“9 Once when they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah stood up. Now Eli the priest was sitting on his chair by the doorpost of the Lord’s house. 10 In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly. 11 And she made a vow, saying, “Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.” 1 Samuel 1:9-11 (NIV)
Hannah was suffering deeply because the Lord had not given her any children. She was married to Elkanah, who had another wife named Peninnah. Peninnah had children and it says in 1 Samuel 1 that she would taunt Hannah and ridicule her for not having children. Hannah would cry and be unable to eat.
Hannah prayed to the Lord for a son, promising if He blessed her with one, then she would give him back to the Lord. God answered her prayer and she gave birth to a son, who she named Samuel. Once Samuel was weaned, Hannah fulfilled her promise and returned him to the Lord.
“24 After he was weaned, she took the boy with her, young as he was, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour and a skin of wine, and brought him to the house of the Lord at Shiloh. 25 When the bull had been sacrificed, they brought the boy to Eli,26 and she said to him, “Pardon me, my lord. As surely as you live, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the Lord. 27 I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. 28 So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord.” And he worshipped the Lord there.” 1 Samuel 1:24-28 (NIV)
I am in awe of Hannah’s incredible faith and sacrifice, leaving her first born child with Eli after years of wanting a child and being unable to conceive. She completely trusted in the Lord and knew her young son would be protected and well cared for. She accepted that she would not be part of his daily life, seeing him only when she accompanied her husband when he gave his sacrifice. She is a beautiful example of strength, faith and courage. In the next chapter of 1 Samuel, Hannah even has a prayer of praise to the Lord.
1 Samuel 2 tells us that the Lord blessed Hannah with three more sons and two daughters, while Samuel grew up in the presence of God. He served the Lord faithfully, assisting Eli and working alongside him.
God began speaking directly to Samuel when he was still a boy. As he grew up the Lord was with him and it became clear that everything Samuel said was true. So he became recognized as a prophet of the Lord. Samuel went on to anoint King David, who was a man completely devoted to the Lord.
Let me close this devotion with Hannah’s Prayer of Praise in 1 Samuel 2:1-10 (NIV):
“Then Hannah prayed and said:
“My heart rejoices in the Lord;
in the Lord my horn is lifted high.
My mouth boasts over my enemies,
for I delight in your deliverance.
2 “There is no one holy like the Lord;
there is no one besides you;
there is no Rock like our God.
3 “Do not keep talking so proudly
or let your mouth speak such arrogance,
for the Lord is a God who knows,
and by him deeds are weighed.
4 “The bows of the warriors are broken,
but those who stumbled are armed with strength.
5 Those who were full hire themselves out for food,
but those who were hungry are hungry no more.
She who was barren has borne seven children,
but she who has had many sons pines away.
6 “The Lord brings death and makes alive;
he brings down to the grave and raises up.
7 The Lord sends poverty and wealth;
he humbles and he exalts.
8 He raises the poor from the dust
and lifts the needy from the ash heap;
he seats them with princes
and has them inherit a throne of honour.
“For the foundations of the earth are the Lord’s;
on them he has set the world.
9 He will guard the feet of his faithful servants,
but the wicked will be silenced in the place of darkness.
“It is not by strength that one prevails;
10 those who oppose the Lord will be broken.
The Most High will thunder from heaven;
the Lord will judge the ends of the earth.
“He will give strength to his king
and exalt the horn of his anointed.”
Our song for today is The Heart of Worship by Matt Redman.