Here begins my Bible Study of David, I chose David because I have always been fascinated by his boldness and his story! I didn’t begin this study with David though, I began with Hannah, which led to Samuel, which led to Saul, and then to the anointing of David. I like when things go in order, and I like to know how the boldness of some people led to the boldness of others. So here is the story of Hannah:
Hannah was the wife of Elkanah, and she was filled with hurt and jealousy because she couldn’t have children. Hannah prayed a bold prayer at the house of the Lord so she could have a son who she would dedicated to Him. The Lord answered her prayer and she became pregnant with Samuel, and she kept her promise by giving Samuel over to Eli to be raised.
That’s the basis of the story but reading Hannah’s prayer, and seeing how bold she was to give up her only child, but also to think if Hannah wouldn’t have prayed this prayer we never would have got Samuel, and then David, and then on down the line to Jesus. Hannah prayed so intensely that Eli, the priest thought she was drunk and told her to go away. How often do we do that? How often do we pray so intensely, or strongly, or boldly that other people think we are drunk? Are we too scared of what others will think that we don’t? Are we too scared that the Lord won’t answer our prayers? I think this is just one of the things we can take away from Hannah, she wasn’t scared of what others would think, she wasn’t scared the Lord wouldn’t answer her prayers because she knew the Lord’s character, she knew He would answer, and if He didn’t she He was STILL good! She said in verse 15, “i was pouring out my soul to the Lord”, how beautiful is that! Do you pour out your soul to the Lord? Just something to think about. Hannah had faith.
In chapter two, Hannah’s prayer reveal more about her and reveals more about who the Lord is.
“My heart rejoices in the Lord;
in the Lord my horn[a] is lifted high.
My mouth boasts over my enemies,
for I delight in your deliverance.
2 “There is no one holy like the Lord;
there is no one besides you;
there is no Rock like our God.
3 “Do not keep talking so proudly
or let your mouth speak such arrogance,
for the Lord is a God who knows,
and by him deeds are weighed.
4 “The bows of the warriors are broken,
but those who stumbled are armed with strength.
5 Those who were full hire themselves out for food,
but those who were hungry are hungry no more.
She who was barren has borne seven children,
but she who has had many sons pines away.
6 “The Lord brings death and makes alive;
he brings down to the grave and raises up.
7 The Lord sends poverty and wealth;
he humbles and he exalts.
8 He raises the poor from the dust
and lifts the needy from the ash heap;
he seats them with princes
and has them inherit a throne of honor.
“For the foundations of the earth are the Lord’s;
on them he has set the world.
9 He will guard the feet of his faithful servants,
but the wicked will be silenced in the place of darkness.
“It is not by strength that one prevails;
10 those who oppose the Lord will be broken.
The Most High will thunder from heaven;
the Lord will judge the ends of the earth.
“He will give strength to his king
and exalt the horn of his anointed.”
“But those who stumbled are armed with strength” HOW BEAUTIFUL! This shows how God uses our downfalls, our mistakes, our pasts to make us strong, to carry on, and to use it for HIS glory! There are so many ways to pick this prayer apart, but I encourage you to think about it for yourself. To pick apart each verse and get a better understanding of it. Pray about this scripture. How can you apply it to your life? What is the Lord trying to tell you?
Hannah’s boldness only led to more, how can your boldness lead to more? What can you do that will inspire other people? Do you trust God to answer your prayers? These are all questions I think to myself when reading these scriptures. I encourage you to spend time with this scripture! Let me know what you think about it, or how this apply’s to you, or if you need help in any area please feel free to reach out! I am so happy to help!