Someone wrote: “It is not the arithmetic of our prayers, how many they are; nor the rhetoric of our prayers, how eloquent they may be; nor the geometry of our prayers, how long they be; nor the logic of our prayers, how argumentative they may be; nor the method of our prayers, how orderly they may be: it is fervency of spirit which availeth much!” (Heartwarming Bible Illustrations; Chattanooga, TN: AMG, 1998; page 621).
A young mom named Hannah (in 1 Samuel 1 – we began reading 1 Samuel yesterday), in the midst of moral decadence, had her faith tested. When she persevered in prayer, God blessed her beyond her original request. Let’s look at Hannah and be inspired by her example.
Life is full of misfortunes
Elkanah lived during a time of moral depravity and he had two wives – Hannah and Peninnah (1 Samuel 1:1-2). Hannah had a severe misfortune – she was barren. In addition to that, Peninnah provoked Hannah bitterly with the intention of irritating her – because Hannah was barren. Unfortunately there are people who receive pleasure by irritating others.
Hannah was barren “because the Lord had closed her womb” (NASV). This is said twice (verses 5 & 6). Why would the Lord punish her that way? The Lord is the one who impeded Hannah from having children. God was testing Hannah. Would she have faith in the midst of an immoral culture? It may be easy to maintain our faith when others are suffering but what do we do when problems hit closer to home?
When you and I confront problems, misfortunes in life, what do we do? When you have a problem which seems impossible to resolve, what do you do? When others irritate you, when others provoke you, when others mock you, what do you do?
What will Hannah do?
Things get worse before they get better
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On one occasion, Hannah went to the temple to worship. While there, she was continually provoked by Peninnah. Because of Hannah’s mental condition, she could not even eat (vs. 7). She wept so bitterly that she couldn’t quit long enough to pray (verse 10)! Have you had (or still have) a problem that God hasn’t resolved? Sometimes do you want to cry? Hannah prayed to the Lord with a bitter soul. As far as Hannah was concerned, the situation was desperate.
Hannah felt miserable. She says she was “a woman troubled in spirit” (ESV). Peninnah was making Hannah’s yoke harder to bear, irritating her and provoking her. Eli blessed Hannah and gave her hope. After his talk, “the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.” Prayer gives us hope because we know that God hears the prayers of the righteous (James 5:16). However, along with prayer, we have the responsibility to encourage others. We are not in the discouragement ministry.
Did God respond to Hannah? Did He open her womb?
Hannah fulfills her oath
In the end, Hannah received a response to her prayer and was blessed. After we have done what we can do and we pray that the Father will resolve the problem, we then linger in hope. God gave her a response: “The LORD remembered her.” Hannah gave the boy the name “Samuel”, which means “God hears.”
After God gives a response to our prayer, do we fulfill what we have promised God? Are we people of integrity? If we persist in prayer, let us also persist in fulfilling our responsibilities relative to that prayer.
“Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving” (Colossians 4:2). If we persist in prayer and we do not lose hope, God will bless us beyond our expectations – even in the midst of moral decadence!
–Paul Holland
