One Thing Needful

I Samuel 1:10 – Deeply hurt, Hannah prayed to the Lord and wept with many tears.

v.15 – …I am a woman with a broken heart…I’ve been pouring out my heart before the Lord…I’ve been praying from the depth of my anguish and resentment.

Hannah could only pour out her heart because it was broken. The only reason she could get to the depths of her heart–where the hurt was–to pour it out before God was because it was broken. God, You will not despise a heart that is broken before You. In fact, that is the sacrifice that pleases You. A broken heart is a humble heart. Search me, God and know my heart; test me and know my concerns. See if there is any offensive way in me; lead me in the everlasting way. (Psalm 139:23-24) May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to You. Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. (Psalm 19:14)

Psalm 19:12-13 Who perceives his unintentional sins? Cleanse me from my hidden faults. Moreover, keep Your servant from willful sins; do not let them rule over me. Then I will be innocent, and cleansed from blatant rebellion.

I will be cleansed from blatant rebellion, I will be innocent when willful sins do not rule over me. Are there willful sins in my life? Do I let willful sins rule over me? I must entrust myself to You if I will not let willful sins rule over me. David’s request was “keep Your servant from willful sins.” There is submission in that request and humility–necessary qualities in a heart cleansed of willfulness.

Hannah’s anguish and resentment were born out of her deep hurt. These were unintentional sins that were revealed when her heart was broken–only then could she pour it out before God.

In Psalm 19 David moves from the unintentional to the willful because even sins that begin unintentionally can become willful. If Hannah had failed to be broken before God, her anguish and resentment would have become willful disobedience. What began as unintentional sin–the product of deep hurt–would have become willful sin. The cure for all sin is humility and submission before God. That’s why Hannah’s song of praise for answered prayer was completely founded in her understanding of God’s Sovereignty. Humility and submission is the only place to understand His character.

I Samuel 1:17 – Eli responded, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant the petition you’ve requested from Him.” Eli didn’t know what Hannah’s petition was, but he blessed her because of her brokenness before God.