In our study of 1 Samuel chapter one, we will look at the cry of a Godly woman and its effects on a nation. We will see how the heartfelt prayers of a hurting woman were used by God to set up a kingdom.
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There was a man from Ramatayim-Tzofim, in the hills of Efrayim, whose name was Elkanah the son of Yerocham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tochu, the son of Tzuf, from Efrat. He had two wives, one named Hannah and the other P'ninah. P'ninah had children, but Hannah had no children.
We are introduced to a man named Elkanah who was from a town called Ramathaim which is thought to be the town of Arimathea during the time of Jesus' ministry. We are also introduced to his wives one of which was Hannah. Hannah would have been miserable and full of shame at the fact that she had not produced any children.
This man went up from his city every year to worship and sacrifice to ADONAI-Tzva'ot in Shiloh. The two sons of 'Eli, Hofni and Pinchas, were cohanim of ADONAI there.
We see that Elkanah was a faithful Jew and went to Shiloh each year as required. The occasion described here was probably the Feats of Tabernacles which was a time of joy and feasting. We are also introduced to a corrupt pair of priests who served there under their father Eli.
One day, when Elkanah was sacrificing, he gave a portion of the sacrifice to his wife P'ninah and portions to each of her sons and daughters; but to Hannah he gave a double portion, because he loved Hannah, even though ADONAI had kept her from having children.
Elkanah would distribute the meat for the sacrifices and would give Hannah a double portion. He evidently wanted to cheer her up for her lack of a child. This was a celebration of great joy and yet Hannah would have felt pain and rejection as she had no family to bring to the celebration.
Her rival taunted her and made her feel bad, because ADONAI had kept her from having children. He did the same every year; and each time she went up to the house of ADONAI, she taunted her so much that she would cry and not eat.
Each year, Peninnah would make Hannah feel the shame and guilt of her barrenness. Her sadness would get to the point of tears and not eating at the celebration.
Her husband Elkanah said to her, "Hannah, why are you crying, and why aren't you eating? Why be so sad? Am I not better to you than ten sons?" So Hannah got up after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh. 'Eli the cohen was sitting on his seat by the doorpost of the temple of ADONAI. In deep depression she prayed to ADONAI and cried.
Elkanah did not seem to understand what Hannah was going through. Finally, she could not hold it in any longer and cried out to God.
Then she took a vow; she said, "ADONAI-Tzva'ot, if you will notice how humiliated your servant is, if you will remember me and not forget your servant but will give your servant a male child, then I will give him to ADONAI for as long as he lives; and no razor will ever come on his head."
Long hair was one of the characteristics of the Nazirite vow and a Nazarite was one who was set apart for God. Hannah promised the Lord that, if He gave her a son, she would give him back to God in service. We see her humility in this promise as it could not be easy for any woman to give up her only child. But, by humbling herself, her shame at not having a son would be removed. She would, in fact, be honored as it was quite an honor to have a son that was a priest.
She prayed for a long time before ADONAI; and as she did so, 'Eli was watching her mouth. Hannah was speaking in her heart - her lips moved, but her voice could not be heard -so 'Eli thought she was drunk. 'Eli said to her, "How long are you going to stay drunk? Stop drinking your wine!"
As she prayed, Eli the priest was watching and accused her of being drunk because he did not understand what was happening. Evidently, he was more used to seeing drunks at the House of the Lord than seeing people actually praying to God. He was quick to make a judgment about her and we can fall into that as well. For a modern parable on this topic, check out Simon's Tears.
But Hannah answered, "No, my lord, I am a very unhappy woman. I have not drunk either wine or other strong liquor; rather, I've been pouring out my soul before ADONAI. Don't think of your servant as a worthless woman; because I have been speaking from the depth of my distress and anger."
Hannah was quick to correct Eli and explain that she was not drunk but was, in fact pouring out her heart to God. It is sad to think that Eli was more used to seeing drunks than people praying in the House of God. We should ask ourselves whether our houses of worship are known more for prayer or dens of sin.
Then 'Eli replied, "Go in peace. May the God of Isra'el grant what you have asked of him."
At least Eli acknowledged that he was wrong in jumping to conclusions. We too, should learn that jumping to conclusions about others is judging them which is the place of God. He even asked God to grant her request.
She replied, "May your servant find favor in your sight." So the woman went on her way, and she ate, and her face was no longer sad.
Hannah demonstrates her faith in the fact that, after she prayed, she no longer was sad. She simply believed that God heard and answered her prayers. If we have that same faith, then, we too do not have to walk around all sad. We can take our concerns to God knowing that He hears and answers.
They got up early in the morning and worshipped before ADONAI, then returned and came to their house in Ramah. Elkanah had sexual relations with Hannah his wife, and ADONAI remembered her. She conceived; and in due time she gave birth to a son, whom she named Sh'mu'el, "because I asked ADONAI for him." "Sh'mu'el" is derived from shem El, "name of God," but sounds like sha'ul me'el, "asked from God."
Hannah's cries to God were answered and she gave birth to Samuel (Shemu'el in Hebrew) which means heard by God. We are reminded by this that God always rewards a display of faith.
The husband, Elkanah, went up with all his household to offer the yearly sacrifice to ADONAI and fulfill his vow. But Hannah did not go up, explaining to her husband, "Not till the child has been weaned. Then I will bring him, so that he can appear before ADONAI and live there forever."
Hannah and Samuel did not go up to Shiloh until he was weaned which could have been up to three years.
Her husband Elkanah answered her, "Do what seems good to you; stay here until you have weaned him. Only may ADONAI bring about what he said." So the woman stayed behind and nursed the child, until she weaned him.
Elkanah must have really trusted Hannah to listen to the Lord. He did not argue with her but instead only asked for the Lord to keep His word
After weaning him, she took him up with her, along with three young bulls, a bushel of flour and a skin of wine, and brought him to the house of ADONAI in Shiloh, even though he was just a child. After the bull had been slaughtered, the child was brought to 'Eli; and she said, "My lord, as sure as you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood here near you, praying to ADONAI. I prayed for this child, and ADONAI has granted the request I asked of him. Therefore, I too have loaned him to ADONAI - as long as he lives, he is on loan to ADONAI."And he prostrated himself there before ADONAI.
We see that Hannah kept her oath to God and are reminded that God takes oaths very seriously. We are not required to take an oath but, if we do so, God expects us to keep it. Many times, people will promise God something during the tough times and forget about it when the storm passes. Here, we see the example of a Godly woman that was obedient and, by doing so, God would be glorified.
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