For This Child I Prayed;

1 Samuel 1 ch v. 27 "For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him:"

1. HANNAH'S PROBLEM - v. 2 "And he had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children." Spiritually - Background It was a time of:-

(a) Barreness - v. 2 A lack of Revelation "1 Samuel 3 v. 1 "And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision."

Amos 8 v. 11 "Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD:"

Adam Clarke said.... The most grievous of all famines, a famine of the words of Jehovah; a time in which no prophet should appear, no spiritual counsellor, no faithful reprover, none any longer who would point out the way of salvation, or would assure them of the mercy of God on their repentance and return to him. This is the severest of God's judgements on this side the worm that never dieth, and the fire that is never quenched.

(b) Bitterness - v. 6 A lack of Restraint "And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb."

Judges 21 v. 25 "In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes."

1 Samuel 2 v. 12 "Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not the LORD."

(c) Boastfulness - A lack of Respect - 1 Samuel 2 v. 17 "Wherefore the sin of the young men was very great before the LORD: for men abhorred the offering of the LORD."

1 Samuel 2 v. 24 "Nay, my sons; for it is no good report that I hear: ye make the Lord's people to transgress."

(d) For Brokeness - v. 9 & 10 "So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the LORD. And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore."

She came to God's house:-

Barren, Burdened - v. 10 "And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore." - bitterness of soul,

Broken, Believing Hebrews 11 v. 6 "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."

2. HANNAH'S PRAYER - v. 10 "And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore." i.e. a prayer that changed history

Note:-It was a prayer of:-

(a) Suffering - v. 7 "And as he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of the LORD, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat."

Esther 4 v. 15 & 16 "Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer, Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish."

v. 8 "Then said Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? am not I better to thee than ten sons?"

(b) Supplication - v. 10 "And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore." Note there was:-

(1) Passion in her Praying v. 10 "And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore."

(2) Purpose in her Praying - v. 11 "And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head."i.e. a son

(3) Promise in her Praying - v. 11 "then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life," - What a cost, what a committment, what a covenant

e.g. Jacob - Genesis 28 v. 20 - 22 "And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, So that I come again to my father's house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God: And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God's house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee." -