Hannah Prays in Deep Anguish and Dedicates Her Son Samuel to the Lord
(1 Samuel 1)
In the hill country of Ephraim lived a man named Elkanah. He had two wives. Peninnah had many children. Hannah had none.
Elkanah loved Hannah very much. Every year the whole family traveled to Shiloh to worship God and offer sacrifices. At the feast, Elkanah always gave Hannah a double portion of meat because he loved her so much.
But Peninnah was jealous of Hannah. Because Hannah could not have children, Peninnah made fun of her and teased her. Year after year, her harsh words cut deep. Hannah would cry so hard that she could not eat. Her husband tried to comfort her. "Why are you crying, Hannah?" he asked. "Do I not mean more to you than ten sons?"
One year, after the meal, Hannah got up and went to the house of the Lord. She was in deep anguish, a heavy, aching sadness, and her spirit was crushed. With tears streaming down her face, she poured out her heart to God and made a vow, a serious promise. She said, "Lord Almighty, if you will look on my suffering and remember me, and give me a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life."
She was so upset that she prayed silently. Her lips moved, but no sound came out. Eli the priest was sitting nearby, and he thought she was drunk. "How long are you going to stay drunk?" he asked. "Put away your wine."
"No, my lord," Hannah answered. "I am deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer. I was pouring out my soul to the Lord. Please do not think I am a wicked woman. I have been praying out of my great anguish."
Eli realized his mistake. He said to her, "Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him."
A huge weight lifted from Hannah's heart. She said, "May your servant find favor in your eyes." Then she ate, and her face was no longer sad. She looked peaceful and hopeful.
Early the next morning, the family worshiped the Lord and went home to Ramah. The Lord remembered Hannah, and in time she became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, which means "heard by God," because she said, "I asked the Lord for him."
When it was time for the next annual sacrifice, Hannah stayed home. She told Elkanah, "After the boy is weaned, I will take him and present him before the Lord. He will live there always." Elkanah agreed with her plan.
When Samuel was old enough, Hannah took him to the house of the Lord at Shiloh. She brought a three-year-old bull, flour, and wine as a sacrifice, then brought Samuel to Eli. She said, "As surely as you live, I am the woman who stood here praying to the Lord. I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the Lord, for his whole life." And the boy worshiped the Lord there.
A Curious Question
Why do you think Hannah gave her only son Samuel to God after she had prayed so hard for him to be born, and what does that teach us about trusting God with the things we love most?
Jesus Connection
Hannah gave her son Samuel to the Lord, dedicating him to God's service for his entire life. This points forward to another mother who brought her Son to the Temple. In Luke 2, Mary and Joseph presented the baby Jesus at the Temple, just as Hannah had presented Samuel there. But Jesus was not given to serve for a lifetime like Samuel. Jesus came to serve for all of history, giving His life as the ultimate sacrifice so that everyone who trusts in Him can be saved. Hannah gave her one son to God. God gave His one Son, Jesus, to the whole world.
Discussion Questions
- Why do you think Hannah was so sad, and what did she do about it?
- How did God show that He heard Hannah's prayer?
- Hannah kept her promise to God. Why is it important to keep the promises we make to God and to others?
"So What?" What Can I Do?
- When you are sad or worried, remember Hannah. You can tell God exactly how you feel just like she did. He wants to hear from you.
- God hears your prayers, even when you don't have the right words to say. Hannah prayed silently, and God heard her heart.
- Think about someone who is sad. How can you be kind to them? Peninnah was mean to Hannah. But you can choose to be kind instead.
- When you make a promise to God or to others, try your best to keep it. That is what Hannah did. She gave Samuel to the Lord because she had promised to do so.
Memorize God's Word
1 Samuel 1:27: "I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him."
- I prayed for this child put your hands together like you are praying.
- and the Lord has granted me open your hands wide to show you are receiving something.
- what I asked of him point up to heaven with both hands.
Praying with Kids
Dear Father, we thank You that You hear our prayers just like You heard Hannah. Please help us to trust You with our biggest worries and thank You for giving us Jesus, Your greatest gift. Amen.
Craft or Activity
Prayer Hands Keepsake
Kids will trace their hands and write a prayer on them to remember that God hears us when we pour out our hearts to Him.
Materials Checklist:
How to Make the Prayer Hands Keepsake:- Trace your hand on a piece of construction paper and cut it out.
- On the palm of the hand cutout, write a prayer to God. Tell Him something you are worried about, something you are thankful for, or a promise you want to make to Him.
- Decorate the fingers of the hand with colors and drawings.
- Punch a hole at the bottom of the hand and tie a string or ribbon through it.
- Hang your prayer hand at home to remind you to pray to God, just like Hannah did.
Effective Teaching Techniques
For Younger Children: Focus on the emotion of the story. Use your face and voice to show Hannah's deep sadness, her tears, and then her great joy. Ask them if they have ever felt so sad that they cried, and talk about how God cares about our tears.
Prep Shortcut: Pre-cut the hand shapes out of construction paper before class to save time. Have older kids help younger ones with the tracing if needed.
Classroom Management: Have a "quiet talk" moment before the prayer activity. Ask the kids to think silently about something they would like to talk to God about, just like Hannah did in the temple.
For Older Kids: Have them look up 1 Samuel 1 in their Bibles. Challenge them to find the verse where Hannah explains the meaning of Samuel's name (verse 20). Discuss the meaning of a "vow" and what it means to keep a promise to God.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why was Peninnah so mean to Hannah?
- Peninnah had many children, but Hannah had none. The Bible says Peninnah teased Hannah about it every year, and it made Hannah cry so hard she couldn't eat.
- Why did Eli think Hannah was drunk?
- Hannah was praying so hard that her lips were moving but no sound came out. Eli didn't know she was praying silently in her heart, so he thought she had been drinking wine.
- What does the name Samuel mean?
- Samuel means "heard by God." Hannah chose that name because she said, "I asked the Lord for him," and God had heard her prayer.