2 Samuel

While in church this morning, the pastor mentioned Hannah and how she prayed for a child. Her husband had one to his other wife Peniannah but Hannah was barren. She wanted a child so bad she went to church and asked God to give her a male child..11 Then she made a vow and said, “O LORD of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head.”
12 And it happened, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli watched her mouth. 13 Now Hannah spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard.

Think about it. She wanted that child so bad she was willing to do most anything to have him, even give him over to God once he was old enough, which means he may have been a very young child when she gave him to Eli to raise.

How many of us could do that? Could you just hand one of your children over to someeone else and tell them to raise it? Especially one that you wanted as much as Hannah wanted her son, Samuel. It did not even occur to me to make such a vow when I found out I would not have a child unless I adopted. But she made a vow to God that is what she would do if he blessed her with a child of her own so She knew that this is what God wanted her do do. The child would be loved and grow into a godly man.

When her child was born and he was old enough to be given to Eli, I know Hannah's heart must have been heavy. But was she angry at God? this is her Prayer

And Hannah prayed and said:

“My heart rejoices in the LORD;
My horn[a] is exalted in the LORD.
I smile at my enemies,
Because I rejoice in Your salvation.

2 “No one is holy like the LORD,
For there is none besides You,
Nor is there any rock like our God.

3 “Talk no more so very proudly;
Let no arrogance come from your mouth,
For the LORD is the God of knowledge;
And by Him actions are weighed.

4 “The bows of the mighty men are broken,
And those who stumbled are girded with strength.

5 Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread,
And the hungry have ceased to hunger.
Even the barren has borne seven,
And she who has many children has become feeble.

6 “The LORD kills and makes alive;
He brings down to the grave and brings up.

7 The LORD makes poor and makes rich;
He brings low and lifts up.

8 He raises the poor from the dust
And lifts the beggar from the ash heap,
To set them among princes
And make them inherit the throne of glory.

“For the pillars of the earth are the LORD’s,
And He has set the world upon them.

9 He will guard the feet of His saints,
But the wicked shall be silent in darkness.

“For by strength no man shall prevail.

10 The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken in pieces;
From heaven He will thunder against them.
The LORD will judge the ends of the earth.

“He will give strength to His king,
And exalt the horn of His anointed.”

Hannah calls the Lord, Holy, Stong, Faithful and uplifting. He asked alot of her but she loved him and continued to worship him no matter what. No matter what, she knows God will take care of her and her son. He will help them overcome whatever happens in their lives.

How many times when we pray to we forget to thank god for the things he has given us. Even the small things. We ask, and ask and ask but so often we do not give thanks to the God we expect so much from. Would that all of us be more like Hannah.