My Heart Rejoiceth in the Lord

…More Lessons Learned From Hannah

In a previous post titled, “In Bitterness of Soul… Lessons Learned From Hannah”, I shared my gratitude for things I learned from Hannah in 1 Samuel 1:1-18. In those few verses we witness Hannah’s response to the disappointment of unfulfilled desires; the anguish of verbal abuse from her husband’s other wife; and the frustration of feeling alone in her grief as even her own husband didn’t recognize the magnitude of her heartache. And we also saw the peace and contentment that literally changed Hannah’s countenance once she had poured out the bitterness of her soul in prayer to God! In the last part of verse 18 we see that once Hannah had given the entire situation over to God, she left all her disappointment, anguish, frustration, heartache, and bitterness with God! “…so the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad.” I encourage you to read that blog entry if you haven’t already, before continuing to read this entry.

From Bitterness to Rejoicing!

After Hannah wept sore with bitterness in her very soul, she gave ALL her bitterness to God! Her lips moved, but her voice was too distraught to utter a sound! But that didn’t matter to God! Yes, like any parent, our Father longs to hear from us. I am certain He loves to hear our voice being raised in worship and praise! He wants us to bring our burdens and desires to Him in earnest prayer! Thankfully our God listens with more than just His ears! Be assured, dear Friend, the One who loves you most, knows you best! Read that again! He Knows You! All of you – your desires; your hurt; your joy; your frustration; your contentment; and your broken, wounded, bitter heart! Just like Hannah, when your spirit is shattered and bruised, and your broken heart is pleading to God quicker than your mind can cause your voice to utter a sound… He knows! How wonderful is that?

Hannah was so focused on giving God her burden that her lips moved but no sound was uttered. She seemed oblivious to the fact that the priest, Eli, was watching her and perceived her as a drunken woman. She shut out her surroundings and distractions and gave her undivided attention to God. She told Him of her hurt and bitterness, she vowed to God that if He would consider her barrenness, remember her, and give her a son… she would give God that son for all the days of his life! Hannah told God her specific desire… not only that she could have a child, but specifically that she could have a son! And she boldly vowed that if God honored her request, her son’s life would be given in service to God. Even after telling God her desire and vowing a vow to Him, she continued praying. That is when Eli confronted her with his suspicion of her drunkenness. I love that after hearing Hannah’s explanations, Eli understood! Verse 17 of chapter 1 says, “Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him.”

“Go in peace.” Peace, contentment… certainly not what Hannah began her prayer with! She entered into prayer with bitterness of soul. She ached for a child… to provide an heir for her loving husband, and maybe even to prove to Peninnah that Hannah was ‘worthy’ of Elkanah’s great love for her. Once Hannah finished pouring her heart out to the Lord, she was still the barren, childless wife of Elkanah. But she was definitely different! So very different that it showed on her face! She didn’t walk away from her time in prayer to the Lord with a child or even the promise that she would one day have a child. She walked away with peace… the kind of peace that defies explanation! “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7. Have you experienced this peace? There is simply nothing like it!

We cannot expect our faith to grow if we allow fearfulness and bitterness to take root. Gratitude and contentment breeds peace!

Hannah took that peace… and kept it! She didn’t allow it to be lost or stolen by letting doubts, frustration, bitterness, or fear overcome her again! She had complete faith! She knew that with or without a child, God only wanted His best for her! She allowed peace and contentment to cut off that stalk of bitterness that had taken root in her life. We hear all the time that apart from the healthy “fear” of the Lord… we cannot expect our faith to grow if we allow fearfulness and bitterness to take root. Gratitude and contentment breeds peace!

Hannah went her way, she ate, and her face proved she was no longer sad! “And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the Lord, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the Lord remembered her. Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the Lord.” 1 Samuel 1:19, 20. I really love this part of Hannah’s story!

It is easy to push off spending time with the Lord because we simply didn’t plan for it. Giving Him priority every day is the best way to start your day!

