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1 Samuel 1-2

INTRODUCTION: We are continuing with our series on Famous Mothers from the Bible, and today we come to Hannah. Hannah was the mother of Samuel and she is a wonderful example to us of prayer.

As with all these messages, even though the messages are about mothers and mostly directed towards mothers, because they deal with basic Biblical principles, they are applicable to us all – whether mothers or father, sisters or brothers, daughters or sons. (Read 1 Samuel 1:1-8 and pray.)

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When we first encounter Hannah in 1 Samuel, she is suffering terribly. Not only is she barren, but her husband, Elkanah, has another wife named Peninnah. Not only that, but Peninnah has children while Hannah does not. Not only that but when they go up to the feast in Shiloh each year, she is reminded of her barrenness when Elkanah gives portions of meat to Peninnah and all her sons and daughters. Not only that but Peninnah is cruel to her, intentionally provoking her until she breaks down crying and is unable to eat. Remember, this is the annual feast, so this is like Thanksgiving for us. Imagine being so upset that you couldn’t eat Thanksgiving dinner.

So, what do you do when you are hurting and suffering? You bring it to the Lord in prayer. Which is exactly what Hannah does here in 1 Samuel. We actually see two prayers of Hannah in 1 Samuel. In 1 Samuel 1 we see Hannah’s prayer of despair. And in 1 Samuel 2 we see her prayer of triumph. Both are important, and both teach us important truths about prayer for our own lives.

I. Hannah’s prayer of despair (1 Samuel 1:9-18)

We begin with Hannah’s prayer of despair in 1 Samuel 1. And even in despair, Hannah models prayer for us in some deeply meaningful ways.

   A. Honest prayer (9-10)

First of all, Hannah models for us honest prayer. Look at verses 9-10:

Once when they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah stood up. Now Eli the priest was sitting on a chair by the doorpost of the LORD’s temple. In bitterness of soul Hannah wept much and prayed to the LORD. (1 Samuel 1:9-10)

They had all come to Shiloh for the feast, and as usual Hannah was so upset, she hadn’t eaten at all. So, she gets up and goes to the temple where she weeps and prays to the Lord.

Did you know that you can be honest before the Lord in prayer? That you don’t have to come to God pretending to be someone you are not? That you don’t have to pretend to be stronger than you are? That you don’t have to put on a bold face for God? That you can pour out your heart to him with all of your questions and suffering and pain? Hannah did, and God heard her prayer. Hannah models honest prayer for us.

   B. Earnest prayer (11)

Secondly, Hannah models for us earnest prayer. Look at verse 11:

And she made a vow, saying, “O LORD Almighty, if you will only look upon 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.” (1 Samuel 1:11)

As Hannah prayed for a son, she made a solemn vow to God. This was a Nazirite vow. The book of Numbers in the Bible describes the Nazirite vow (Numbers 6) where a man or a woman would separate themselves to the Lord for a period of time. In other words, this was a temporary vow, only meant for a season. During the time of his vow, no razor was to be used on their head.

Here Hannah shows the earnestness of her prayer by offering to dedicate her son to the Lord, not just for a season, but for all the days of his life.

   C. Fervent prayer (12-16)

And then, thirdly, Hannah models for us fervent prayer. Look at verses 12-14:

As she kept on praying to the LORD, Eli observed her mouth. Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk and said to her, “How long will you keep on getting drunk? Get rid of your wine.” (1 Samuel 1:12-14)

Hannah was praying so fervently in her heart, that her lips were moving, but no sound came out of her mouth. Now, Eli the priest was watching her. We read back in verse nine how Eli was sitting on a chair by the doorpost of the temple. When you read about Eli in the Bible, he does not seem to be a very energetic man. You almost always find him either sitting in a chair or lying down, sort of a priestly couch potato.

Eli’s sluggishness here stands in stark contrast to Hannah’s fervency in prayer. Eli was not only sluggish physically; apparently, he was sluggish spiritually, too. He was not able to discern that Hannah was a woman engaging in deep, heartfelt prayer. When he sees Hannah’s lips moving but not speaking out loud, he thinks she is drunk, and so he rebukes her.

