If you had just been given your heart’s greatest desire, how would you pray? Wouldn’t you thank God for the particular blessing you had received? On the other hand, if you had just performed some great service for the Lord, how would you pray? Wouldn’t you be tempted to point out what you had done in the hopes of receiving some recognition?

Well, although Hannah’s prayer in chapter 2 is indeed filled with rejoicing, she never mentions that she was willing to give him up to the Lord (1:28). Moreover, she never even mentions her miracle baby by name. So, why does Hannah pray in this way?

In the first place, she is making it clear that her blessings are not somehow a repayment for her faithfulness – that’s the way ancient pagans and modern followers of the “prosperity gospel” think. Instead, Hannah makes it quite clear that no one prevails by his own efforts (2:9), and that those who contend with the Lord, putting Him to the test or presuming upon His grace, should expect anything but His shattering judgment (2:10).

But at the same time, Hannah acknowledges that none of the blessings we can receive in this world are lasting. And the most casual study of history confirms her wisdom: neither military power nor material wealth last forever, and even children and grandchildren can disappoint us (2:4-5). If our prayers are too concerned with thanking God for such transitory gifts, what will happen to our faith when we lose them? What happens when we “name” a blessing, but don’t “claim” it?

No, Hannah thus shows us a better way, a less self-centered way to pray, even in times when our cup is in fact running over. For she keeps her focus firmly on Who God is: she praises God because He is holy, and because He is a rock of refuge, the only One Who can guarantee our safety (2:2).

Moreover, however grateful Hannah might be for the gift of her son Samuel, she is even more grateful for the God Who is the only source of all our blessings. For He is the One Who, by His sovereign grace, bestows or takes away life and riches, glory and honor (verses 6-8).

So today, instead of trying to bargain with God, let us humble ourselves before His mercy and majesty. Let us be most thankful, not for what God has given us, but for God Himself. Let us raise our eyes from the gifts to the Giver, and may our hearts truly exult in the Lord, even as we rejoice in His salvation (2:1)

I Samuel 1:20-2:11 (NASB)

20 And it came about in due time, after Hannah had conceived, that she gave birth to a son; and she named him Samuel, saying, “Because I have asked him of the LORD.”
21 Then the man Elkanah went up with all his household to offer to the LORD the yearly sacrifice and pay his vow.
22 But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, “I will not go up until the child is weaned; then I will bring him, that he may appear before the LORD and stay there forever.”
23 And Elkanah her husband said to her, “Do what seems best to you. Remain until you have weaned him; only may the LORD confirm His word.” So the woman remained and nursed her son until she weaned him.
24 Now when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with a three-year-old bull and one ephah of flour and a jug of wine, and brought him to the house of the LORD in Shiloh, although the child was young.
25 Then they slaughtered the bull, and brought the boy to Eli.
26 And she said, “Oh, my lord! As your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you, praying to the LORD.
27 “For this boy I prayed, and the LORD has given me my petition which I asked of Him.
28 “So I have also dedicated him to the LORD; as long as he lives he is dedicated to the LORD.” And he worshiped the LORD there.

Then Hannah prayed and said, “My heart exults in the LORD; My horn is exalted in the LORD, My mouth speaks boldly against my enemies, Because I rejoice in Thy salvation.
2 “There is no one holy like the LORD, Indeed, there is no one besides Thee, Nor is there any rock like our God.
3 “Boast no more so very proudly, Do not let arrogance come out of your mouth; For the LORD is a God of knowledge, And with Him actions are weighed.
4 “The bows of the mighty are shattered, But the feeble gird on strength.
5 “Those who were full hire themselves out for bread, But those who were hungry cease to hunger. Even the barren gives birth to seven, But she who has many children languishes.
6 “The LORD kills and makes alive; He brings down to Sheol and raises up.
7 “The LORD makes poor and rich; He brings low, He also exalts.
8 “He raises the poor from the dust, He lifts the needy from the ash heap To make them sit with nobles, And inherit a seat of honor; For the pillars of the earth are the LORD’s, And He set the world on them.
9 “He keeps the feet of His godly ones, But the wicked ones are silenced in darkness; For not by might shall a man prevail.
10 “Those who contend with the LORD will be shattered; Against them He will thunder in the heavens, The LORD will judge the ends of the earth; And He will give strength to His king, And will exalt the horn of His anointed.”
11 Then Elkanah went to his home at Ramah. But the boy ministered to the LORD before Eli the priest.