I love that the very day that Elkanah and his family were to travel home after being in Shiloh for worship and to sacrifice to the Lord, they rose up early in the morning to worship the Lord one more time before leaving! They honored God and put Him first! Even though they had a difficult journey ahead of them… “they rose up in the morning early”. When the busyness of life consumes our day and the demands of home, family, church, and work dominate our schedule, we often fall into bed at night physically and spiritually exhausted. It is easy to push off spending time with the Lord because we simply didn’t plan for it. We should learn from Elkanah and set our alarm to ‘rise up early in the morning’ and worship the Lord! Giving Him priority every day is the best way to start your day!

I also love that God answered Hannah’s prayer almost immediately and she conceived! The Scriptures say, “the Lord remembered her”! (How miraculous is that?!?) When the time came for Hannah to give birth, she had a son, and “called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the Lord.” I admire not only Hannah’s faith as she left her burden with the Lord, but also Hannah’s faithfulness as she honored the vow she had made to God. That would be so difficult considering her years of deep, unfulfilled longing to have a child!

I admire not only Hannah’s faith as she left her burden with the Lord, but also Hannah’s faithfulness as she honored the vow she had made to God.

Hannah loved and nurtured Samuel and once he was weaned (possibly 2-4 years old), she was prepared to honor her vow to God. (I simply cannot imagine! Hannah had such great faith! Oh, Dear Lord, help me, Father, to love and reverence You as much as Hannah did!) “And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house of the Lord in Shiloh: and the child was young. And they slew a bullock, and brought the child to Eli. And she said, Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the Lord. For this child I 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 worshipped the Lord there.” 1 Samuel 1:24-28

Once again we read that Hannah prayed. In chapter one of First Samuel Hannah was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore. Then after God had granted her petition for a son and after Hannah had fulfilled her vow to give that son back to the Lord… Hannah prayed, and said, “My heart rejoiceth in the Lord.” Hannah prayed! Hannah prayed in bitterness of soul. And Hannah prayed with rejoicing in her heart! How is your prayer life? (I am directing this at myself as well!) Are you praying through the good times as well as the bad times in your life? Communication is a vital part of every relationship! Especially with The One who knows you best, The One who knew you before He formed you in your mother’s womb!

“And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the Lord, mine horn is exalted in the Lord: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation. There is none holy as the Lord: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God. Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength. They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; and they that were hungry ceased: so that the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble. The Lord killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up. The Lord maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up. He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s, and he hath set the world upon them. He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail. The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the Lord shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed.” 1 Samuel 2:1-10

Hannah rejoiced! She rejoiced in the Lord! She rejoiced in his salvation! She praised his holiness… there is no one as holy as the Lord! He is our rock! He is our all-knowing, righteous judge! He is our provider in strength and in weakness; in our need and in our abundance; in life and in death; and in our wealth and in our poverty! No matter where we find ourselves, He is there… He will keep the feet of his saints! This prayer was vastly different from the insight we are given into Hannah’s earlier prayer.

The selflessness Hannah showed in returning Samuel to God is incredible! Her great humility magnifies the rejoicing and gratitude in her prayer of thanksgiving. Hannah is a great example to follow!

I am so thankful for the account of Hannah in 1 Samuel! It is such a blessing to read how she took her heavy burdens to the Lord and left them there! It is so amazing to read Hannah’s prayer of thanksgiving in chapter 2 as she was giving her son to the priest, Eli. I so appreciate Hannah’s humility. Hannah referred to herself simply as “thine handmaid” when addressing the Lord. The selflessness Hannah showed in returning Samuel to God is incredible! Her great humility magnifies the rejoicing and gratitude in her prayer of thanksgiving. Hannah is a great example to follow!

As Samuel was left behind to minister before the Lord, his mother would make him a little coat and take it to him each year when she would go with Elkanah to offer their yearly sacrifice. Hannah continued to love and nurture Samuel while honoring her vow to God in appreciation for His incredible gift of a son! And the Lord continued to bless Hannah as she went on to conceive and deliver 3 sons and 2 daughters!

