I don’t remember why, but I was reading the story of Samuel and his mother Hannah in the book of 1st Samuel, and I was struck by a phrase that recurred several times: “the word of the Lord was rare in those days.” So I decided to write some song lyrics inspired by my meditation on the story.

1. 
The word of God was quiet then,
and visions weren’t so widely known.
Prayers were made by violent men,
who claimed the Holy as their own, 

When Hannah came to Shiloh’s heights
and fell upon its sacred ground. 
She poured her offering of tears,
mouthing words without a sound.

“Don’t forget me, Holy One,
don’t ignore my desperate cry. 
If we can’t hear you, are you listening? 
Do you hear each anguished ‘why’?”

2. 
The word of God was quiet then,
and visions weren’t so widely known, 
so Hannah left and looked for hope 
all along the journey home. 

An answer swelled within her womb, 
a promise grew into her son.
When he was weaned, she brought him back 
in thanks for all the Lord had done. 

“I remember, Holy One,
how you listened to my cry.” 
Hannah turned her prayer to song
and lifted praise to Adonai: 

3. 
(The word of God was quiet then, 
and visions weren’t so widely known.) 
“My heart rejoices in the Lord.” 
She sang, “My strength’s in God alone.” 

“The mighty warrior’s bow has snapped; 
the stumbling ones are clothed in pow’r.
The barren woman rocks her child; 
the hungry feast on manna shower. 
 
“You remember, Holy One,
and you listen to our cry. 
Before I questioned, you were listening,
Before I asked, you gave reply.” 

4. 
The word of God was quiet then, 
and visions weren’t so widely known,
but Hannah sang with joyful faith
and nurtured seeds of hope she’d sown. 

Did her son, the prophet Samuel,
learn from her what listening means? 
Were the words of God so silent?
Whose holy visions were unseen? 

We remember, Holy One:
We must learn to hear your cry,
not in those who grasp at power,
but in the outcast asking why.