Small Enough to Hear
“She was deeply distressed and prayed to the LORD and wept bitterly.”—1 Samuel 1:10
The story of Samuel begins with the story of Hannah. Hannah was the second wife of Elkanah, along with another woman, Peninnah. We learn that Peninnah had children, while Hannah had none, which became a source of pain and discouragement for Hannah, as Peninnah continually provoked her. Year by year, Peninnah’s family grew, while Hannah remained childless. Barrenness is painful to any woman, but in the ancient world, it was horrendous. To not be able to conceive was one thing, but to have your rival wife continually throw it in your face by her large family is quite another. Along with her own feelings of inadequacy came the snide comments, sarcastic barbs, and cutting remarks year after year, each time they went up to the house of the Lord, “Therefore Hannah wept and would not eat”—1 Samuel 1:7. Like a typical husband, Elkanah couldn’t understand his wife’s pain, “Hannah, why do you weep? And why do you not eat? And why is your heart sad? Am I not more to you than ten sons?”—1 Samuel 1:8.
One day, at the house of the Lord, Hannah got up and went into the temple of the Lord. It was there that she was “deeply distressed and prayed to the LORD and wept bitterly”—1 Samuel 1:10. She asked God for a son and vowed to give that son for God's service for the duration of his life. As she continued in prayer, crying out in her heart, her lips moved, although she didn’t make a sound. Eli, the priest, saw her lips moving, but didn’t hear anything and figured she was drunk and rebuked her for it. But Hannah responded,
“No, my lord, I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the LORD. Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for all along I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation"—1 Samuel 1:15-16.
Realizing her pain, Eli responded, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition that you have made to Him"—1 Samuel 1:17. Hannah left Eli’s presence, ate, and was no longer sad. The next day, she returned home along with her husband, and he “knew Hannah his wife, and the LORD remembered her. And in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel for she said, ‘I have asked for him from the LORD’”—1 Samuel 1:19-20.
Hannah honored her vow and gave Samuel for God’s service all the days of his life. He became a great leader, prophet, and judge in Israel who helped institute the Jewish monarchy with King Saul.
Hannah’s prayer is a reminder to us that God is small enough to hear our prayers. We often think of God as the God of Wonders and indeed He is. He is the one who created the heavens and the earth, brought the plagues upon Egypt, led the Israelites through the Red Sea, made the sun stand still, and brought down the walls of Jericho. But He was also the one who answered the prayer of a barren woman by giving her a child. There is a song entitled "Small Enough" by Nicole Nordeman that captures the beauty and essence of Hannah’s prayer.
“Oh, Great God, be small enough to hear me now.
There were times when I was crying from the dark of Daniel's den;
And I have asked you once or twice if You would part the sea again.
But tonight I do not need a fiery pillar in the sky.
Just want to know you're gonna hold me if I start to cry.
Oh great God, be small enough to hear me now.”
God is small enough to hear the cries, pains, and prayers of our heart, but is big enough to bring about our deliverance. I hope that we might all take the time to pray to the One who is large enough to answer, but small enough to hear. Amen.
The story of Samuel begins with the story of Hannah. Hannah was the second wife of Elkanah, along with another woman, Peninnah. We learn that Peninnah had children, while Hannah had none, which became a source of pain and discouragement for Hannah, as Peninnah continually provoked her. Year by year, Peninnah’s family grew, while Hannah remained childless. Barrenness is painful to any woman, but in the ancient world, it was horrendous. To not be able to conceive was one thing, but to have your rival wife continually throw it in your face by her large family is quite another. Along with her own feelings of inadequacy came the snide comments, sarcastic barbs, and cutting remarks year after year, each time they went up to the house of the Lord, “Therefore Hannah wept and would not eat”—1 Samuel 1:7. Like a typical husband, Elkanah couldn’t understand his wife’s pain, “Hannah, why do you weep? And why do you not eat? And why is your heart sad? Am I not more to you than ten sons?”—1 Samuel 1:8.
One day, at the house of the Lord, Hannah got up and went into the temple of the Lord. It was there that she was “deeply distressed and prayed to the LORD and wept bitterly”—1 Samuel 1:10. She asked God for a son and vowed to give that son for God's service for the duration of his life. As she continued in prayer, crying out in her heart, her lips moved, although she didn’t make a sound. Eli, the priest, saw her lips moving, but didn’t hear anything and figured she was drunk and rebuked her for it. But Hannah responded,
“No, my lord, I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the LORD. Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for all along I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation"—1 Samuel 1:15-16.
Realizing her pain, Eli responded, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition that you have made to Him"—1 Samuel 1:17. Hannah left Eli’s presence, ate, and was no longer sad. The next day, she returned home along with her husband, and he “knew Hannah his wife, and the LORD remembered her. And in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel for she said, ‘I have asked for him from the LORD’”—1 Samuel 1:19-20.
Hannah honored her vow and gave Samuel for God’s service all the days of his life. He became a great leader, prophet, and judge in Israel who helped institute the Jewish monarchy with King Saul.
Hannah’s prayer is a reminder to us that God is small enough to hear our prayers. We often think of God as the God of Wonders and indeed He is. He is the one who created the heavens and the earth, brought the plagues upon Egypt, led the Israelites through the Red Sea, made the sun stand still, and brought down the walls of Jericho. But He was also the one who answered the prayer of a barren woman by giving her a child. There is a song entitled "Small Enough" by Nicole Nordeman that captures the beauty and essence of Hannah’s prayer.
“Oh, Great God, be small enough to hear me now.
There were times when I was crying from the dark of Daniel's den;
And I have asked you once or twice if You would part the sea again.
But tonight I do not need a fiery pillar in the sky.
Just want to know you're gonna hold me if I start to cry.
Oh great God, be small enough to hear me now.”
God is small enough to hear the cries, pains, and prayers of our heart, but is big enough to bring about our deliverance. I hope that we might all take the time to pray to the One who is large enough to answer, but small enough to hear. Amen.
Thanks for reminding us of this. It is so very encouraging.
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