and bore a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, “Because I have asked for him from the Lord.”
Prayer of faith
Let us see how the prayer of faith was applied in Hannah’s situation.
You can find the prayer of faith in:
James 5:15a:
And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up.
The prayer of faith can materialize in different ways. In Hannah’s case it was Eli that spoke the words of faith:
17. Then Eli answered and said, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition which you have asked of Him.”
18 And she said, “Let your maidservant find favor in your sight.” So the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.
Did you notice the answer from Hannah in 1. Sam 1:18?
“Let your maidservant find favor in your sight.”
Do you remember a similar answer Mary the mother of our Lord Jesus Christ said:
Luke 1:38 Then Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.”
Our words matter, but even more important our belief and attitude matters to God. What the heart is filled with - you will start speaking (Luke 6:45, 2 Corinthians 4:13).
Hannah’s reaction to Eli the priest:
Hannah said, “Let your maidservant find grace and favor in your sight.” So the woman went on her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.
- Hannah’s sadness disappeared and joy filled her.
- She had received the words from God and there was no longer any doubt in her heart.
- From this moment she knew that she was going to have a child from God.
Mark 11:24
Therefore I (Jesus) say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.
God did not answer Hannah because of their godly standard but because her heart was filled with a simple belief in God and that was expressed in how she answered Eli the priest.
If you have a need, whether you can not be pregnant or other needs, it is not because God does not hear your prayers. God hears all our prayers and knows all things. (Psalm 139:2)
1 John 5:15 - "And if we know that he hears us - whatever we ask - we know that we have what we asked of him."
Fill your heart and mind with the promises of God. Believe the promises of God. Believe that God is a good God that only wants to give us good things. (Matthew 7:11)
After you have filled yourself with the Word of promises, speak from your heart.
After Hannah had the word from God through Eli the priest, she had a simple believe that God would take care of her problem.
John 11:40
Jesus replied, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?”