Hannah protests:

“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. Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief.” (1 Samuel 1:15-16)

What Eli thought was drunkenness was simply Hannah praying fervently to the Lord. Hannah was praying in her heart, but Eli only saw her lips. God saw Hannah’s heart, and he knew the fervency of her prayer.
Do you pray fervently to the Lord? We need to be careful not to let ourselves become sluggish or dull or listless or habitual or rote in our prayers. God is a great God, and we should pray to him with great spirit and zeal. God hears and honors fervent prayer.

   D. Humble prayer (17-18a)

And then, fourthly, Hannah models for us humble prayer. Look at verses 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.” (1 Samuel 1:17-18a)

To Eli’s credit, he recognizes that Hannah is telling the truth, and he pronounces a blessing on her in keeping with his priestly office. He does not know what she was asking God, but he gives her his blessing of peace, and he prays that God will grant her request.

Hannah humbly identifies herself as Eli’s servant and asks to find favor in his eyes. There is a play on words here, for Hannah’s name actually means “favor, or grace.” So, Hannah (Grace) asks for grace!

Hannah knows that Eli, as the priest, represents God to the people. And so, Hannah is really submitting herself to God and his will here. She is humbly seeking God’s favor and grace.

   E. Changed by prayer (18b)

Finally, not only does Hannah model for us honest, earnest, fervent and humble prayer, we also see that Hannah is changed by prayer. Look at the end of verse 18:

Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast. (1 Samuel 1:18b)

Notice that God has not yet answered Hannah’s prayer. She doesn’t know if God is going to give her a son. And yet her spirit is lifted. She goes her way; she finally eats something; her face is no longer downcast.

Before prayer changes anything else, prayer is meant first to change us. When you come before the Lord in prayer, pouring out your heart before him, you will be changed simply by spending time in God’s presence. God is working in your heart and life. He not only wants to change others through your prayers. He wants to change you.

And so long before Hannah receives an answer to her prayer, she receives something even better. She finds peace. She knows that God has heard her prayer, and she leaves the results up to him.

II. Hannah’s prayer of triumph (1 Samuel 2:1-10)

Well, if 1 Samuel 1 gives us Hannah’s prayer of despair, 1 Samuel 2 gives us her prayer of triumph. In this case God does answer Hannah’s prayer. He gives her a son, and she names him Samuel, saying: “Because I asked the Lord for him.” (1 Samuel 1:20) After Samuel is weaned, she brings him to the temple and gives him to the Lord in fulfillment of her vow.

And that is when we come to Hannah’s prayer of triumph. It is part prayer, part prophecy, and part song, and if I were to sum up the thrust of what Hannah says in her prayer here, it would be this: “God is in control. Therefore, rejoice!”

It is sometimes hard for us to see this when we are going through a difficult time. That’s when it can be helpful to hear the testimony of someone else who has gone through a difficult time and has already passed to the other side.

That’s where Hannah’s prayer comes in today. This prayer – this song – is her testimony, not only of what God has done in her life but of how God operates in all of life. And so, it is also meant to be an encouragement to us.

Overcome by emotion at God’s gracious dealings with her, Hannah rejoices in God’s sovereign rule over all things. She cries out, “My heart rejoices in God!” (1 Samuel 2:1) This is her story. This is her song. Let’s take a look at it together.

   A. There is no one like God (1-2)

Hannah begins by proclaiming there is no one like God. And she says several things about this.

      1) No one rescues like God (1)

First of all, she says no one rescues like God. Look at verse 1:

Then Hannah prayed and said: “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.” (1 Samuel 2:1)

In the Bible a horn is a symbol of strength. Hannah doesn’t claim any strength of her own here. She says, “In the LORD my horn is lifted high.” God is the one who gives us strength when we are weak. God is the one who renews our strength when we are weary.

Hannah says her mouth boasts over her enemies. So, what enemies do you think she is talking about here? Well, she may be talking about Penninah who intentionally provoked her about her barrenness over a long period of time and often reduced her to tears.

