1 Samuel 1 & 2: Is Your Soul Bitter?
Verse of the Day: (1:10) And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore. 

1. Soul (1:1-18)
And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli marked her mouth. (1:12)

Keep praying to God even when our souls are bitter toward life as we experience life stresses, such as the desire to have children, or the loss of our health, or loved ones. Hannah was in bitterness of soul because her husband, Elkanah, had another wife, Peninnah, and they had children, while she had none. Hannah prayed and vowed to God that if God would give her a male child, she would dedicate him to God, and that no razor shall be upon his head as he would be a Nazarite fully devoted to Him. She continued praying until one day, Eli, the high priest, told her that God remembered her and heard her prayers, and she shall have a male child. Indeed, life maybe unfair and cruel, yet let us keep praying, as God remembers us, and He shall answer our prayers. (Luke 11:1-13)
    
2. Samuel (1:19-20)
Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the LORD. (1:20)

Indeed, God is good all the time, as He removed the bitterness of Hannah’s soul and granted her a son whom she named, Samuel, meaning, I have asked him from God. Samuel grew to be a man of God, and God used him greatly as he was the last of the mighty judges and the first of the faithful prophet who would anoint the first 2 kings of Israel, namely, kings Saul and David. God refused Israel to have their king, like the rest of the countries, because He was truly their one and only perfect King. However, due to the hardness of men, God relented, and knew that they would have to learn the painful lessons of the failure of most of their kings who would rule over them. (1 Samuel 8:1-22)

3. Salvation (2:1-36)
And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation. (2:1)

Hannah prayed and thanked God for her salvation and for the birth of her son, Samuel, and she looked to God, the Giver, rather than her gift, as only God shall never fail her. Subsequently, God gave her 3 more sons and 2 daughters. While she rejoiced in God, Eli grieved in God, because a man of God had prophesied to him that God shall judge and slay his 2 wicked sons, Hophni and Phinehas. Indeed, let us only seek God, and His righteousness, and all the things that we desire shall be granted to us. (Matthew 6:33-34) 

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please remove the bitterness of my soul as I pray and trust in You.