Asking God in Real Pray – Story of Hannah Barren & Prayer for a Child
I SAMUEL 1
1 ¶ Now there was a certain man of Ramathaimzophim, of mount Ephraim, and his name [was] Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephrathite:
2 And he had two wives; the name of the one [was] Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.
3 And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD, [were] there.
4 And when the time was that Elkanah offered, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions:
5 But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: but the LORD had shut up her womb.
6 And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb.
7 And [as] he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of the LORD, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat.
8 Then said Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? [am] not I better to thee than ten sons?
9 ¶ So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the LORD.
10 And she [was] in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore.
11 And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.
12 And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli marked her mouth.
13 Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken.
14 And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee.
15 And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I [am] a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD.
16 Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto.
17 Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant [thee] thy petition that thou hast asked of him.
18 And she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more [sad].
19 ¶ And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the LORD, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the LORD remembered her.
20 Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, [saying], Because I have asked him of the LORD.
21 And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer unto the LORD the yearly sacrifice, and his vow.
22 But Hannah went not up; for she said unto her husband, [I will not go up] until the child be weaned, and [then] I will bring him, that he may appear before the LORD, and there abide for ever.
23 And Elkanah her husband said unto her, Do what seemeth thee good; tarry until thou have weaned him; only the LORD establish his word. So the woman abode, and gave her son suck until she weaned him.
24 And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house of the LORD in Shiloh: and the child [was] young.
25 And they slew a bullock, and brought the child to Eli.
26 And she said, Oh my lord, [as] thy soul liveth, my lord, I [am] the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the LORD.
27 For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him:
28 Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there.
I SAMUEL 2
1 ¶ And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation.
2 [There is] none holy as the LORD: for [there is] none beside thee: neither [is there] any rock like our God.
3 Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let [not] arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD [is] a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.
4 The bows of the mighty men [are] broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength.
5 [They that were] full have hired out themselves for bread; and [they that were] hungry ceased: so that the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble.
6 The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up.
7 The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up.
8 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, [and] lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set [them] among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth [are] the LORD’S, and he hath set the world upon them.
9 He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.
10 The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the LORD shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed.
54-0320 FAITH.COMETH.BY.HEARING_ CHICAGO.IL SATURDAY_
« E-46 † Look. No matter what the preacher, what this or that, you’re coming to the house of the Lord with faith. Hannah walked in; she run down to the altar, and fell down, raised up her hands and begin to scream till she interrupted the whole service. Even the priest thought she was drunk. That’s the way… She was all right. That’s the way of a whole lot of people that get sincere. They’re just misunderstood. She wasn’t drunk; she was misunderstood. And many men and women who are really from the core of their heart, really fully surrendered to the Lord Jesus Christ, they’re not crazy; they’re misunderstood. That’s all. The world knows their own. So does God know His own.
And she was praying. And Eli stomped out, and said, “Woman, will thou always be drunk on strong drink?”
She said, “My lord, I am not drunk on strong drink, but I’m praying that the Lord take away my reproach.” Now, watch. Now…
He said, “The Lord grant it you. The Lord bless thee.” And that’s all she wanted to know. There was God’s priest. God’s priest had announced God’s blessings on her. She was at the house of God.
Now, God could’ve put the baby in her arms, if He wanted to. But He has a way of doing things. It don’t make any difference whether it happened right there or not. She had God’s Word sunk in her heart; faith cometh by hearing, hearing of the Word of God. She accepted it right then, went home rejoicing. Praise God, going to have the baby. And in nine months little Samuel was born. Is that right? Why? She took God at His Word. She believed. Faith comes by hearing, hearing the Word of God. She seen how it come to Sarah. She seen how it was going to come to her.
61-0903 LET.YOUR.LIGHT.SO.SHINE.BEFORE.MEN_ JEFFERSONVILLE.IN SUNDAY_
« E-18 † Now, in all deepest of sincerity, my children, I’ve got two yet, that has never been baptized, as yet, because they’ve just been dedicated. I got a baby in glory that was just dedicated, not baptized, because baptism is for remission of sins (See?), to show that you have repented. That baby has done nothing to repent for. It’s a baby, just born here in the world. It hasn’t got no power with coming here. See, and it has no sin.
When Christ died at the Cross, He died to take away the sin of the world. Until this baby has done something to repent for, the Blood of Jesus Christ makes an atonement. But now, the mother as–and father, parents, has the right to bring the baby and offer back to God the baby that was give to them by God.
« E-19 † Hannah in the temple. She promised. She was barren. She was old. She had no children. She prayed so sincerely at the altar, till the priest walked out and accused her of being drunk. She was screaming and crying at the altar, for God to give her a baby. And she said, “God, if You’ll give me a baby, I’ll bring it right back to this place and give it to You.”
Mothers, that’s the way you got your baby. God give you your baby. It’s just as much as He give Hannah her baby. And now, you’re bringing your babies back tonight to the temple, just like Hannah did little Samuel, to–in dedicational service.
Now, we dedicate and give your baby back by prayer to the God Who gave it to you. And I pray that these little boys and girls that’s standing here tonight, will be prophets and prophetess like Samuel was of old to the Lord, that you’re given them back.