“But Samuel ministered before the Lord, being a child, girded with a linen ephod. Moreover his mother made him a little coat, and brought it to him from year to year, when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice. And Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife, and said, The Lord give thee seed of this woman for the loan which is lent to the Lord. And they went unto their own home. And the Lord visited Hannah, so that she conceived, and bare three sons and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew before the Lord.” “And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the Lord, and also with men.” 1 Samuel 2:18-21, 26

We know that Samuel went on to be a prophet, judge, and a wise and beloved leader. Can you imagine how his mother, Hannah, must have felt about the man Samuel had become? I imagine she still had an overwhelming sense of gratitude to God as she thought yet again, “For this child I prayed; and the Lord has 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”!

What I am grateful for most in this account:

~When bitterness had overwhelmed Hannah and she was too distraught to utter her prayer to God, He knew her request! God listens with more than just His ears! He is the one who loves us most and the one who knows us best!

~When Eli, the priest, realized Hannah was speaking to God out of her grief, he instructed her to “go in peace”, and he prayed that God would grant her request. This was after initially accusing her of being drunk! Hannah could have easily been upset over his accusation, especially given the poor reputation of Eli’s own sons. Instead Hannah chose to have peace! She was no longer too distraught to eat and her entire countenance changed! Hannah’s earnest prayer brought a peace that was beyond understanding.

~When their time of worship and sacrifice had ended and they were preparing to leave, Elkanah and his family rose early in the morning to worship God! They put God first even though they were facing a difficult day of travel ahead of them. This not so small detail in this account is very convicting! How often do our schedules fill up so quickly leaving little time or energy in building or maintaining relationships… especially our relationship with our Creator God! We need to plan ahead and schedule time for our Heavenly Father! It will eventually become second nature, and we will genuinely miss it when unavoidable interruptions occur! Mornings tend to be best for me most days, but God is available 24/7! You will never regret one second of time you spend with God!

~Wow! God clearly granted Hannah’s petition very quickly! While I know God is able to do anything, far above anything we can imagine… it is always thrilling when we see how He is working! While God’s Word gives us just what He wants us to know, passages often leave me wanting to know more! As mentioned in the previous blog entry regarding Hannah… God designed women to be very emotional beings. I suspect I am not the only woman who, while I rejoice in how God answered Hannah’s desire, I can imagine Hannah’s joy when she realized God had indeed answered her prayer! And can you just imagine how thrilling it was for Hannah to tell Elkanah the news? What God does want us to know is Hannah’s reaction as she gave her son, Samuel, to God. Her praise and thanksgiving was to The One who gave her such an incredible gift! The Bible says that all children are a gift from God! Psalm 127:3 says, “Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.” Moms, have you praised Him for the children he has gifted you?

~Hannah’s great faith is so inspiring! She demonstrated both faith in God and faithfulness to God! Oh, may I always have faith, be faithful, and share my faith in God with others!

~Hannah is a wonderful example to follow! She communicated with God her deepest bitterness and her highest praise! Amazingly, her prayer of thanksgiving came after she surrendered her young son to God as she honored her vow! Her heart was full of gratitude and praise, no sorrow or regret! Her great humility only magnifies her gratitude and praise to God!

Heavenly Father, thank you, Lord, for the example of humility and faithfulness shown in the life of Hannah! Thank you for the assurance that you hear and answer prayer! I am so grateful that you know me… the very heart of me, before I even utter a word! Remind me often how Hannah’s sincere prayer led to amazing peace! Keep me focused on You, Father. May I consistently plan to spend time with You… in Your Word and in prayer. I praise and thank You for the wonderful gift of our daughters! I am humbled that You allowed me to be a mom… specifically Michelle and Monica’s mom! And I am so blessed to be a grandma… specifically Abigail, Donovan, Gabriel, Lucas, Elizabeth, and Hezekiah’s grandma/grammy and a “bonus” grandma to Travis! I am unworthy of such great blessings, Lord! Help me to honor you in all things! I love You, Lord!