1Samuel 1:11, “O Lord of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget think handmaid, but wilt give unto think handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the Lord all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.”
WOW, what a whooper of a desperate prayer. Hannah just in one chapter shares her deepest heart chamber with God, because it seemed that only He would understand. She was a woman who was misunderstood by those around her. The Lord had closed her womb which in OT times was viewed as a curse by. She was provoked severely by Peninnah, Elkanah’s other wife, for it and her heart was deeply grieved. She would only weep and not even eat, and bitterness of soul built up within her. Not even her own husband nor Eli the priest (the spiritual one) understood her sorrowful spirit. So what did she do? Did she set out to kill her husband or the other wife, because she couldn’t conceive a child? Did she verbally try and abuse the other wife or try and defend her situation? Did she verbally attack Eli the priest, for not being able at first to understand her condition, for even he thought her to be drunk as she prayed her prayer. No, she did none of these things that were possible reactions by any other in her situation. What would you have done?
How did Hannah finally respond to her sorrowful situation, of no one understanding her, and being labeled as cursed by God Himself? She prayed a prayer. What, that’s it, she didn’t take up arms and go postal, run away, or even take her own life? No, she prayed a powerful, real, heartfelt, from the guts of her desperation, prayer.
Just then, the Lord remembered (not that He ever forgot) her, answering her prayer. And granted her a son, the prophet Samuel. God has answered her prayer, bigger and greater than she could have ever imagined. But isn’t God like that, we ask for something in His will, and He goes above and beyond what we had seen through our, many times, lack of faith. Even recently the Lord blessed me with a vehicle beyond what I dreamed in prayer for. Praise God!
She responds to God in a way that we need to when God blesses us, in worship and thanksgiving, lest we worship the blessing, and not the Blesser! “For this child I have prayed; and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of Him: Therefore also I have lent him to the Lord; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the Lord. And he worshiped the Lord there.”
*This child – Samuel
*I have prayed – she labored in prayer
*The Lord hath given me – she acknowledges that God alone blessed her
*I have lent him to the Lord – she, and no one else, gave him back to God unconditionally in dedication to the Lord’s work. She was a mom of faith. She didn’t’t give up something for lent (40 days give it to God then take it back), she gave completely open handed to God.
Ø What about you are you in a desperate situation, then pray, He hears as He remembered Hannah, He will remember you.
Ø When God blesses you, in His way, will you give back to Him open handed?
Ø Self check – The USA chokes on the blessings of God greatly. Is there anything God gave you that you are worshiping, instead of giving back to Him? One must be painfully honest to break free from any idolatry.
Ø Remember – God loves us to give back to Him what He has given up, but He most desires us to lend Him a life, our life, and lead others to Him that they might lend their lives to the Lord as well. Blessings Pastor Phil.
Related articles
- How Big is Your God? Pastor Phil Sessa (magnifyhisword.wordpress.com)
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