Prayers Aligned with God's Kingdom Purposes

Have you ever had a section of scripture that just doesn’t make sense to you or perhaps that you are uncomfortable with? I have. Every time such a passage would come up in my Bible reading plan, I would have questions. Sometimes troubling ones. I have learned this means this passage is probably one I need to dig deeper into. Eventually the time is right and I sit with the passage and pray. The Lord will open my eyes to His truth. Often a passage I have struggled with comes to be a passage of deep significance to me. 

One of those passages was 1 Samuel 1 and 2. I know many women who have loved the story of Hannah. Women who have named their boys “Samuel” because “for this child I have prayed.” Of course - this is a story of a woman who pleaded with God for a child. Little Sams running around is a sweet reminder that the Lord opens and closes wombs and hears the prayers of would be mommas.

But something about it confused me.  

Could a woman want a child so badly she is willing to make a vow that if God gives her a son she would give him away to serve God in the temple. Really? 

I heard I was supposed to be OK with that because Hannah waited until he was weaned to give him away. That  didn’t make sense. Can you imagine dropping off your three year old son to be raised by a man who couldn’t control his own godless sons knowing you would only see him once a year????? 

When I initially dug a little deeper, it didn’t get clearer. 

First off, Hannah sings a prayer of rejoicing when she leaves Samuel at the temple. (2:1) That’s not how I am feeling when I drop my children off at college, let alone a three year old boy getting dropped off before he could barely talk!

Then there is the unique comment from her husband who, after Samuel has been born, prays that God would (future tense) establish His word. If God had already answered Hannah’s prayer by giving her a son, what word of God was there still to be established? (1:23) 

And lastly there is Eli’s blessing of Hannah because of the petition she asked for. (2: 20). Why would Eli care if Hannah was asking for a son or a daughter or any child for that matter?  

Let’s look together for the answer to the question: What exactly was Hannah praying for? 

The Context

This story takes place at the end of the time of the Judges when there was no king in Israel and everyone did what was right in his own eyes. Samson, one of the last of the judges, was probably still making raids on the Philistines who were oppressing Israel. Yes, he was strong, but his repeated compromises and lust would keep him from fulfilling his calling.  

Eli's sons were the attending priests. They were worthless, wicked  men who were proud and arrogant (2:12-17, 22-25, 29; 3:13). All Israel knew this. Eli could not persuade them to repent. 

The nation of Israel was experiencing a barrenness of leadership.

The Characters

There are five characters in this story. 

Samuel - Chosen Leader

Elkanah - Dutiful but not Discerning

Peninnah - Scorned and Cruel

Eli - Compromised Leader

Hannah - Perceptive Petitioner

Samuel - Chosen Leader

These chapters are connected to the birth of a baby boy named Samuel. Samuel doesn’t have a big part now, but he will have one in upcoming chapters so it will be helpful for us to think about the role he will play.  

It has been said that “The finger of God is seen very clearly in connection with the birth and early training of those who are to become His greatest agents.” The emphasis in the story line of Samuel's birth harkens back most recently to the birth of Samson (Judges 13) and the birth of Obed (Ruth 4:17). The first readers of 1 Samuel would have been aware of both of these significant births. 

Samson was a disappointment.  He had fallen so far short of his expected military leadership. An allusion to his birth was a reminder that the time of the Judges had not brought peace to Israel. The birth of Obed was a bright ray in the midst of those days. His birth brought with it a hope that the future would be better. The writer of the book of Ruth lets us know that Obed would become the grandfather of the future king David.

In Samuel’s birth we also see the “finger of God.” 

This is who Samuel was to become: 

God’s chosen guide through the transition period of Judges to Kings

God’s king-maker

The last judge, the first prophet - and a priest.

A picture of Christ’s three offices (prophet, priest and king)

A picture of salvation coming to a nation through the birth of a child. 

A picture of Christ’s obedience to His Father’s will  “Behold I come to do your will” (Heb. 10:5-7)

Elkanah - Dutiful but not Discerning

We eventually learn Samuel’s father’s name. But he is initially introduced to us as “a certain man.” It is obvious that he is not going to be the main character. 

We do learn that he is a Levite living in Ephraim about twenty miles from Shiloh, the center of worship at the time (1 Chron 6:26-28) The tribe of Levi did not have their own land but lived among the other tribes. 

Elkanah is a faithful follower of religious practices who took his family to Shiloh yearly for sacrifices and worship. (1:3)

This is good. Or could be. But there are a few things that make one wonder about Elkanah’s discernment and heart for the Lord. 

He has 2 wives. His first wife was barren, so he married a second. This was a somewhat common practice at the time though stories of Abraham and Jacob could have warned of the consequences of such an action.

Those stories could have also taught him to call on the Lord to reverse Hannah’s barrenness.

Though he knew the Lord had closed Hannah’s womb, we do not hear of him praying, or praying with Hannah, or trying to encourage her to accept that the hand of the Lord was good. 

