4/26

1 Samuel 1:11

¹¹And she vowed a vow and said, "O LORD of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head."

Hannah had gone with her husband to worship at the tabernacle which was under the care of Eli the high priest. She had not been able to have children. It was a great burden on her heart. She poured her heart out to God in prayer and fasting. Our verse today is her prayer.

Eli saw her lips moving and thought she was drunk. He rebuked her. But then, after hearing her story, he blessed her and told her God would answer her prayer. God did answer her prayer and she was faithful to do as she promised. The boy's name was Samuel. He was the last and greatest Judge of Israel before the period of the kings.

I know a woman who prayed this same prayer. She had daughters, but wanted God to give her a son. Her husband was a pastor and she knew the difficult life of that calling. In time, her son heard the call of God, and like Hannah before her, she encouraged her son to follow God's leading. His ministry touched many lives.

I'm not trying to tell you that God will answer every prayer you pray in the way you expect, but I would advise you to take a vow before God very seriously. Watch for God to do what you had asked, and then remember to be faithful to keep your vow. Ecclesiastes 5:4-6 tells us to not delay in paying a vow to God, and that it is better not to vow than to make a vow and not pay it.

Consider: Have you neglected to do what you promised after God responded to a vow you made?