Hannah: The Power of Conversational Prayer

HANNAH:

THE POWER OF CONVERSATIONAL PRAYER

There was a man named Elkanah who lived in Ramah in the region of Zuph

in the hill country of Ephraim. He was the son of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of

Tohu, son of Zuph, of Ephraim. Elkanah had two wives, Hannah and

Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah did not. Each year Elkanah

would travel to Shiloh to worship and sacrifice to the Lord of Heaven’s

Armies at the Tabernacle. The priests of the Lord at that time were the two

sons of Eli—Hophni and Phinehas. On the days Elkanah presented his

sacrifice, he would give portions of the meat to Peninnah and each of her

children. And though he loved Hannah, he would give her only one choice

portion[a] because the Lord had given her no children. So Peninnah would

taunt Hannah and make fun of her because the Lord had kept her from

having children. Year after year it was the same—Peninnah would taunt

Hannah as they went to the Tabernacle. Each time, Hannah would be

reduced to tears and would not even eat. “Why are you crying, Hannah?”

Elkanah would ask. “Why aren’t you eating? Why be downhearted just

because you have no children? You have me—isn’t that better than having

ten sons?” Once after a sacrificial meal at Shiloh, Hannah got up and went

to pray. Eli the priest was sitting at his customary place beside the entrance

of the Tabernacle. Hannah was in deep anguish, crying bitterly as she

prayed to the Lord. And she made this vow: “O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, if

you will look upon my sorrow and answer my prayer and give me a son,

then I will give him back to you. He will be yours for his entire lifetime, and as

a sign that he has been dedicated to the Lord, his hair will never be cut.” As

she was praying to the Lord, Eli watched her. Seeing her lips moving but

hearing no sound, he thought she had been drinking. “Must you come here

drunk?” he demanded. “Throw away your wine!” “Oh no, sir!” she replied. “I

haven’t been drinking wine or anything stronger. But I am very discouraged,

and I was pouring out my heart to the Lord. Don’t think I am a wicked

woman! For I have been praying out of great anguish and sorrow.” “In that

case,” Eli said, “go in peace! May the God of Israel grant the request you

have asked of him.” “Oh, thank you, sir!” she exclaimed. Then she went back

and began to eat again, and she was no longer sad. The entire family got

up early the next morning and went to worship the Lord once more. Then

they returned home to Ramah. When Elkanah slept with Hannah, the Lord

remembered her plea, and in due time she gave birth to a son