But I think Hannah is mainly thinking of the barrenness itself as her enemy here. Even apart from Peninnah, Hannah’s barrenness was a great source of sorrow and shame to her. Now she had been rescued. God has given her a son. Her mouth boasts over her enemies.

Hannah also says, “I delight in your deliverance.” God has rescued her. He has turned Hannah’s weakness to strength; he has overcome her enemies; he has turned her sorrow into gladness. Because that’s what God does. No one rescues like God.

      2) No one is holy like God (2a)

Hannah goes on to say that no one is holy like God. Look at verse two:

“There is no one holy like the LORD; there is no one besides you.” (1 Samuel 2:2a)

When we say that God is holy, we mean first of all that God is separate from all creation. God is above all things; he is before all things; he is sovereign over all things. But God’s holiness also refers to his righteousness and purity. God is perfectly holy and just.

That is important to know when we talk about God being in control. If an unholy, unrighteous unjust God was in control of the universe, we would not find that very comforting. But God is holy. “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, perfect in power, love and purity.” You cannot compare God to anyone else. There is no one holy like God.

      3) No one protects like God (2b)

No one rescues like God; no one is holy like God; and thirdly, no one protects like God. That’s what Hannah says at the end of verse 2:

“There is no Rock like our God.” (1 Samuel 2:2)

In Bible times a rock was a place of safety and refuge. You may look to all sorts of things in life as your refuge or safety net, but there is no safer place than in the hands of God. No matter what trials you may be going through today, when God is your Rock, you are safe; you are protected.

There is no one like God. No one rescues like God; no one is holy like God; no one protects like God. No wonder Hannah proclaimed: “My heart rejoices in God!”

   B. God humbles and exalts (3-8)

And then, in the next part of her song Hannah talks about how God both humbles and exalts. Look at verses 3-5 where she says:

“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 hunger no more. She who was barren has borne seven children, but she who has had many sons pines away.” (1 Samuel 2:3-5)

Here Hannah gives us three examples of what we might call “reversals of fortune” in life. She contrasts: 1) the warrior with those who stumble, 2) those who are full with those who hunger, and 3) the barren woman with the woman who has many sons.

What does she say about all three of these examples? The warriors’ weapons can be broken, while those who were stumbling suddenly find themselves in a position of strength. Those who were full go hungry, while those who were hungry find plenty of food. She who was barren gives birth to seven sons, but she who has had many sons pines away.

The “seven sons” here in verse five are symbolic. Seven is the number of perfection or completeness in the Bible, and so seven sons would be symbolic of a complete reversal of fortune from a barren state. This last example would have had special meaning for Hannah and her situation. Hannah doesn’t know it yet, but God will bless her with five more children after Samuel. She will have three more sons and two daughters, six children in all.

These three examples remind us that just because you are in a certain position today does not mean you will be in the same position tomorrow. Just because you are in a position of strength or weakness today does not mean you will be in the same position tomorrow. Life throws you some pretty strange curve balls at times, and you never know what tomorrow might bring.

It is unsettling to think that everything could change in a moment. But then Hannah gives us the second part of this truth. These “reversals of fortune” are not a result of random chance; rather, it is God who humbles and exalts. Look at verses 6-8:

“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 honor.” (1 Samuel 2:6-8)

God is the giver and taker of life. God is the one who sends both poverty and wealth. God is the one who both humbles and exalts. In other words, God is sovereign. God is in control. Therefore, no matter what our circumstances, we can rejoice in him.

   C. God rules over everything (8-10)

Or as Hannah puts it in the final verses of her song: God rules over everything. Hannah makes three assertions about God’s sovereign rule here: 1) He will establish his people, 2) He will shatter his enemies, and 3) He will give strength to his king.

      1) God will establish his people (8-9)
         – Titus 2:14

First, God will establish his people. Look at verses 8 and 9:

“For the foundations of the earth are the LORD’s; upon them he has set the world. He will guard the feet of his saints, but the wicked will be silenced in darkness.” (1 Samuel 2:8-9a)

The picture here is of God picking up the whole world and setting it on its foundations. This is a poetic way of saying that God both created and sustains the world. And if God created and sustains the whole universe, surely he can take care of his people as well. Surely he can take care of you. That’s the whole point here. The God who established the earth and set the world upon its foundations will guard the feet or the way of his saints.

