Village Schools of the Bible

A Devotional Study of 1 Samuel 1
by Max Frazier, Jr.

The story of Hannah and the power of prayer.

Outline:

I. Background of Samuel's family (vs. 1-2)

II. Trouble in Elkanah's family (vs. 3-8)

III. Hannah's prayer for a son (vs. 9-11)

IV. Hannah and Eli (vs. 12-18)

V. Samuel's birth (vs. 19-20)

VI. Samuel dedicated to the Lord's service (vs. 21-28)

What a startling contrast between the spiritual condition of Hannah and Eli. Hannah was just an ordinary distraught woman. Eli was the nation's high priest, its chief religious official. Hannah knew how to empty herself before God. It would appear from the text that Eli had forgotten what that was like as he did not recognize its signs from his observation of Hannah. Although he spoke encouraging words to Hannah, I am not convinced he really believed those words, but Hannah did. And God honored her faith. Once we have emptied ourselves before God then He can fill us with His presence. Praise God for the "Hannahs" in life who show us the secret of communicating with God.

The deepest desire upon the heart of Hannah was to have a son. Not money or acceptance or status. Just a son. And then she vowed to God that if He gave her a son, then she would give her son back to God. To the logical mind this vow made no sense. Why return that which you desired the greatest? Why not keep it for yourself? Yet that is God's plan. He gives us a natural life so that we can give it back to Him for His eternal life. I am reminded of Jesus' words that a man has really profited nothing if he has gained the world but lost his soul. Hannah knew the secret of God's heart. And now, so do we. I believe that it was with gladness Hannah received her baby boy, and I believe it was with gladness that she gave him back to the Lord.

Return to the Table of Contents 1Samuel 2