Hannah's Prayer

Hannah’s prayer is surprising to many of us. Remember that she has struggled for many years on her lack of a son and being provoked about it by Peninnah. However, God answered her prayer by giving her a son, and so she responds to God in her prayer. However, in her prayer, it is remarkable that the focus is not on herself, nor the son that God gave her, nor even her own situation. It is a remarkably God-centred prayer from Hannah. She begins her prayer by rejoicing in God for his deliverance. Then she very quickly moves on to the different characteristics of her God – his holiness, sovereignty, grace, and justice. Hannah recognises that her experience with God is a small display of the kind of God she worships and prays to. This is what he is like – he brings life out of death, humbles the proud, exalts the humble, accomplishes his great salvation in the most unexpected way. This is exactly the pattern that we see with Christ – humbling the proud, exalting humble sinners, and acc