Hannah: Leaving a Legacy of Prayer

Copyright © 2013 Faydean Bishop

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ISBN: 978-1-4497-3908-9 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4497-3909-6 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2012914369

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WestBow Press rev. date: 9/4/2013

Contents

Dedication

Preface

Introduction

Hannah

Pray Much before Entering the Covenant of Marriage

Time to Worship

When Celebrations Become a Time of Sorrow

Hannah Went to Pray

The Journey Back Home

Hannah Does Not Go to the Temple

Samuel Hears the Voice of God

Hannah Fulfills Her Vow and Takes Samuel to Live at the Temple

Bringing Up Children

We Make Good or Bad Memories

Teaching Samuel about God

Conclusion

Excerpts on Prayer. Taken from E.M. Bounds On Prayer:

Bibliography

Endnotes

Dedication

This book is dedicated to my Mother. She was a godly woman that trusted God through much adversity in her life. Mother would read the Bible and pray with us every day. She taught Sunday School and Bible Studies for many years. She was left with three children to raise by herself, after Dad abandoned us. Like Hannah, at times, she didn’t have anyone to turn to except God. She worked endless hours, to enable us to make it. Often, she would hum hymns as she worked. Her ability to make our clothes kept us clothed for a number of years. In times of great stress, Mother fell to her knees and ask God to give her the strength to keep going. When we lacked money, she would pray for God to make a way, and He always did. She paid tithe, gave to many missionaries, and at times, helped her neighbors. God had a way of stretching the money she had. In her late sixties, she visited one of the missionaries that she supported. They climbed a mountain, and she was the first one to the top.

Later in life, she drew and painted pictures. Some of them were appraised for a lot of money. God had given her a sparkle in her eyes, which many people commented that they saw Jesus in her. She had a great zeal for living. Complication from cancer took her life at age seventy six.

She left a legacy of godliness, prayer, and devotion to God.

Preface

I received Jesus as my Savior at the age of fourteen. My family went to Northside Baptist Church in Charlotte, North Carolina. Dr. Jack Hudson was my pastor. He was preaching when I gave my life to Christ. I attended Tennessee Temple under the direction of Dr. Lee Roberson. I later moved to Rockford, Illinois. I worked as summer missionary to youth at South Main Baptist Church. For years I have worked in Sunday school, children’s church, and Wednesday services. I met and married my husband. We have three children. I have taught ladies’ Bible classes and have spoken at Bible conferences.

Introduction

Hannah had so many hurdles to climb over before her prayer was answered. Most people would have given up. The customs and traditions of men that kept women classified as second-class people alone would have been enough to stop most people. In Hannah’s time, women had to walk behind men in public. She couldn’t speak to men except in her home. She couldn’t get an education or work outside the home. She was unable to bear children, and that placed her value as just a little above an immoral woman. At that time, a woman’s purpose was to bring forth children. She was considered to be under a curse from God if she was unable to do so. People looked down on her. Being unable to have children was a black mark against you. Hannah would have been able to identify with the Jews who had to wear a star on their clothing during World War II. At that time, the Jews were different and were treated differently.

Hannah’s husband didn’t understand how she felt. He was apathetic to the situation. He gave her a home and nice clothes; therefore, he thought she should be content. Without asking Hannah how she felt, he married Peninnah to have his children. Peninnah was jealous of Hannah and made her life miserable. Hannah went to the temple to worship and to pray. Eli thought she was drunk and said bad things to her. A place of comfort became a hurtful place. She continued to pray, and God gave her the grace to get through every hurdle placed in her path. He gives us grace for our trials.

Hannah

Hannah was like a rose with soft skin and a soft, tender heart. She had a heart that not only reached out to God but would also reach out to her nation. Through her son, Israel would have peace. Her arms were like most women’s—strong—and like the branches of a rose, reaching out to meet the needs of others. The stem of a rose is strong, and Hannah had to find strength in God to be strong through all life would place on her. We will have to find strength to get through the trials that come our way. The rose, as beautiful as it is, has thorns, and Hannah had many thorns that pierced all the way into her heart, driving her emotions wild.

We have so much turmoil as Satan tries to destroy our lives. Satan wanted to leave Hannah like the man who fell among thieves, wounded and unable to help himself. But Hannah called upon her God to save her. She found strength to carry on through all the schemes of Satan and others to bring her down. Hannah became a courageous woman, and we can too. Her life, like the rose, opened up more and more to reveal the characteristics of the God she had learned to love and trust. Full of God’s love, her life still blesses ours today.

In 1 Samuel 1, we find the story of Hannah. Hannah means grace, gracious, or favor. She was probably a young woman when she married Elkanah. His name means man of God. He was a godly gentleman. He loved and deeply respected Hannah. We see this by the choices he allowed her to make concerning Samuel. Elkanah was a good provider, and financially they were flourishing. The offering they brought to the temple shows us that God had richly blessed their lives. Their marriage seemed to be a match made in heaven. She had found her knight in shining armor. They would live happily ever after—or would