Samuel 2

Chapter 2 of first Samuel mainly begins with a prayer from Hannah thanking God for Samuel after she tells Eli (the priest) that this is the son she prayed for that night in the temple when he had thought she was drunk.

The Prayer
1 Samuel 2:1-10
Hannah had just told Eli about Samuel in the previous chapter. This was the one who she had prayed for the longest time for. A son of her own. She promised to give him to the Lord if He would give her the son she desired. She says that her heart "rejoices in the Lord!" and that the Lord has "made [her] strong!". She praises Him for rescuing her from her deep pool of depression. "There is no Rock like You, God."

Pause: "Rock" God is called a Rock here and in other passages because, well think about it, you sink or drink water (He is the Water of life, though.), sand can move under your feet and be shakey, but a rock. Think of standing on a concrete platform. It's safe, secure. So is God.

Play: The next part of her prayer was almost like accusations. "Stop acting so proud and haughty!" In this part of the passage I see a few examples that parallel her life. For instance, "For the Lord is a God who knows every action you have made, He will judge your actions." Peninnah always made her cry by gloating on her children. God saw that. He sees everything. And I mean everything. "The childless now have seven children and the one with children withers away." Again her and Peninnah. She was childless and now has a son. The Lord has "set the world in order".

After this prayer Elkanah left Samuel there (Ramah) with Eli and he and Hannah went back home.