Spake in Her Heart. 1st Samuel 1:13-18. “Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken.” Many unheard things flow to make a prayer heard, saying what I mean. They are not left unsaid to God in the depths of real concern of the soul; there are no easy words when prayer comes from deep inside the heart; it is only for the Lord. The real concern is not half-hearted, with phrases easily spoken when the situation calls for much more than doing what is usual. With words to God of real commitment, there is no outward form. That public type of praying is not useful to a burdened heart. Others may not feel the same urgency about the burden that we bear. In fervent prayer, there is a difference when we pour out our burdens to God rather than having a simple time of prayer. Both are important times, it is true, but one we must go through on our own.
When Hannah prayed her silent prayer, her heart was burdened. She wanted a son, it’s true, but also her nation was in trouble. She asked God to send a man who would turn the nation around to follow the Lord. Her real communion with the Lord was that His answer would be double; she wanted a son and also a nation that feared the Lord. She had a lot of love to give and wanted to bestow it upon a son. She also had insight and promised to consecrate him to serve the Lord. There was no holding back; she wouldn’t keep him for her own. There was a lot at stake here, and she wouldn’t keep him even if she could.
After hearing her humble explanation, Eli realized the reality of Hannah's prayer, so he understood the need to comfort her and the value of his blessing to her. The grace and humility of one who gratefully accepts the blessings of God's grace, brings peace after sorrow and an urgent prayer becomes a calm assurance that God is in control and doing what will be right in His eyes. Hannah accepted the promise of grace given before the answer even came. She could eat her portion of the peace offering now because she had the joy of fellowship with God which was an intent of the peace-offering. She had joy on her face, which would be an attraction to all the other members of her family. She had a "new day" dawn in which she shared in worship with others from her full cup. The return journey was not with the heavy heart she left home with. With joy in her steps, the family returned to Ramah to a home that was not filled with tension but with the promise of blessing.
However it came about in her life, Hannah was not merely intelligent, but spiritually intelligent. She knew the nation's needs and knew that both she and the nation needed to know the mind of God. She also had a heart for God and realized that He alone could raise up a man to meet the need. When she heard Eli's words, “Go in peace,” she took them to heart even though he was less than he should have been as the judge of Israel.
She could go “her way” on feet guided into the way of peace. She could gladly eat the food of the peace offering with the joy of fellowship real to her. Instead of anguish, there was peace and joy on her countenance. Rising early in the morning was the peace that faith brings when a person begins a new day in fellowship with the Lord. She had the peace of a full heart when they worshipped before the Lord. “When we walk with the Lord, in the light of His word, what a glory He sheds on our way.” Doubtless, the change in Hannah because of simple faith in the word of God through the priest would have changed Elkanah, their worship, their home, and their lives from then on.