Treasure Digest: The Prayer of Hannah: a Fine Example Prayer
Hannah's prayer is beautiful.
Although we know Hannah prayed many times before asking God for something she desired greatly, the example prayer that God had recorded for us to contemplate in 1 Samuel 2 was one of gratitude and praise, acknowledging God's providence.
Notice that Hannah's prayer starts with joy, because of personal experience. Then she generalizes that great truth: Nothing can compete in any way with God (1 Samuel 2:1-2)!
When we rightly view God, we are humbled again and again. What do we know? What can we do? Virtually nothing by ourselves. But with God's power and grace, any one of us can succeed (1 Samuel 2:3-4).
Every good "break" comes from God—our daily bread, the ability to enjoy anything, even life itself (or death with the hope of the resurrection)—every good proceeds from God. And God writes the script that we heroically or tragically enact. He is the great writer. If we play our part wittingly, whether star or support cast, we will share in the final applause. God has set the stage perfectly (1 Samuel 2:5-8).
Finally Hannah acknowledges again that God loves His own. They, too, are human, but they are His! Arrogance and pride seem to be the hallmark of wickedness. God's people may need to wait, to suffer, but they will be vindicated. Thank God (1 Samuel 2:9-10).
Hannah's prayer is beautiful.
— Skip Miller
an elder in San Diego, California
Course Content
Skip Miller
William (Skip) Miller grew up with a Roman Catholic upbringing, with Catechism classes in grammar school and Jesuit training in high school. These prepared Skip academically for life. But it was enjoying Reader’s Digest in the 1950s—encouraged by his mother—that set the tone for what life was all about. God’s Word—the Bible—is helping him continue that mission.
After a stint in the USAF as a Military Public Health Technician he moved from LA to San Diego to complete college. At San Diego State he began teaching and retired from San Diego City Schools in 2003. While at college he met his future wife, Suzanne, and they attended the World Tomorrow lectures in 1971.
Both like to read widely, write their opinions and study God’s Word. In addition, they have been blessed with two children (10 years apart, Lily and William) who are also accepting the challenge of true Christianity in Satan’s world. They have been blessed with good health—a big help in the job of grandparenting. The whole family, present and future, enjoys camping and fishing for trout in the High Sierras, and after 52 years God still allows Skip to surf once or twice a week.
