Today’s Devotion
Topic: Prayer Of Desperation
(Self Assessment 166)
Part 1
Background: There was a certain man from Ramathaim, a Zuphite from the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Elkanah son of Jeroham, an Ephraimite. He had two wives; one was called Hannah and the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none.
Year after year, this man went up from his town to worship and sacrifice to the LORD Almighty at Shiloh, where Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, were priests of the LORD.
Whenever the day came for Elkanah to sacrifice, he would give portions of the meat to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters. But to Hannah he gave a double portion because he loved her, and the LORD had closed her womb.
This went on year after year and nothing significant happened to prove his worship and sacrifice had become worthwhile in the presence of God.
Let us study to see some of the things that were happening among the other members of Elkanah’s household that probably made each year’s visit to Shiloh a ‘religious’ one and not the kind that brings about divine transformation and results.
Text: 1 Samuel 1: 6- 11
6 Because the LORD had closed Hannah’s womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her. 7 This went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the LORD, her rival provoked her till she wept and would not eat. 8 Her husband Elkanah would say to her, “Hannah, why are you weeping? Why don’t you eat? Why are you downhearted? Don’t I mean more to you than ten sons?”
9 Once when they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah stood up. Now Eli the priest was sitting on his chair by the doorpost of the LORD’s house. 10 In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the LORD, weeping bitterly. 11 And she made a vow, saying, “LORD Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the LORD for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.” Amen
Questions:
1. Why do you think Peninnah tried every time to provoke Hannah just because she had children and Hannah didn’t? Why do people often do that to each other?
2. What do we receive from provoking others with the advantage we have over them, even in the presence of God, or in church? (Kindly read verses 7 and 8 again). Why would Peninnah choose to humiliate Hannah year after year in the house of the Lord?
3. According to verse 8, what are some of the ways Elkanah their husband, had always handled the issue?
4. In your opinion, are there any better ways by which Elkanah could have handled this family issue? If yes, kindly suggest a few.
5. One day, Hannah was not going to take this anymore. According to verses 9 and 10, she chose to pray than to fight her rival and establish her displeasure with her. In your opinion, was choosing to pray instead of physical confrontation a better option? Kindly explain your answer.
6. From verse 9, we notice that Hannah got up to pray at an odd time where everyone had finished eating and drinking and was probably ‘going on to rest.’ Even the priest was resting. What practical example is in here for anyone who is really desperate for God, or trusting Him for a change in situation, or for a breakthrough?
7. Hannah prayed out of deep anguish. The troubles had gone on for far too long. She wept in the presence of our God. In the prayer, she made a vow. What was her vow? (Read verse 11)
8. What was so special about her prayer time and vow? How does this vow reveal her heart and inner motives? What role will the perception of our hearts and our motives play in moving God for our sakes?
9. What have you learnt from today’s discussion?
Kindly reply through this same social media platform (Facebook & WhatsApp). We learn a great deal from the answers you share with us.
Make a date with us next week for the continuation.
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