Sunday School Lesson: The Prayers of Hannah
Prayer is a powerful and precious tool that God gives us to communicate with Him. But how do we pray? What do we do when we feel discouraged or frustrated with prayer? This lesson focuses on the importance of prayer, using the story of Hannah to remind students that God always listens. Hannah might have been tempted to give up, but continued to pray to the Lord, praising Him for His faithfulness when her request was granted. We, too, can be steadfast in our approach to God, and know that He is near and hears us, even if His answers don’t come in the time and way we think we want.
We sometimes develop the idea that prayer is like a vending machine. If we put in enough good work and effort, God will honor us. However, God doesn’t just respond to those who are obeying Him perfectly or doing a number of good deeds. He loves all of us as His children, and always hears us, even if we don’t always like His answers. We can come directly to the Lord in prayer because Jesus has bridged the gap between God and humanity, allowing us to enter into His presence and bring our requests and thanksgivings to Him.
Sunday School Lesson on 1 Samuel 1 for Children: Hannah’s Prayer Request
Passage: 1 Samuel 1:4-20 (and 2:1-10)
Target Audience: Kindergarten-6th grade
Materials Needed: Prayer books or journals, Construction paper, scissors, decorations, glue or tape, cups, notebooks or diaries, string or pipe cleaners, markers, crayons, jars, Bible.
Lesson Opening: This lesson features a wonderful story about prayer and thanksgiving. It reminds us of the power and importance of communication with God. Here are some activities to get kids thinking… (select the best ones for your audience and age group):
- Telephone: To consider how prayer is a form of communication between us and God, play telephone with students, having them sit in a circle and pass a message around. For an added twist with older students, invite them to pass around a note pad with pictures instead of just whispering words.
- Emotional range: for younger students, display pictures of people in various states of emotion, and have students identify whether people look happy, sad, angry, or otherwise. Have the students show what they would look like in different emotional states. Explain that in the story, Hannah is very sad, but later becomes very happy and full of joy.
- Supplication and Thanksgiving: Discuss the things that we can pray for and the importance of thanking God for all things. Have students compete in relay teams, racing to grab cards and return to teams. For cards that say “supplication,” have students write a prayer request. If the card reads “Thanksgiving,” have students write something they’re thankful for.
- Name game: discuss names and their meanings, asking students if they know what their names mean. Explain that the name Hannah refers to God’s grace, and Samuel means “heard of God.”
- Promises: Hannah promised that she would give her son back to God, and was faithful to her promise. Describe pledges, vows, and promises we make, and how God always keeps His promises to us. Note: it’s not a good practice to “bribe” God by promising Him something if we get what we want, but we can offer Him our lives and serve Him!
- Communicate: consider ways that we communicate (phone, email, talking, etc.) and how they relate to prayer as communication with the Lord.
Bible Lesson: (1 Samuel 1:4-20) Sunday School Lesson for Kids Explained for Children – Hannah and Her Prayer to God
Talk about how the passage deals with prayer, promises, and God’s constant faithfulness to us.
Bible Lesson: The focus of this passage is on Hannah and her prayers to God. It’s a great story to act out with scripts, puppets or role playing. You might also choose merely to read the verses out loud or taking turns with students, explaining as you go.
On the day when Elkanah sacrificed, he would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters. 5 But to Hannah he gave a double portion, because he loved her, though the Lord had closed her womb. 6 And her rival used to provoke her grievously to irritate her, because the Lord had closed her womb. 7 So it went on year by year. As often as she went up to the house of the Lord, she used to provoke her. Therefore Hannah wept and would not eat. 8 And Elkanah, her husband, said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep? And why do you not eat? And why is your heart sad? Am I not more to you than ten sons?” -1 Samuel 1:4-8
This passage explains that, although Hannah was loved and favored by her husband, her lack of children left her full of sorrow. She was so sad that she couldn’t even eat. Unfortunately, her husband and his other wife weren’t too sympathetic. Elkanah couldn’t understand her sorrow and Peninnah teased her for her lack of offspring. It doesn’t seem to make sense that the mean and teasing woman was blessed with children while Hannah was barren, and we don’t know exactly why Hannah hadn’t been able to give birth. Sometimes we don’t understand God’s ways, but still have to trust in Him.
