Hannah's Prayer:

Hannah's prayer is a profound moment of personal devotion and supplication found in the first book of Samuel. Hannah, one of the two wives of Elkanah, was deeply distressed due to her barrenness, which was a source of great personal and social anguish in ancient Israelite culture. Her rival, Peninnah, who had children, would provoke her bitterly to irritate her (1 Samuel 1:6). Despite her sorrow, Hannah's faith remained steadfast, and she turned to the Lord in prayer during one of the family's annual visits to the tabernacle at Shiloh.

In her prayer, Hannah made a solemn vow to the Lord, saying, "O LORD of Hosts, if only You will look upon the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, not forgetting Your maidservant but giving her a son, then I will dedicate him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall ever come over his head" (1 Samuel 1:11). This vow indicates her willingness to dedicate her child to the Lord as a Nazirite, a person set apart for God's service.

Hannah's prayer is characterized by its sincerity and depth of emotion. She prayed silently, moving her lips but making no sound, which led Eli, the priest, to initially mistake her for being drunk. Upon realizing her genuine distress, Eli blessed her, saying, "Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant the petition you have asked of Him" (1 Samuel 1:17).

Samuel's Birth:

The Lord remembered Hannah, and in due time, she conceived and bore a son, whom she named Samuel, saying, "Because I have asked for him from the LORD" (1 Samuel 1:20). The name Samuel is significant, as it reflects Hannah's acknowledgment of God's answer to her prayer. Samuel means "heard of God" or "asked of God," signifying the divine response to her heartfelt supplication.

True to her vow, once Samuel was weaned, Hannah brought him to the house of the Lord at Shiloh. She presented him to Eli, saying, "I prayed for this boy, and since the LORD has granted me what I asked of Him, I now dedicate the boy to the LORD. For as long as he lives, he is dedicated to the LORD" (1 Samuel 1:27-28). This act of dedication was a profound expression of Hannah's faith and gratitude, as she entrusted her long-awaited son to the service of God.

Hannah's prayer and the birth of Samuel hold significant theological and historical importance. Her account exemplifies the power of prayer, the faithfulness of God in answering the cries of His people, and the concept of dedicating one's life to divine service. Samuel would grow to become one of Israel's greatest prophets and judges, playing a crucial role in the transition from the period of the judges to the establishment of the monarchy in Israel.