Hannah's Prayer

Chapter 1 of 1 Samuel introduces us to Elkanah, who had two wives, Hannah and Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah was barren, which caused her great sorrow and was often used by Peninnah to taunt her. Every year, Elkanah would travel with his family to Shiloh to worship and offer sacrifices to the Lord. During one such trip, Hannah, deeply distressed by her inability to have children, went to the temple and fervently prayed to the Lord. She made a vow, promising that if God would give her a son, she would dedicate him to the Lord for his entire life. Eli, the high priest, initially misunderstood her emotional prayer, thinking she was drunk. However, after Hannah explained her situation, Eli blessed her and said, "Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him." Hannah left the temple with a sense of peace and hope.

Discussion Questions:

1. How do you think Hannah felt being childless in her society? Why was it such a source of sorrow for her?
2. How did Peninnah's actions make Hannah's situation even more difficult? Have you ever witnessed or experienced a similar dynamic?
3. Describe Hannah's prayer in the temple. What does it tell us about her character and her faith?
4. What does Hannah's vow reveal about her relationship with God? Is it easy or difficult to make such promises to God?
5. How did Eli initially misinterpret Hannah's prayer? What can we learn from this about judging others?
6. What was the significance of Eli's blessing to Hannah? How might this have impacted her?
7. Have you ever prayed fervently for something? How did that experience feel?
8. What can we learn from Hannah's example about how to approach God in prayer when we are facing difficulties?

Prayer:

Dear Lord, we thank you for the story of Hannah and her unwavering faith in you. We see her deep sorrow and her earnest desire for a child, and how she turned to you in prayer with a sincere and heartfelt plea. Help us to learn from her example to bring our burdens and desires to you, trusting in your goodness and your perfect timing. Give us the strength to make promises to you and the commitment to follow through. We also pray for understanding and compassion towards others, that we may not judge hastily but offer support and encouragement instead. May our prayers always be filled with faith and trust in your loving care. Amen.

This discussion is based on The One Year Bible Storybook by Virginia Muir.