Ask: Have you ever felt so sad that you couldn’t enjoy something? Have you ever felt like something was unfair or you didn’t receive what you should have?
After they had eaten and drunk in Shiloh, Hannah rose. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat beside the doorpost of the temple of the Lord. 10 She was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly. 11 And 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.” -1 Samuel 1:9-11
Hannah did the right thing, and took her feelings to God in honest prayer. Feeling attacked by Peninnah, she called on God to help her. In fact, she promised that if God granted her heart’s desire for a son, she would dedicate him to the Lord and give him back to God to serve in the church. Note, this doesn’t mean we should try to bargain with God, but Hannah was genuinely promising her ongoing devotion.
Ask: Have you ever made a promise to God, or prayed for something you really wanted?
12 As she continued praying before the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. 13 Hannah was speaking in her heart; only her lips moved, and her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli took her to be a drunken woman. 14 And Eli said to her, “How long will you go on being drunk? Put your wine away from you.” 15 But Hannah answered, “No, my lord, I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the Lord. 16 Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for all along I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation.” 17 Then Eli answered, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition that you have made to him.” 18 And she said, “Let your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad. -1 Samuel 1:12-18
Eli saw Hannah praying and assumed she was drunk. It might be that people sometimes feasted a little too hard at the temple, and wound up inebriated. Hannah respectfully corrected the priest and assured him that she was pouring out her heart to God. Realizing his mistake, Eli offered her a wish that God would grant what she pleaded. Hannah had faith to receive this as a promise. She wasn’t sad anymore because she trusted that God would act.
19 They rose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord; then they went back to their house at Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her. 20 And in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel, for she said, “I have asked for him from the Lord.” -1 Samuel 1:19-20
God did indeed grant Hannah’s request. Of course, the Lord had not forgotten about her at any point, but this wording helps us to understand that God had favor on Hannah. She didn’t have a son right away (“in due time”), but she was still content to trust God’s promises. And when her son arrived, she named him Samuel, in honor of God’s faithfulness. She knew He had listened to her. She did bring Samuel to grow up in the temple, which must have been difficult as parents, but she trusted God and kept her promise. (Hannah did have more children later.)
Remind students that God always listens to us. Sometimes it takes time and trust to get what we hope for, and sometimes God knows better than we do and says “no” to our requests. But He always hears, and wants us to bring our needs to Him. He cares for us and listens. Just talking to God can bring us great comfort and peace, even if we don’t physically hear Him or know His responses right away.
It’s also important to give thanks. If time allows, take a look at the second chapter of 1 Samuel and note Hannah’s response of praise to God for granting her petition.
And Hannah prayed and said,
“My heart exults in the Lord;
my horn is exalted in the Lord.
My mouth derides my enemies,
because I rejoice in your salvation.
2 “There is none holy like the Lord:
for there is none besides you;
there is no rock like our God.
3 Talk no more so very proudly,
let not arrogance come from your mouth;
for the Lord is a God of knowledge,
and by him actions are weighed.
4 The bows of the mighty are broken,
but the feeble bind on strength.
5 Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread,
but those who were hungry have ceased to hunger.
The barren has borne seven,
but she who has many children is forlorn.
6 The Lord kills and brings to life;
he brings down to Sheol and raises up.
7 The Lord makes poor and makes rich;
he brings low and he exalts.
8 He raises up the poor from the dust;
he lifts the needy from the ash heap
to make them sit with princes
and inherit a seat of honor.
For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s,
and on them he has set the world.
9 “He will guard the feet of his faithful ones,
but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness,
for not by might shall a man prevail.
10 The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces;
against them he will thunder in heaven.
The Lord will judge the ends of the earth;
he will give strength to his king
and exalt the horn of his anointed.” -1 Samuel 2:1-10
This is a wonderful prayer, and reminds us that we ought to praise and thank God for things that go well. Our prayers shouldn’t only be requests for things we want, but we need to be joyful in the blessings we already have.
Ask: What are some things you can thank God for right now?
Close with a prayer thanking God for His many blessings, and asking for His help to trust in Him when it’s hard to understand His ways.