And Hannah Prayed — E.A. Johnston

The Necessity of a Life Filled with Scripture and Prayer

I think it's important, friends, that we live in our Bibles to such a degree that God's Word fills us to the brim, to where we overflow with grace and testimony to Him. I have a message of great importance to bring before us this evening, because it is a message on prayer, and there's no work as important as prayer, friends.

Jesus' Example of a Life of Prayer

Jesus demonstrated this in His earthly ministry. He set the example of a prayer life unto God the Father, giving glory to Him in prayer. My message this evening is on the prayer life of Hannah and how God answered her desperate prayer.

Hannah's Prayer in 1 Samuel 1

The title of my message this evening, friends, is, And Hannah Prayed. And my text can be found in the book of 1 Samuel, in chapter 1. You can turn in your Bibles there now, friends. The scene before us, in the beginning of chapter 1, is the picture of a woman who is barren of a child, but she is not barren in prayer, for she brings forth the most pregnant prayer that moves Almighty God to birth in her a son in answer to her faith in prayer.

We find Hannah, in verse 10 of chapter 1, pouring her heart out to God in prayer. Let me read us verses 10 through 15 at this time. Here now is the word of God, and may the Spirit of the Lord be pleased to attend the reading of His holy word.

And she was in bitterness' soul, and prayed unto the Lord, and wept sore. 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 will 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.

Faith That Takes Hold of God in Prayer

Let me pause here, friends. Notice Hannah has a need. She knows that only God can meet that need. She trusts God to hear and answer her desperate prayers, and notice that she lays hold of God in prayer by faith, and like Jacob, does not let Him go until she receives a blessing.

Hannah's Sorrowful Spirit and Soul Poured Out Before the Lord

Now let us continue with verses 12 through 15. And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the Lord, that Eli marked her mouth. Now Hannah, she spake in her heart, only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard.

Therefore Eli thought she had been drunken, and Eli said unto her, How long, oh, wilt thou be drunken? Put away thy wine from thee. And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit.

I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the Lord. I will stop there, friends. I believe, friends, that God hears prayers that are birthed in desperation and bathed in bitterness of soul.

God Honors Persistent Faith and Desperate Prayer

I believe that Almighty God looks upon the sorrowful spirit and He accepts the drink offering of a soul poured out in prayer to Him, and that He honors the faith of the afflicted who trust in Him and who stand firmly upon His promises with surety and the earnest expectation of receiving the desired deliverance in answer to prayer.

Hannah's Prayer of Praise in 1 Samuel 2

I want you, friends, to take the time now in holy solemnity before God to read to yourselves Hannah's prayer that begins in chapter 2 with the words,. And Hannah prayed. Because you can rest assured that when Hannah prayed, God took notice.

Let each of us become better persons of prayer. Let us still ourselves before the Lord as we read this portion of scripture to ourselves, and then let us pray.