Heard Of God

The richness of God's word is beyond compare.  It is a light to our feet, a lamp unto our path and more still:  they are the words of life revealed.  In pages filled with history, narrative, dialogue, poetry, praise and prophecy, we discover situations we can identify with and apply personally to our situations.  Though it was penned thousands of years ago and translated in English centuries ago, it remains relevant spiritual truth that transforms and sustains countless people through faith in God.

Last night I read the passage when Hannah wept before the LORD at the tabernacle in Shiloh, deeply hurting from the provocations of her rival concerning her barrenness.  She cried out to God who had closed her womb to answer her request for a son she promised to give to the LORD and His service.  Eli the high priest, who watched her with a degree of disgust as her lips moved without audible sound, rebuked her for being drunk!  Hannah explained she was not inebriated but in her affliction of soul she cried out to God.  1 Samuel 1:17 reads, "Then Eli answered and said, "Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition which you have asked of Him."  Without knowing what she requested, Eli by faith assured Hannah the God of Israel would grant her petition.

God was faithful to do according to Hannah's request and gave her a son she named Samuel whose name means, "heard of God."  Every time she said his name she was reminded of her former anguish, how God heard her prayer and was faithful to answer.  Hannah kept her word to the LORD and when Samuel was weaned she brought him to the tabernacle in Shiloh with a princely offering of three bulls, flour and wine.  Years had passed and many people had visited the tabernacle since the last time Hannah was there, and she identified herself as that woman whose prayer had been answered 1 Samuel 1:26-28:  "And she said, "O my lord! As your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood by you here, praying to the LORD. ²⁷ For this child I prayed, and the LORD has granted me my petition which I asked of Him. ²⁸ Therefore I also have lent him to the LORD; as long as he lives he shall be lent to the LORD." So they worshiped the LORD there."

Eli did not know what Hannah prayed for at the time, but he rejoiced to see her prayer answered and her promise fulfilled.  The last part of verse 28 says in the KJV, "So he worshiped the LORD there."  The "he" and "they" is Eli and Hannah, not Samuel who did not yet know the LORD himself.  Worship is intrinsically tied to knowledge as Jesus said to the Samaritan woman in John 4, "We know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews."  Without knowledge of God and what He is done a person cannot truly worship God, and when we know what God has done how can we not worship Him?  When Hannah declared how God answered her prayer she and Eli worshiped God, and the beginning of 1 Samuel 2 is a lovely prayer as she rejoiced over the greatness of God.

I can identify with the joyful worship of Eli and Hannah's prayer because I too have been heard by the LORD.  Today marks 25 years since God was faithful to answer my prayer for a wife.  God has given us two sons, guided us to serve Him in Australia, allowed us to be permanent residents, then dual citizens and even provided us a house!  My soul swells with gladness in the worship of God as Hannah prayed in 1 Samuel 2:1-2:  "My heart rejoices in the LORD; my horn is exalted in the LORD. I smile at my enemies, because I rejoice in Your salvation. ² "No one is holy like the LORD, for there is none besides You, nor is there any rock like our God."  Who is like the LORD who does marvelous things without number?  His ways are past finding out, but all He has made known shows Himself to be good, gracious and glorious.

Has the LORD answered your prayer, believer?  Worship Him in prayer with thanksgiving, beloved of the LORD.  He has been faithful to us, and may we like Hannah be faithful to Him.  He has heard our prayers, and God delights to hear our praise as well as our hearts rejoice in Him.