He must have noticed the evil that was going on at the temple in plain view of everyone. Yet like everyone else, he turned a blind eye to it. 

Again his lack of discernment is seen when he does not recognize his double gift to Hannah makes things worse for her. 

Though he seems kind hearted, he has little understanding and empathy for Hannah. His rejoinder to her: “Am I not more to you than ten sons?” is a common cliche. It is not his worth that concerns Hannah. She needed to be assured she had worth. (see 1:16 contrasted with 2:12)

Peninnah - Scorned and Cruel

Peninnah was the second wife of Elkanah. For that reason we must pity her on one level. A second wife was married only to give her husband children. She was unloved or at the very least unloved in comparison to how much Elkanah dotes on Hannah. 

But that does not excuse her selfishness and cruelty. She used Hannah’s hardships to provoke her “Because the Lord had closed her womb.” She had no regard for the Lord or formalities. It was during religious service she taunted Hannah the most. 

Eli - Compromised Leader

Eli was the lead priest at that time. When he died at 98 yrs old, he had judged Israel for 40 years. He was probably in his 80’s at this time. 

His sons worked in the temple alongside him. He did not restrain his son’s sin (2:22-25, 29) possibly because he loved their sin’s bounty. He was overweight and had bad eyesight (4:15-18). 

The Lord punished Eli by having his sons die in battle and ending his line of priesthood. (2:27-36; 3:10-14; 4:12-18) 

Eli falsely accuses Hannah of being a drunk woman -  Was this because of his bad eyesight? Poor judgment of character? Or the type of woman he was used to seeing at the temple? - To his credit, he does change his tone towards Hannah when corrected. And he prays a blessing for Hannah though he does not know her request. 

Hannah - Perceptive Petitioner

We remember Hannah because she prayed for a child. We should remember her even more for being one of a handful of women whose prayers/songs are included in inspired scripture. She knows scripture - Her prayer in chapter 2 is filled with it.! Hannah's song is parallel to Mary’s song (Luke 1) when she finds out she will give birth to The One who will save His people. 

Let’s take a moment to look at Hannah's song.

Chapter 2 

v. 1  She rejoices.

v. 2-5 She acknowledges the character of the Lord \

(Holy, incomparable, strong, all knowing, just)

v. 6- 8 She rehearses the works of the Lord, His governance.

Who is blessed in His kingdom?  the feeble, the hungry, the barren

(Compare this to The Beatitudes) 

Who are the outcasts from His kingdom?  the haughty, the self-sufficient, the mighty.

v. 9,10 She prophesies of God’s salvation and the coming King

Hannah had a legitimate desire to have a son. To have no children was to be seen as dishonored by God - to not be allowed to have a part in the covenant promise - “Through you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”

Adding to this real sorrow- She had been grievously provoked and superficially comforted..

She was in persistent pain - worse during the days of the sacrifice which should have been a highlight of her year. She was sad, weepy, deeply distressed, anxious and vexed. 

Hannah knew that it was the Lord who had closed her womb. And to the Lord she pleads. She is the only one in the story who calls on The Lord of hosts. (1st time name used in OT). She turns to the Lord because she has nowhere else to turn for help (Ps 142:4). She pours out her heart to the Lord. 

David uses this phrase “Pour out your heart” in Psalm 62:8.  

He explains that a person of faith demonstrates her trust in God by pouring out her heart before God -  Prayer is how we testify to our dependency on Him because we believe He alone is able to answer. Prayer is both a confession of our weakness and a confession of God’s strength. 

To “pour out your heart” is to talk to God about what matters to you. Those ideas and images that are on automatic repeat in your thoughts -  all the pieces of this and that which have not even been formed into complete sentences and yet have lodged themselves in your mind.

To “pour out your heart” is to put into words all the emotions that are building up inside of you - It is to talk to God about your hopes and fears. Your joys, concerns.

To “pour out your heart” is to tell him of your struggles to do what is right. About your weakness and temptations. 

Hannah does all this when she pours out her heart to the Lord. 

What does Eli think when he sees her? He falsely accuses her of being drunk! Yet even so, she was courteous and dignified yet firm in her answer to Eli. 

Hannah believed God’s word through Eli and demonstrated her faith in God by changing her disposition. From that point on, she was no longer sad - even before she got pregnant. What an amazing example she is of faith silencing feelings!

And God graciously remembered her and gave her a son! Is. 57:15

Those are the characters in the story. 

The Storyline

This story, like all stories in the OT, is a part of the big redemptive story of the bible. Why was this particular story included? I would propose that it is here to teach us how to pray for the coming of God’s kingdom. 

Let’s ask again, “What was Hannah praying for? What petition did God grant?” (1:17, 27)

What word of the Lord did Elkanah want established? 1:23

What petition did she ask of the Lord that caused Eli to bless her? (2:20) 

A key to this answer is looking at the climax of this narrative. 

