026. Prayer Of Hannah.

Prayer Of Hannah. The Prayer as recorded.—1 Samuel 1:10-11. The Answer.—1 Samuel 1:20; 1 Samuel 1:27-28. An all-wise Jehovah sees fit to try his children in the school of affliction; these trials are as varied as their disposition and temperament; each one is brought through the waters by the way best fitted to purify his or her heart, and is attacked in those desires which separate him from his God.

There are few even of those who are the professed children of the Most High, but are still waiting for, still pursuing some object which they fancy will increase their happiness. God does not reprove us for these desires, if their attainment is the advancement of his glory; he rather encourages us to express to him every want of our hearts. The prayer before us is a striking example of clearness and precision in the subject matter, of confidence and reliance on the great Hearer; it was made by Hannah, the memorials of whose life comprehend but a few years, indeed embrace only this prayer and its answer, with the attendant circumstances. The wife of a distinguished servant of God, who loved and appreciated her, and surrounded by comfort and competence, she was conscious of one desire ungratified, a want in her bosom ungratified—a want which was rendered a bitter sorrow by the taunts of a rival, who triumphed over her with the evil spirit of an enemy; human nature is weak and erring, and we see this godly woman disturbed in mind, her devotional feelings ruffled and fretted by her adversary. We doubt not but Hannah had made her peculiar trial a frequent subject of prayer; but we observe much selfishness mingled in her desires, and perhaps she had a rebellious feeling against the will of the Almighty.

We remark, however, under all the disturbed feelings of Hannah a quiet, steady walk in the path of duty, and we read of her going up yearly with her household, to offer the required sacrifices to God at the appointed Shiloh. The discipline through which she passed purified her spirit, and taught her to bear her burden of sorrow in silence. As she sat quietly during the feast in Shiloh, her tears flowed fast and free, and afterward she poured out her soul to God in prayer. A descendant of Abraham, one in whom all the families of the earth were to be blessed, she had the covenant of Abraham to plead; this strengthened the particular desire of her heart—a desire she possessed in common with all Hebrew women. She came with earnestness to God, and asked for a son, not that she might rid herself of the taunts of her rival, or enjoy him selfishly, but that she might dedicate him to the worship and service of the God of Israel, not for a time, but for his life; to the prayer is added her vow to consecrate him whom God would send, to a life of purity and holiness. A trial awaited Hannah even at her hour of prayer, for, unmindful of the presence of man, and communing with heaven, she poured out her full soul into an ear that always listens; hers was the language of strong faith in and hope towards God, the exertion of a soul struggling to free itself of a burden that was oppressing and overcoming it; and well was it that God saw not as man saw, else the heart of Hannah would not have been full of the peace with which she rose from that prayer. The charge of Eli was not even repelled in anger, gross as it was to the sensitive mind of Hannah; calm, in conscious innocence, she felt as every true believer always feels when charged falsely. “If God justifieth, who is he that condemneth.” Her soul was fortified by prayer, and she stood ready for any attack; the joy in her heart shone out in all her after conduct, “and she was no more sad.” There is great fullness in the expressions in this prayer; God is addressed as the Lord of Hosts, who has the universe with its myriads at his sovereign disposal; there is in it deep humility—not the language of one who fancies himself heard for his much speaking, but the feeling of a sinner in the presence of a just God. The desire of Hannah’s heart was gratified, and a son was granted.

Prayer does not always bring, as it did with this godly woman, the blessing solicited, but it brings its best answer in a will perfectly submissive to that of the Almighty. Were our specified desires always granted they might bring many a sorrow now happily averted. While, then, we are encouraged by this prayer to whisper our wants in the ear of God, let us leave them to his wisdom, let us be careful to have them regulated by his love, and be satisfied with the hope, that all things work together for good to them that love God.