Story of Hannah

The birth of Samuel the judge/prophet of Israel is interesting to say the least. In 1 Samuel 1-11 it talks about Samuels father who's name was Elkanah, and he had two wives one named Peninnah and the other named Hannah. Now Hannah didn't have any children as it says the Lord shut her womb(1 Sam 1:6) but Peninnah on the other hand did have children, and she would make Hannah feel bad because she did not.  It says Hannah would weep and refuse to eat when they would go and make offerings at the house of the LORD because of the ridicule from Peninnah(1 Sam 1:7)

One year Hannah was in such despair that it says she went alone to pray to the LORD in bitterness of soul weeping in anguish(1 Sam 1:10) the word bitterness here in the hebrew is "Mar"  to be in pain or heavy laden/discontent, in this case it is saying her soul was in much pain she was heavy laden weeping in grief. In this moment Hannah asks God to grace her with a son, she makes a vow with God that if he would indeed give her a son she will offer him to God for all his days. (1 Sam 1:11)

Now notice Hannah a woman of God, in all the despair and sorrow she was in didn't curse God, She went before the LORD GOD Almighty and asked to receive His grace and His mercy and promised to give this child to God. Interestingly enough Hannah's name means Grace and God did show her grace by giving her a son which she named Samuel(1 Sam 1:20) [ later He would also show her more grace when Hannah; who had begged for a child..wept and pleaded for one, and the LORD gave her Samuel, she did what she promised and gave the child up, and The LORD blessed her with more children (1 Sam 2:21) ] after Samuel was born Hannah gave all glory to God:

And Hannah prayed and said: "My heart rejoices in the LORD; My horn is

exalted in the LORD. I smile at my enemies, because I rejoice in Your salvation.

"No one is holy like the LORD, For there is none besides You, Nor is there any 

rock like our God.

"Talk no more so very proudly; Let no arrogance come from your mouth,

For the LORD is the God of knowledge; and by Him actions are weighed.

"The bows of the mighty men are broken, and those who stumbled are girded with

strength. Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, and the

hungry have ceased to hunger. Even the barren has borne seven, and she who has many children has become feeble.

"The LORD kills and makes alive; He brings down to the grave and brings up.

The LORD makes poor and makes rich; He brings low and lifts up.

He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the beggar from the ash heap,

To set them among princes And make them inherit the throne of glory.

"For the pillars of the earth are the LORD's, And He has set the world upon them.

He will guard the feet of His saints, but the wicked shall be silent in darkness.

"For by strength no man shall prevail. 

The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken in pieces;  From heaven He will thunder against them. The LORD will judge the ends of the earth. "He will give strength to His king, and exalt the horn of His anointed."

1 Samuel 2:1-10

Amen Hannah..Amen! All glory to GOD!

†..On Your Knees..†

"The Word of GOD brings us to our knees before it gives us peace."

What I mean by this is quite simple, please don't get it twisted…does GOD

and His word bring peace? Absolutely! but before it does that, it better bring you to your knees. Yes, all glory to our LORD and Savior for bringing ultimate peace(everlasting) before we ourselves even realized we needed it. All honor glory and righteousness to the one who was and is and is to come!-(Revelation 4:8)

But if you are seeking peace without falling to your knees you're missing the TRUTH, missing the whole point of the gospels.  Jesus said in Luke and Matthew

"Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it and whoever loses his life will preserve it"

Luke 17:33

"If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it."

Matthew 16:24-25

A confusing statement from Jesus, specially if you are one of those who think

the gospel is centered around you and is about your glory and about giving you peace and comfort. The Gospel is not meant to bring peace with yourself it's meant to make you an enemy of self. Peace only comes through Christ, it comes when the gospel makes you see it's not about you, it's about what was done in spite of you. It's all about Christ, and God forbid if I should glory in anything except in the cross of our LORD Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world-(Galatians 6:14)

Do you not know that you are not your own? For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify GOD in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

The bible does not say YOU deserve peace & prosperity and a life without tribulation…..

BUT all Glory to Christ God our savior Holy of Holies, King of Kings for His ultimate everlasting peace that far outweighs any tribulation, and far outweighs all the riches of this world. YOU can keep your prosperity and life, just give me CHRIST!