“His saints” is just another way of saying “his people.” We become a part of God’s people when we put our faith and trust in Jesus Christ his Son. The Bible says that Jesus “gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own.” (Titus 2:14)

God will establish his people. He will guard the feet of his saints, but the wicked will be silenced in darkness.

      2) God will shatter his enemies (9-10a)

That leads us to Hannah’s second assertion about God’s sovereign rule. God will shatter his enemies. Look at verses 9 and 10:

“It is not by strength that one prevails; those who oppose the LORD will be shattered. He will thunder against them from heaven; the LORD will judge the ends of the earth.” (1 Samuel 2:9b-10a)

Hannah’s enemy was her barrenness. She could not overcome it in her own strength. So, she called upon the Lord, and the Lord rescued her.

God will rescue you from your enemies, too. What God did for Hannah is just a small picture of what God will do in the whole world. No one can stand in God’s way. No one can thwart God’s plans. God rules over everything, and he will judge the ends of the earth. God will establish his people, and he will shatter his enemies.

      3) God will give strength to his king (10b)

And then finally, Hannah asserts that God will give strength to his king. Look at the end of verse 10:

“He will give strength to his king and exalt the horn of his anointed.” (1 Samuel 2:10b)

This part of Hannah’s song is prophetic in two ways. First of all, it is prophetic of King David. Remember, at the time Hannah sang this song, there was no king in Israel. Israel was still under the rule of the judges. But God had planned for Samuel to be born at this very time in order to lead Israel through the process of anointing a king. And so, Hannah’s song is prophetic of King David and the whole line of kings that would follow him.

But it is also prophetic of Jesus the Messiah. The word Messiah means “anointed,” and it comes from this very word here in 1 Samuel 2:10. This is the first time the word is used in Scripture to describe a king rather than a priest. Over time Israel would come to understand that God would send his Messiah, the Anointed One – the king from David’s line who would reign forever.

In the Old Testament prophets, priests and kings were all anointed. When Jesus came, he came as prophet, priest and king in fulfillment of all the Old Testament prophecies. Yes, God would give strength to David and exalt his horn as the anointed king of Israel. But this verse finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ, who was raised from the dead and exalted to the right hand of God the Father in heaven.

Centuries after Hannah sang her song, God chose another young Israelite woman to give birth to Jesus the Messiah. Her name was Mary, and when she learned that she would give birth to Jesus, she sang a song very similar to Hannah’s. We call it the Magnificat, and we read it from the gospel of Luke earlier in the service today. (Luke 1:46-55) Mary’s son, Jesus, is the true anointed king. He is the Son of God who rules over everything.

What a difference we find in Hannah from chapter one to chapter two! Back in chapter one Hannah wept and prayed to the Lord in the bitterness of her soul. Now in chapter two she sings a song of thanksgiving, “My heart rejoices in the Lord.” What was the difference? Hannah had learned that there is no one like God. She had learned that God is the one who humbles and exalts. She had learned that God rules over everything in the world.

CONCLUSION: God accomplishes his purposes through prayer. He doesn’t have to. But he chooses to. He chooses to work in and through your prayers to accomplish his purposes. That doesn’t mean God will always answer your prayers exactly the way you want him to. It means something better. It means that when you pray, you are participating with God to fulfill his purposes in your life and in the world.

If you have never been a praying person, let me encourage you to pray. Talk to God. Ask him to reveal himself to you. Be honest in prayer. Confess your sin to him. Ask him for the faith to believe. Put your trust in Jesus, his Son, as your Savior.

When you pray, something always changes. Always. Prayer always changes things because that’s how God chooses to act.

God is in control; therefore, rejoice! No matter your circumstances, when you are in Christ, you can always say with Hannah, the praying mother: “My heart rejoices in God!”

© Ray Fowler

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