Hannah’s Hallelujah
A few weeks ago I was visiting a church where I was invited to minister. At the end of the service a woman came down from the worship team and begin talking to me about Hannah in scripture. As we discussed her life the Lord began to spark revelation and continued to speak to me about her story.
“And whenever the time came for Elkanah to make an offering, he would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters. But to Hannah he would give a double portion, for he loved Hannah, although the LORD had closed her womb. And her rival also provoked her severely, to make her miserable, because the LORD had closed her womb. So it was, year by year, when she went up to the house of the LORD, that she provoked her; therefore she wept and did not eat.”
I Samuel 1:4-7 NKJV
At the beginning of Hannah’s story we see a blessed and highly favored woman of God who is loved and cared for but cannot see it because the voice of her enemy is the loudest in her life.
The enemy’s taunts are keeping her from the feast (worship).
Even at this moment many of us are faced with a similar choice. Do we give in to despair allowing the enemy’s lies to penetrate our spirits or do we pull ourselves up to the table He has set for us in the presence of our enemies and worship Him as Sovereign over all?
In the middle of the night the enemy tried to taunt me in a similar way but instantly the Lord showed me the unwavering faith of thousands of believers all over the country who having done all to stand will stand and give Him praise!
An overwhelming peace came and all morning I’ve meditated on Hannah’s story.
“And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the LORD and wept in anguish. Then she made a vow and said, “O LORD of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head.””
I Samuel 1:10-11 NKJV
Feeling the reality of the anguish of her disappointment she valiantly released it to God rolling the burden onto Him to fulfill.
John 14:1 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.”
She prayed in great detail pouring out her heart and all of her hopes and plans then she chose to trust.
“And she said, “Let your maidservant find favor in your sight.” So the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.”
I Samuel 1:18 NKJV
Covered in favor as a woman who believed God she feasted and celebrated even in the midst of her disappointment.
Her circumstances had not changed but her heart had.
“And the LORD visited Hannah, so that she conceived and bore three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile the child Samuel grew before the LORD.”
I Samuel 2:21 NKJV
After worshipping, feasting and receiving the double portion in faith, God’s hand of divine favor came over her natural life. In addition to giving birth to a great prophet, Samuel, who served the Lord faithfully all the days of his life she was given 5 more children!
Despite her despair Hannah raised a hallelujah which catapulted her into destiny!
Will you join me today in releasing Hannah’s hallelujah?