Sunday, 24 June 2018

Hannah's prayer

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Question of the day: At the beginning of 1 Samuel 2 we read the prayer for Hannah.

Rabbi Trail: As background we know Hannah becomes the mother of the prophet Samuel (we are reading the first book named after him - there are two). She had no children, so she prayed. Ultimately, God gave her six children; the first was the aforementioned Samuel. End RT.

1 Samuel 2:1 "Then Hannah prayed and said, 'My heart exults in Adonai, my horn is lifted high in Adonai. I smile wide over my enemies, for I rejoice in Your salvation.'" (TLV)

As chapter 1 begins (1 Samuel), Elkanah's wife, Hannah, is miserable. Elkanah's other wife had children and would taunt her barren rival. This made Hannah so miserable she became sick and wouldn't eat. She turned to the Lord in prayer. When the Lord answered her petition for children, this was the beginning of her prayer.

I'm captured by the phrase, "for I rejoice in Your salvation." But she didn't wait for her prayer to be answered before she rejoiced.

1 Samuel 1:18b "So the woman went her way; she ate, and her countenance was no longer dejected." (TLV)

As with every lesson the question remains, how do we apply this to our lives?

Answer: What is it that we, ourselves, should be lifting up before the Lord? He clearly tells us we have not because we ask not (see Jacob 4:2b).

Rabbi Trail: The writers of the King James Bible translated the name of the Apostle Jacob (for whom the book of Jacob is rightly named) as James to honor their benefactor, King James I. (Prior to becoming England's King James I, he was Scotland's James VI.) He commissioned the King James Version in 1604. It was published in 1611. End RT.

God wants to show Himself strong. We have a desire that requires the intervention of God. Let's boldly approach His throne of grace. He is waiting to pour out a blessing. Believe it and pray it. As Moses said, "Fear not, stand and see the salvation of God. (Exodus 14:13)