Hannah “prayed to the LORD” 1 Samuel 1:10

by Vanessa White

Hannah was an ordinary woman who chose to surrender all to the LORD; she faced real grief, heartache, and pain. The LORD had closed Hannah’s womb. She had to share her husband with another woman. Peninnah, the other wife, would harass Hannah, year after year. She understands what it feels like to be in the bitterness of soul through all the trials she faced.

Table Of Contents

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Hannah “prayed to the LORD” 1 Samuel 1:10

Prayer and Petition
Ponder
READ 1 SAMUEL 1:8-18
Hannah’s Vow
Key Truth
PRACTICAL WAYS TO CULTIVATE BIBLICAL BEAUTY AND FEMININITY

Let’s Pray,

RESOURCES FOR FURTHER STUDY

How wonderful these biblical heroines can speak into our lives and share their heartache and pain with us; they have gone before us and share a solid faith they put their trust in the LORD.

Hannah was weeping; she lamented and was in bitterness of soul.

How many women long for marriage? They dream of that beautiful day of marriage, the beautiful wedding, having children, and having a family of their own—a dream of wedding bliss.

V9. Eli, the priest, was sitting on the seat by the doorpost of the temple of the Lord.

Prayer and Petition

She was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly. ¹¹And she vowed a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head.”
1 Samuel 10-11

Hannah’s prayer and petition to the Lord are utterly beautiful; she is asking for a man child, “a man of God.” Her example shows us that we can cry out, pour our hearts out to the LORD. When in the anguish of soul, when the trials of life feel all-consuming, we can call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and lay our burdens down, surrendering everything to Him.

Hannah then says she will give him to the Lord all the days of her life. Hannah’s heart is humble.

Her prayer and petition remind me to remain faithful, trusting the Lord in every area giving Him back these precious children that He has entrusted me to care for and nurture.

Scriptures admonish us to raise our children in the ways of the LORD, knowing I can trust Him to lead us and guide us and trust Him and His sovereign care.

"Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.

 "And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. Deuteronomy 6:4-9

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6

Ponder

When you are in distress, do you turn to the Lord? Do you cry out to Him, do you ask the Lord to look upon your affliction? Have you asked the Lord, do you see me? Do you see my pain? Will you look to me and help me?

I believe every Word of the Bible, from the old testament to the new testament, has rich application and principles to apply to our lives. Our daily walk with the LORD becomes steady, rooted, secure, and unshakable as we let the sacred scriptures change our lives and transform our thinking. God’s grace and love are sufficient. How awesome that we can come just as we are before the LORD.

As we read the scriptures, we must start in prayer first, asking the Lord for His wisdom and asking Him to please speak into our lives, speak into our situations. Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and train you. Let’s come before the LORD with humble hearts and expectant hearts.

Take note of any words that seem to leap off the pages and words that echo softly in your heart, words that strike curiosity, perhaps you may ponder in your heart; what does this Word mean? Look it up, and just a little reminder when reading the old testament, look up the Word in the Hebrew meaning. When in the new testament, look up the Word in the Greek language.

God’s Word is a treasure chest filled with precious gems of wisdom and knowledge of who He is. It is a splendid thing when we can delight ourselves in Him and His Word, and we then can see His unfailing everlasting love.

READ 1 SAMUEL 1:8-18

Hannah’s Vow

In V.11, Hannah makes her vow to the Lord, “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.”

Hannah shows her humility by how she addresses herself to the Lord. She identifies herself as the LORD’S maidservant. A servant of the Lord, a slave for Him. She asks the Lord to remember her and not forget her. Hebrews 13:5, Let your manner of life be without covetousness, being satisfied with the present; for He Himself has said: “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.”

Deuteronomy 31:8, The LORD Himself goes before you; He will be with you. He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid or discouraged.”

She then goes on to say to the Lord; if God gives her a male child, then she will give him to the Lord all the days of her life, and no razor shall come upon his head.

The vow Hannah made is known as a Nazirite vow Judges 13:4-5. The Nazirite vow set one apart for the service to the Lord, dedicated for the Lord’s purposes.

In Hannah’s bitterness of soul, as she poured her heart out to the Lord, Eli, looking on at Hannah, accused her of being a drunken woman. Now Hannah has been through enough opposition, and even then, she responded with such gracious humility; she says in 1Sa 1:15-16, “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[c] woman, for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief I have spoken until now.”

Then Eli answered and said, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition which you have asked of Him.” 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.
1 Samuel 1:17-18

Her face was no longer sad because she delighted herself in the Lord; she poured out her heart and the anguish of her soul. Hope restored; she knew the Lord heard her prayer.

Psalm 141:2
May my prayer be set before You like incense, my uplifted hands like the evening offering.

Revelation 5:8
When He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp, and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

Revelation 8:3
Then another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, along with the prayers of all the saints, on the golden altar before the throne.

How are you turning to Christ during difficult circumstances?

Key Truth

Despite the pain, we can pour out our hearts to the Lord.
We can ask God for help.
We can petition and plead before the LORD.
We can choose obedience.
We can remember the power of prayer.
Prayer helps to bring one into the will of God.
God hears our prayers.
God gives grace to the humble.

PRACTICAL WAYS TO CULTIVATE BIBLICAL BEAUTY AND FEMININITY

Delight yourself in Lord.
Pray.
Rest in His Love.
Seek His Wisdom.
Adorn yourself with biblical truth.
Quiet time with the Lord.
Lift up your hands unto the Lord.
Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look up beautiful.
Bow in Holy reverence before the Lord.

Let’s Pray,

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank You for all that You are, Holy, Just, Magnificent, and full of splendor. Teach us how to be Holy and lovely and faithful daughters who honor and worship You. May our lives glorify You. May we bring honor to You by how we live our lives. May Your grace surround us each day and every day as we live our lives for You. Please, O’ LORD, keep our hearts humble and teachable. May our prayers be a sweet incense unto You. We love You, we thank You and we give You all the glory.