By Roy E. Ciampa, Ph.D.
S. Louis and Ann W. Armstrong Professor of Religion, Samford University
Hannah: Faith That Prays
1 Samuel 1:1–2, 9–11, 17–18, 26–28; 2:1–3
In Hannah we find a woman who shows what it looks like to trust God even when those around us don’t understand what we are going through.
Bring your needs to God. (1:1–2, 9–11)
In Hannah’s world few things were more humiliating for a woman than being unable to provide a husband with children (especially a male heir) and it was always thought to reflect a problem with the woman herself. Hannah’s inability to bear children was probably what led Elkanah to take on a second wife.
The men in Hannah’s life meant well but were insensitive to her humiliation and pain. Her husband couldn’t understand her chronic grief and thought his love for her should have made childlessness a nonissue (1 Sam. 1:8).
Later, the priestly figure Eli interpreted manifestations of her crushing grief as drunkenness (1 Sam. 1:13–14).
There is no indication Hannah let her pain lead her to act out against others. Rather she took her anguish to God in prayer and appealed to Him in the form of a vow to dedicate her child completely to the Lord if He would put an end to her humiliation by granting her the son she so desired.
Trust God to answer. (1:17–18, 26–28)
When Eli misinterpreted her silent prayer (praying silently was an unusual thing in ancient Israel) and wrongfully insulted her, Hannah politely but firmly stood up for herself and explained that rather than dealing with an unusually immoral woman, he was dealing with an unusually distraught and spiritually passionate worshipper.
Eli may never have noticed Hannah or engaged her in conversation were it not for his misunderstanding of what she was doing.
Providentially what began as an insulting misinterpretation on his part resulted in his authoritative endorsement of her prayer and newfound confidence in her heart (vv. 17–18).
In teaching on this passage we need to be careful not to suggest it contains a promise from God that all infertile couples who pray and trust like Hannah will have their prayers answered in a similar manner. The experience of most infertile couples (including those who pray as passionately as Hannah) has not been the same as Hannah’s.
In Hannah’s case the response to her prayer would end up dealing not only with her personal humiliation but also with the humiliation Israel was going through due to a lack of dynamic leadership. Samuel’s birth brought not only Hannah, but all of Israel, out of an anguished period.
Like Hannah we must pray with confidence that God hears us and He will accomplish His purposes through our prayers and our lives as we submit ourselves to Him.
Thank God for His answer. (2:1–3)
Hannah’s prayer has echoed through the prayers of saints ever since her days. Others have found in her words a model for their own prayers of thanksgiving for being brought from a place of humiliation to a place of honor (compare Luke 1:46–55). Hannah recognized in her own experience God honors those who humble themselves before Him and humbles those whose arrogance puffs them up.
Sometimes this only happens when we see God face-to-face, but other times we see this reflected in powerful answers to our prayers.
Our prayers should be informed by the understanding of God’s priorities and agenda reflected in Hannah’s prayer of praise. Like hers, our hearts should be quick to recognize signs God has acted to answer our prayers and fulfill His purposes through them.
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