I Samuel 1:1-18
“Now there was a certain man of Ramathaimzophim, of mount Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephrathite: And he had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children. And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD, were there.
And when the time was that Elkanah offered, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions: But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: but the LORD had shut up her womb. And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb. And as he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of the LORD, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat.” (I Samuel 1:1-7)
Elkanah was a devout Jew, going every year to the temple to offer his sacrifices as God commanded. When he went, he provided each of his wives and his children with bountiful sacrifices, giving Hannah more because she was his favored wife. Peninah was jealous, making fun of her inability to bear children, and driving Hannah to tears.
In I Corinthians 7:28, Paul warns that there is always going to be conflict in a marriage, even when there is no sin involved. “But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you.” One marriage counselor says a statement that “I never hear any complaints” indicates the one making it is so self involved they are oblivious to the other’s feelings. There are always minor annoyances between people. Unfortunately the more people involved, the greater the potential annoyances grows exponentially, and the likelihood of resolving them decreases. While polygamy was not forbidden in scripture, it is almost guaranteed to cause problems.
“Then said Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? am not I better to thee than ten sons?
So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the LORD. And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore. And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.” (I Samuel 1:9-11)
Men and women are different, contrary to what our society would like to believe. Doing his best to comfort Hannah, Elkanah only emphasized his lack of understanding. Realizing he didn’t, Hannah took her problem to the Lord, asking for a son, and promising to dedicate him to the Lord as a Nazarite.
“And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli marked her mouth. Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken.
And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee.” (I Samuel 1:12-14)
Hannah’s prayer was from her heart, and wasn’t for public consumption, so she prayed silently. Many people today seem to think God is hard of hearing and speak loud and long to get his attention. Apparently it was common in that day as well, so Eli thought she was just drunk when he saw her lips moving but couldn’t hear her prayer, and scolded her.
“And Hannah answered and said, 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. Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto.
Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him.
And she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad.“ (I Samuel 1:15-18)
When he understood, Eli assured her that God would hear her, and Hannah went back to her family greatly relieved. She had shared her burden with the Lord, and trusted him to take her concerns seriously.
“Now there was a certain man of Ramathaimzophim, of mount Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephrathite: And he had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children. And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD, were there.
And when the time was that Elkanah offered, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions: But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: but the LORD had shut up her womb. And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb. And as he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of the LORD, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat.” (I Samuel 1:1-7)
Elkanah was a devout Jew, going every year to the temple to offer his sacrifices as God commanded. When he went, he provided each of his wives and his children with bountiful sacrifices, giving Hannah more because she was his favored wife. Peninah was jealous, making fun of her inability to bear children, and driving Hannah to tears.
In I Corinthians 7:28, Paul warns that there is always going to be conflict in a marriage, even when there is no sin involved. “But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you.” One marriage counselor says a statement that “I never hear any complaints” indicates the one making it is so self involved they are oblivious to the other’s feelings. There are always minor annoyances between people. Unfortunately the more people involved, the greater the potential annoyances grows exponentially, and the likelihood of resolving them decreases. While polygamy was not forbidden in scripture, it is almost guaranteed to cause problems.
“Then said Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? am not I better to thee than ten sons?
So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the LORD. And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore. And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.” (I Samuel 1:9-11)
Men and women are different, contrary to what our society would like to believe. Doing his best to comfort Hannah, Elkanah only emphasized his lack of understanding. Realizing he didn’t, Hannah took her problem to the Lord, asking for a son, and promising to dedicate him to the Lord as a Nazarite.
“And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli marked her mouth. Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken.
And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee.” (I Samuel 1:12-14)
Hannah’s prayer was from her heart, and wasn’t for public consumption, so she prayed silently. Many people today seem to think God is hard of hearing and speak loud and long to get his attention. Apparently it was common in that day as well, so Eli thought she was just drunk when he saw her lips moving but couldn’t hear her prayer, and scolded her.
“And Hannah answered and said, 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. Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto.
Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him.
And she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad.“ (I Samuel 1:15-18)
When he understood, Eli assured her that God would hear her, and Hannah went back to her family greatly relieved. She had shared her burden with the Lord, and trusted him to take her concerns seriously.
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ReplyDeleteIt's a great place to get to when we finally become comfortable with trusting God. It's a miserable place to be when we wish to trust Him but will not rely on Him. Sin tends to be the separator when we refuse to trust Him; or perhaps untested faith is the reason. Hannah certainly had a tested faith and did not waver in her belief that God heard and would act. She's a good role model for us today.
ReplyDeleteI am amazed to realize how much of modern teaching about prayer resembles the magician memorizing a spell. They seem to believe if they say just the right words the right way it will cause the thing they ask for to happen.
ReplyDeleteHannah recognized God's love and trusted him rather than her words.