April 19

“No, my lord,” Hannah replied. “I am a woman oppressed in spirit. I have not had any wine or strong drink, but I have poured out my soul before the LORD. — 1 Sam 1:15 BSB

How much there is in that phrase, pouring out the soul before the Lord! Let me use a familiar example to illustrate it, as such figures are often the most effective. Think of a sack of grain—when the mouth of the sack is tied, nothing can be poured out. But once the sack is opened and laid down, its contents spill out immediately, and the rich grain falls to the floor. Our hearts are often like that tied sack. There are desires, longings, and urgent needs felt within, but we cannot give them expression. As the Psalmist says, "I opened my mouth and panted." But in His mercy, the Lord sometimes unties the mouth of the heart, allowing it to pour out its desires just as the rich grain spills out of the open sack.

However, the sack must be full before it can pour out grain. If there are only a few grains left, or if just a small amount of wheat is gathered in one corner, no amount of opening will result in a full pouring out. So it is with our hearts. If our hearts are not full—if there are no strong desires or deep longings—then even if our mouths are open, there will be no outpouring of intense prayer.

For a scriptural example of what it means to pour out the soul before the Lord, look to the first chapter of Samuel, where we see Hannah, deeply troubled, revealing the state of her soul through her physical agitation. She was so distressed that Eli, the high priest, mistook her for being drunk. But Hannah, though full of sorrow and visibly moved, replied gently to his rebuke, saying, “No, my Lord; I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink but have poured out my soul before the Lord.” Now, that was true prayer, and we know the blessed answer God gave her, along with her triumphant song, recorded by the Holy Spirit.