Bible Studies
1 Samuel 1:4-20 – Answered Prayers
Key Verses: (NRSV)
- 4-5: “On the day when Elkanah sacrificed, he would give portions to his wife Peninnah…but to Hannah he gave a double portion, because he loved her, though the Lord had closed her womb.” – In these first verses in the book of 1 Samuel, we enter a story filled about a family that is aflame with feud, discourse, and bitterness. Hannah was a favored wife of Elkanah yet God had not blessed her with children.
- 6: “Her rival used to provoke her severely, to irritate her, because the Lord had closed her womb.” – Blessings, such as children, come from God, so it is natural for Hannah to assume that God was also responsible when no children came.
- 9: “After they had eaten and drunk at Shiloh, Hannah rose and presented herself before the Lord.” – Taking her misery with her, Hannah goes to the tabernacle to once again ask for His blessings.
- 11: “She made this vow: ‘O Lord of hosts, if only you will look on the misery of your servant, and remember me, and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a male child, then I will set him before you as a nazirite until the day of his death.’” – Feeling separated and forgotten by God, Hannah beseeches His blessing. In exchange for His blessing, she creates a covenant that dedicates her son to a life of servanthood.
- 14: “So Eli said to her, ‘How long will you make a drunken spectacle of yourself?” – Hannah’s prayer was so intense and with disregard of what others might think it caused Eli, the priest on duty, to accuse her of being drunk. (The disciples at the first Pentecost were accused of the same offense.)
- 15: “No, my lord, I am a woman deeply troubled; I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the Lord.” – She had held nothing back in her efforts to get God’s attention.
- 17: “Go in peace; the God of Israel grant the petition you have made to him.” – Eli blesses Hannah.
- 20: “In due time Hannah conceived and bore a son. She named him Samuel, for she said, ‘I have asked him of the Lord.’” – Her prayer answered she begins her covenant by naming the boy “Heard of God.”
- Is God responsible for your life?
Promises of the Gospel:
Hannah’s story is very human. We have all found ourselves in situations of misery and discontent. We even tend to increase our misery through feelings of envy and self-pity. From this commonality with Hannah, we can then use her prayer-life as a model for our own. She shows us that we can turn to God in all situations. That we can feel free to ask Him anything that is on our hearts. There are no limitations to what we can ask from God. When we pour out our souls to Him, we walk away refreshed and with peace. God provides us with the grace to handle all the situations in life that He has sent our way. With that understanding we can then be freed to go forth and become the blessing to the world that He is calling us to be.
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