1 Samuel 1:9-16: A Prayed For Son
At one of the annual feasts, after Peninnah’s been poking Hannah’s wound repeatedly, it gets too much for Hannah. She can’t take it anymore. Her soul is bitter, she’s in pain and agony and her heart is breaking. As she sobs uncontrollably she pours out her heart to God (v11). She makes a vow: “If you will look upon me, remember me and not forget me, but give your servant a Son (let me play my role in your plans), I will give him to you – all his life. He will be devoted to your service. No razor will touch his head (a mark of consecration).” She is so longing for a son, she’ll return him to God. Her prayer is so passionate Eli the priest thinks she’s drunk and warns her to stay off the bottle. Read again her answer in v15-16 and feel the depth of her pain.
But look at how she addresses God in her prayer: “the LORD of Hosts.” This is a common name for God in the Old Testament, but 1 Samuel is the first time it’s used. We’re being introduced to the LORD of hosts. It means, as one author puts it: “the God whose universal rule encompasses every host, force and army – heavenly, cosmic and earthly – the God with the total resources of the universe at his command.” It stresses the bigness, glory and power of God.
Hannah, this poor, shame-filled, heart-broken woman from the Hill country of Ephraim (the rural sticks of Israel) addresses the cosmic ruler about her personal family problem.
When did you last direct your deeply personal problems and domestic struggles of your insignificant family to the God whose universal rule encompasses every host, force, and army – heavenly, cosmic, and earthly? To the God with the total resources of the universe at his command? Maybe you did take them to him, but you lost sight of the reality that this is who He is. Isn’t the LORD of Hosts able to do all we need?
Questions
- How would you explain the title “LORD of Hosts” to a child?
- When did you last pray with Hannah’s pain and passion?
Prayer Points
- Take Hannah’s prayer in verse 11 and adapt it to your situation
- Use prayer points from your congregation.
- Pray for family matters.