Hannah’s Prayer

 Although Samson had been chosen by God to judge Israel, he had not taken God’s law seriously, leading to a severe moral and spiritual decline, as we see in Judges 17-21.  After a civil war resulted in almost destroying the tribe of Benjamin, a high priest by the name of Eli assumed the role of judge, encouraging the people to follow God.  He would retain that position for forty years.  Near the end of his administration, a woman by the name of Hannah was praying for a son, as described in I

Samuel 1:1-7.  “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.  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?”

 

There was conflict between Elkanah’s wives.  Peninah was jealous of his love for Hannah, and constantly disparaged her because she had no children.  Each year when they went to Shiloh to offer the sacrifices and met with others who were there Hannah came away really discouraged, and nothing Elkanah could say took away her hurt.  Like a lot of Christians today, she probably wondered why God seemed to bless others who didn’t really care about him and didn’t bless her.  Her feelings were undoubtedly compounded by seeing Eli’s two sons serving as priests, when they were known to abuse their office, having sex with the women who came to worship and ripping off people’s sacrifices, as described in I Samuel 2:12-22.   

 

Desperate, Hannah went to the tabernacle to pray for a son, in I Samuel 1:9-11.  “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.”  She promised to dedicate him as a Nazarite just as Samson had been. 

 

Many groups seem to think their gods are hard of hearing and only hears long loud prayers, and from time to time the Jews adopted the attitudes of those around them.  Eli had gotten used to people shouting their prayers at God, and assumed Hannah was just some drunk because she wasn’t shouting out her prayer, as I Samuel 1:12-16.  “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.  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.”

 

Unfortunately it is very easy for us to get used to a certain way of doing things and assume those who do things differently are wrong.  After talking to her, Eli realized the truth and encouraged her to believe God would answer.  She went home comforted in the faith that God would answer her prayer, as I Samuel 1:17-18 describes.  “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.”