A simple outline of the storyline could look like thus:

Introduction of characters and setting 1:1-2

Conflict 1:3-14

Climax 1:15,16

Resolution 1:17-20

New setting 1:21-28

Here are the verses of climax: 

“But Hannah answered, “No, my lord, I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the Lord. Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for all along I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation.” (1:15,16)

I’d like to suggest the question that unlocks the answer to Hannah’s petition and can instruct us in how to pray is: “What made Hannah troubled in spirit, anxious and vexed?”  

Hannah’s barrenness was not the only cause of her sorrow. Because she was a godly woman who knew God’s promises, it was vexing to her soul to live at a time when ungodliness ruled the day. It was easy to be anxious when the land was more barren of godly leadership than her womb was barren of a child. She knew her only hope was to pour out her heart to God. And she did so with earnest emotion. 

A godly woman who experiences anxiety and stress in an ungodly world will pray.

Hannah’s barrenness and her family’s reaction to it forced her to see the bigger picture of the day. 

The Lord closed Hannah’s womb so that He could open her eyes. If she was tending to her own children would she have seen what was going on around her?  Because of her pain, she saw the wickedness around her. Religious formality, cruelty, hypocrisy, glutteness, sexual immorality, oppression and no one acknowledging their need of a promised savior. 

Hannah realized that her having a child would not solve the problems of her day. 

More than wanting a child, Hannah wanted God’s promised savor. She was not only praying for herself, she was praying for the nation who had no king and no hope in God’s promise being fulfilled. She was asking God to allow her to be a part of God’s plan for His people. She asked for a son so that she could dedicate him to God’s service.  She wanted a son that would be a part of God’s blessing to his people. 

Trials can be a way God humbles us to align our desires with His kingdom purposes.

It was this prayer, a prayer for a son that God would use to lead His people back to Himself, that God was pleased to answer.

When Eli told her that her prayer would be answered, she rejoiced because she then knew God was going to make a leader out of her son. It was this prayer that Elkhanah asked the Lord to establish. It was because of the answer to this prayer that Hannah could sing with rejoicing when she brought Samuel to the temple. It was the because of this petition that Eli blessed Hannah. 

Jesus taught his disciples to pray, “Your kingdom come, Your will be done.”  This is the first and greatest thing we can pray for.  We need to learn to align our prayers with God’s kingdom purposes. Our legitimate desires need to be subordinated to this greatest good. If our delight is in this greatest good, our desires will be ordered aright. 

Delight yourself in the Lord,

    and he will give you the desires of your heart 

Psalm 37:4

To this end, Jesus has also given us some amazing promises. 

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness,

and all these things will be added to you.”

Matt 6:33

“If you abide in me and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish,

and it shall be done for you.” 

John 15:7

God answers the prayer that is aligned with His kingdom's purpose.

How can you apply this to yourself?

What are you longing for that the lack of it brings great sorrow?

A husband, a child, the salvation of a loved one, a job, a home, the healing of a broken relationship? 

Ask yourself, how God could be using this pain to open your eyes to His larger work in this world.

Ask God to change your heart so that your prayer ends with, “Your will be done.”

Ask God to change your prayer to align with His purposes.

Let me try to apply this to myself.

We have just moved to Texas. A family friend gave us a bridge loan to buy our house here before we sold the Georgia home. Houses were selling in Georgia quickly and at a good profit. Until they weren’t. We still have not sold the Georgia home. We are very aware that we can not make someone buy our home. We are praying that God will bring us a buyer.

How could we align this prayer with God’s kingdom purposes?“

Lord, you know the witness (or lack of witness) you want to have in our Georgia neighborhood. Please bring a buyer who will accomplish this.”

But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile,

and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.

Jer. 29:7

“Lord, you know the sanctifying work you are doing in the life of our generous family friend. You see farther into the future than we do. Please bring us a buyer at the perfect time for your perfect plans for him.”

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Jer. 29:11

“Lord, you know the sanctifying work you are doing in our lives - teaching us dependence, deepening our faith.  You know the financial consequences of a delayed sale and how you intend to use this for our good and the good of the ministries we are involved with. Please bring us a buyer at the right time and with the right offer that will continue your kingdom's purposes in our lives and the lives of those we serve.”

"And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work."

2 Cor. 9:8

Praying like this takes work and thought, maybe you will struggle a while to get there - Paul gives the example of Epaphrus struggling in prayer. (Col. 4:12). We also know that our Lord Jesus on the night of His cruxition labored in prayer. (Heb. 5:7-9). In great anquish He prayed, "Not my will but yours be done." The struggle is worth the outcome. The process of praying in this way brings peace. 

Pouring out one's heart in prayer to God is a lifelong practice

that results in life-giving blessings, 

the best of which are a deeper awareness of the heart of God

and the experience of a soul at rest. 

Hannah knew both of these.