Day 82

An Answer to Prayer

Read: 1 Samuel 1-3

The book of 1 Samuel carries the story of God’s people forward from the birth of Samuel to the death of King Saul. It tells us the story of a godly leader in Israel named Samuel.

In the days of the Old Testament, God permitted people to live below the standard he had set for marriage by design, which is one man and one woman for a lifetime. He allowed polygamy among his people. But how much pain resulted from living below God’s standard! How painful it was for Hannah who had no children while her husband’s other wife did and didn’t let her forget it. In her grief, she cried out to the Lord in prayer, and although Eli, the spiritual leader at Shiloh, misunderstood her, God did not. He answered her prayer, and therefore she named her son Samuel, which means “I have asked him of the LORD” (1:20). We need to be more sensitive to the pain of people who would like to have children but cannot conceive.

The prayer of thankfulness prayed by Hannah is reflected in that of the Virgin Mary many centuries later. Both recognize that the God of grace raises up the lowly and brings the proud down to defeat.

Keeping her promise, Hannah gives her son to God’s service. There, at a young age, he heard the call of God and said willingly, “Speak, LORD, for thy servant hears” (3:10). May God raise up godly leaders to lead his church today who hear and obey him.

PRAYER
Father, answer our prayers in ways beyond our imagination for your glory. For Christ’s sake. Amen.