1 Samuel Profiles

HANNAH

1 Samuel 1:2–2:21

Hannah’s prayer shows us that all we have and receive is on loan from God. Hannah might have had many excuses for being a possessive mother. But when God answered her prayer, she followed through on her promise to dedicate Samuel to God’s service.

She discovered that the greatest joy in having a child is to give that child fully and freely back to God. She entered motherhood prepared to do what all mothers must eventually do—let go of their children.

When children are born, they are completely dependent upon their parents for all their basic necessities. This causes some parents to forget that those same children will grow toward independence within the span of a few short years. Being sensitive to the different stages of that healthy process will greatly strengthen family relationships; resisting or denying that process will cause great pain. We must gradually let go of our children in order to allow them to become mature, independent adults.

Strengths and accomplishments	Mother of Samuel, Israel’s greatest judge Fervent in worship; effective in prayer Willing to follow through on even a costly commitment
Weakness and mistake	Struggled with her sense of self-worth because she had been unable to have children
Lessons from her life	God hears and answers prayer Our children are gifts from God God is concerned for the oppressed and afflicted
Vital statistics	Where: Ephraim Occupation: Homemaker Relatives: Husband: Elkanah. Son: Samuel. Later, three other sons and two daughters. Contemporary: Eli the priest
Key verses	“And she said, Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the LORD. For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him: therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD” (1 Samuel 1:26–28).

Her story is told in 1 Samuel 1—2.