Hannah’s Prayer

Hannah’s Prayer

At the conclusion of our last devotional I quoted the first four verses of Hannah’s prayer – but there is much more to her prayer. Please take the time with me to read the entire prayer. Besides, it is not for my words that we are here, but for God’s Word:

1 Samuel 2:1 – Then Hannah prayed: “My heart exults in the LORD; my strength is increased by the LORD. I will open my mouth to speak against my enemies, because I rejoice in your deliverance. 2 – Indeed, there is no one like the LORD, indeed, there is no one besides you, there is no rock like our God.

Verse 3 – Don’t continue to talk proudly, and don’t speak arrogantly, for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. 4 – The bows of warriors are shattered, but those who stumble are equipped with strength.

Verse 5 – Those who had an abundance of bread now hire themselves out, and those who were hungry hunger no more. While the barren woman gives birth to seven children, she who had many children languishes. 6 – The LORD kills and gives life, he brings people down to where the dead are and he raises them up.

Verse 7 – The LORD makes people poor and he makes people rich, he brings them low,and he also exalts them. 8 – He raises the poor up from the dust, he lifts up the needy from the trash heap to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor. Indeed the pillars of the earth belong to the LORD, and he has set the world on them.

Verse 9 – He guards the steps of his faithful ones, while the wicked are made silent in darkness. He grants the request of the one who prays. He blesses the year of the righteous. Indeed it’s not by strength that a person prevails. 10 – The LORD will shatter his enemies – those who contend against him. Who is holy? The one who will thunder against them in the heavens. The LORD will judge the ends of the earth, he will give strength to his king, and he will increase the strength of His anointed one.”

Hannah, filled with the Spirit, prayed this amazing prophetic prayer that would begin to find its fulfillment in the judgment against Eli’s sons who worked in the temple. The Bible says they “were worthless men who did not know the LORD…” and they “despised the LORD’s offering.” – 1 Samuel 2:12, 17. Hannah’s prayer will continue to find its fulfillment today and reaches into our tomorrows.

May the same Holy Spirit that filled Hannah fill us all today with a faith and confidence in God that will not be shaken. For God, indeed, is our rock and our strength. He will shatter His enemies who contend against Him and will raise the poor to sit on thrones. The ends of the earth will be judged and we will rejoice in His deliverance when His anointed, our King, Jesus Christ, returns.