Working Notes
by
Sylvia Dooling
* *I don’t know about you, but the biblical record of Hannah and Samuel
contain several of my favorite Bible stories. Of course, as a child, I loved
the story of God appearing to Samuel at night and calling him by name. Night
for me was always a fearful time. It was dark. And, I would feel so alone.
The assurance that God is present in the night was always a comfort to me.
But here we have the story of Hannah’s longing to have a child. In her
desperation she cries out to God. At precisely the right time, God answers
her prayer. She gives birth to a son that she promises to dedicate to God.
God had plans for Samueleven before Hannah expressed her longing. I’m struck
by the amazing sovereignty of God. Aren’t you?
I would add a couple of supplemental notes to this lesson.
*Note #1*
Hannah is privileged to speak as God’s prophet to proclaim not only her own
thanksgiving and praise for answering the desires of her heart, but her song
goes far beyond her own personal gratitude. The Holy Spirit inspires her to
speak God’s Word of hope and deliverance for all of Israel. Initially, this
deliverance will come through a king. In fact, her son Samuel would be
privileged in his lifetime to anoint two kings. The second king would stand
as Israel’s greatest Regent until the anticipated coming of God’s anointed
Messiahwhen praise, once again, breaks forth through a young girl’s lips by
the name of Mary.
The notes from the Geneva Study Bible are helpful.
Hannah’s ‘prayer for a son having been answered, Hannah offers a
jubilant song of thanksgiving. Focusing on the Lord’s sovereignty and
grace to the humble, Hannah anticipates the major themes of the books of
Samuel. The same themes of sovereignty, grace, and deliverance are
reiterated in David’s song of Thanksgiving near the end of 2 Samuel
(ch.22). The two songs provide a poetic frame for l and 2 Samuel. Mary’s
briefer song of praise (the Magnificat, Luke 1:46-55) seems to have been
modeled on Hannah’s. Both songs open with rejoicing in the Lord’s
deliverance (v. 1; Luke 1:46-48), extol the Lord’s uniqueness and
holiness (v.2; Luke 1:49-50), condemn proud boasting (v.3; Luke 1:51),
point to reversals of human fortune as the result of interventions by
the sovereign Lord (vv. 4-8; Luke 1:52-53), and express the Lord’s
faithful care for His own (v.9; Luke 1:54-55). Hannah’s song concludes
with the assertion that the Lord Himself will give strength to His king,
His anointed (vv. 9-10).”
*Note #2*
Under Suggestions for Leaders on Page 37, it is suggested that members of
the circle should ‘write their own psalms.” I believe it’s very important
to make the distinction between the psalms written in Scripture and the
things that we write. Certainly, God inspires words of praise to break forth
from our lips as we offer our prayers to him. However, we should never
become confused in our thinking that our prayers are the same as those
uniquely inspired by the Holy Spirit and contained within the Old and New
Testaments.
*Note #3*
This lesson offers a wonderful opportunity to spend time in a discussion
about prayer.
For example, you might want to ask:
1. Why is it important to pray?
2. Did Samuel come into being because Hannah requested a child?
3. Do our prayers change God’s mind?
4. Does prayer change things, or does prayer change us? How?