Write your own Praise-Prayer: The Song of Hannah (1 Sam 1.26–27; 2.1–10)
“I am the woman who was standing here in your presence, praying to the LORD. For this child I prayed; and the LORD has granted me the petition that I made to him.”
“My heart exults in the LORD;
my strength is exalted in my God.
My mouth derides my enemies,
because I rejoice in my victory.There is no Holy One like the LORD,
no one besides you;
there is no Rock like our God.Talk no more so very proudly,
let not arrogance come from your mouth;
for the LORD is a God of knowledge,
and by him actions are weighed.The bows of the mighty are broken,
but the feeble gird on strength.
Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread,
but those who were hungry are fat with spoil.
The barren has borne seven,
but she who has many children is forlorn.The LORD kills and brings to life;
he brings down to Sheol and raises up.
The LORD makes poor and makes rich;
he brings low, he also exalts.He raises up the poor from the dust;
he lifts the needy from the ash heap,
to make them sit with princes
and inherit a seat of honor.
For the pillars of the earth are the LORD’S,
and on them he has set the world.He will guard the feet of his faithful ones,
but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness;
for not by might does one prevail.The LORD! His adversaries shall be shattered;
the Most High will thunder in heaven.The LORD will judge the ends of the earth;
he will give strength to his king,
and exalt the power of his anointed.”
Background
Hannah’s prayer is one of the longer prayers in the Bible (outside the Psalms). We met Hannah in the last prayer passage, where she offered a petition and a vow to God about her desire to bear a child.
God grants her request. She becomes pregnant and gives birth. She names the child “Samuel,” which means “God hears.” She and her husband take the child to the temple to dedicate him, as she had vowed.1 Eli is there, the prophet who saw her praying in the temple that day and told her that God had heard her prayer. Hannah shows the child to Eli and reminds him of her prayer-vow (1Sam 1.26–27).
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