On the effects of prayer

(Note: This post borrows insights from a sermon recently delivered by Tom White.)

Hannah's Prayer stands as one of the Bible's most famous examples of prayer. It takes on added Messianic import owing to its similarities with Mary's Magnificat. But, with any prayer, it's tempting to ask, "What's the point?" More specifically, what did Hannah's prayer accomplish?

It doesn't seem likely that Hannah's prayer changed God's behavior. After all, the birth of Hannah's son, Samuel, for which her prayer gives thanks, had already happened. More than that, Samuel's life and purpose were already preordained.

But just because the prayer didn't alter the will of God does not mean that the prayer had no effect. For one, it affected Hannah, in that it forced her to acknowledge God's compassion and power. And that very acknowledgement surely affected her subsequent actions, as any prayer acknowledging God's power tends to do.

But perhaps more importantly, the prayer affected Israel, and, ultimately, people's understanding of the magnitude of Jesus. The existence, and wide distribution, of the prayer alerted Israel to the importance of Samuel, who eventually became Israel's kingmaker. And as Israel's kingmaker, he eventually brought a lowly shepherd, David, to the heights of power. And then from David's genetic line emerged Jesus.

Without Hannah's prayer, it's not obvious that Israel would have recognized Samuel authority. And without Samuel's authority, it's hard to imagine David's meteoric rise to power. And without the establishment of the Davidic genetic line, from where would Jesus have emerged?

Of course, Hannah's probably wasn't considering those larger ramifications. Rather, she was merely offering her thanks and praise. But to what great effect! Our job, then, is to follow Hannah's lead. Let us offer our thanks and praise, never knowing what profound impact our prayers might have.