Now begins the tales of Samuel and Saul and David, into which is woven many interesting characters and stories.
We start with three stories involving prayer.
In the first, Hannah, one of the wives of Elkanah, prays that she may have a son, whom she promises to dedicate to the Lord. She "pours her heart out" to the Lord.
When she is rewarded with a child, Samuel, she keeps her vow and presents him to the priest, Eli. Her prayer of thanksgiving, in chapter 2, reminds us of Mary's Magnificat, and also includes a prophecy about David, that God "will give strength to his king, and exalt the power of his anointed."
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| Eli and Samuel |
Finally, Samuel is called by the Lord, in a manner similar to other prophets and leaders. In sleep, Samuel believes it is Eli is calling him, and three times responds: "Here I am, for you called me." Finally, as instructed by Eli, Samuel responds with a wonderful prayer response: "Speak, for your servant is listening."
What do you learn about prayer from these examples?
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