Read 1 Samuel 2:1-10

God Answers Prayer

How do you respond to the gracious blessings of the Almighty God? When He answers your prayer, are you grateful and glad? Hannah declared, “My heart rejoices in the Lord; my horn is exalted in the Lord” (1 Samuel 2:1). Does your heart rejoice? Do you recognize God’s handiwork in the strength you possess?

If we are on God’s side, we can say, like Hannah, “I smile at my enemies, because I rejoice in Your salvation” (1 Samuel 2:1). Certainly, nothing can defeat us if we are faithfully serving in the Lord’s kingdom. Paul asked, “If God is with us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31). The answer, of course, is no one! “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38).

In her prayer, Hannah recognizes the magnificence of God’s power. “No one is holy like the Lord, for there is none besides You, nor is there any rock like our God” (1 Samuel 2:2). Do we properly exalt the Lord when He answers our prayers? We should!

Hannah acknowledges God’s prerogative to bring the faithless to their knees while lifting the faithful up. “The bows of the mighty are broken, and those who stumbled are girded with strength” (1 Samuel 2:3). May we ever be careful of boasting, especially of boasting in our own accomplishments or power. God can quickly reverse one’s blessings!

There is also in Hannah’s prayer some Messianic nuances. “The Lord kills and makes alive; He brings down to the grave and brings up” (1 Samuel 2:6). Indeed, though “it is appointed for men to die once” (Hebrews 9:27), we are assured that “the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth” (John 5:28-29).

God answers prayer; let us be thankful as He does and look forward to the fulfillment of the promise of the resurrection!