1 Samuel 1:8–18 (NKJV)
8 Then Elkanah her husband said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep? Why do you not eat? And why is your heart grieved? Am I not better to you than ten sons?”
9 So Hannah arose after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat by the doorpost of the tabernacle of the LORD. 10 And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the LORD and wept in anguish. 11 Then she made a vow and said, “O LORD of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head.”
12 And it happened, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli watched her mouth. 13 Now Hannah spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli thought she was drunk. 14 So Eli said to her, “How long will you be drunk? Put your wine away from you!”
15 But Hannah answered and said, “No, my lord, I am a woman of sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor intoxicating drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD. 16 Do not consider your maidservant a wicked woman, for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief I have spoken until now.”
17 Then Eli answered and said, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition which you have asked of Him.”
18 And she said, “Let your maidservant find favor in your sight.” So the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.
Mothers teach us so much about all the important things in life.
My mother taught me to appreciate a job well done
“If you’re going to kill each other, do it outside …... I just finished cleaning.”
My mother taught me Religion - “You better pray that will come out of the carpet.”
My mother taught me Logic. - “Because I said so, that’s why.”
My mother taught me Foresight - “Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you’re in an accident.”
My mother taught me Irony - “Keep laughing and I’ll give you something to cry about.”
My mother taught me about stamina: "You’ll sit there ’til you eat every last pea on your plate."
My Mother taught me about the weather: "It looks as if a tornado swept through your room."
My Mother taught me about the circle of life: "I brought you into this world, and I can take you out."
My mother taught me well. The biggest single thing my mother ever did for me, besides give me birth, was to pray for me. She faithfully taught me about faith in Jesus, and she lived out that faith every day.
Our passage in scripture today is about one such mother who prayed for a son. This story takes place during turbulent times. You might even say it was a lawless time.
Eli was the priest at the tabernacle in Shiloh and he was the last of the Judges. To understand what was happening in that day and age it bear looking at the last line in the book of Judges:
Judges 21:25 (NKJV) In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.
Kind of like today. Every does what was right in their own eyes. Eli was not only a priest, he was also judge over Israel for over 40 years. 1st Samuel does not paint a very flattery picture of him and his sons. This story of Hannah and the birth of Samuel and Samuel’s early years is intertwined with the story of Eli and His evil sons who were also priests at Shiloh. The corruption of that culture also effected Eli and his sons. Hannah was one of two wives of Elkanah. Elkanah was a Levite who had lived in Ephraim. Even though one wife was God intended norm, Elkanah probably took on a second wife, Peninnah, because Hannah was barren. Kind of like Abraham, Elkanah jumped the gun and had children with Peninnah because Hannah could not. But she was his favorite, but Peninnah did not let her forget she was barren.
1 Samuel 1:6 (NKJV) And her rival also provoked her severely, to make her miserable, because the LORD had closed her womb.
Children was a status symbol, and Hannah was infertile. Her husband tried to build her up she felt worthless and humiliated. It seemed unfair that a woman with Peninnah’s ugly disposition should have many children while gracious Hannah was childless. She also knew that only the Lord could do for her what he did for Sarah and Rachel, but why had God shut up her womb? Certainly this experience helped to make her into a woman of character and faith and motivated her to give her best to the Lord.
1 Samuel 1:10 (NKJV) And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the LORD and wept in anguish.
She expressed her anguish only to the Lord and she didn’t create problems for the family by disputing with Peninnah. [1] She could have turned to the other gods in the land, she could have turn to magic fertility practices of the Canaanites, or used folk potions like Rachel did with mandrakes in Genesis 30. But she steadfastly turned to God. In everything she said and did, Hannah sought to glorify the Lord. Indeed, she was a remarkable woman who gave birth to a remarkable son.
1 Samuel 1:11 (NKJV) Then she made a vow and said, “O LORD of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head.”
She had determined in her heart that the Lord wanted her to pray for a son so that she might give him back to the Lord to serve Him all his life. It’s an awesome fact that, humanly speaking, the future of the nation rested with this godly woman’s prayers; and yet, how much in history has depended on the prayers of suffering and sacrificing people, especially mothers.[2]
Hannah’s earnest prayer was accompanied by a vow. All too easily such vows can be attempts to buy God’s favor, but hers was truly unselfish, since it would mean giving away her son.[3]
“no razor shall come upon his head” indicate that Samuel was to be a Nazarite, like Samson. A Nazarite is one who has been dedicated in sole service to the Lord.
Let’s look closely at her prayer. When she prayed, she prayed as someone with an intimate relationship with the Lord. Her prayer in verse 11 she mentioned the “LORD” twice. Remember, when ever you see the word LORD in all caps, in the Hebrew, it is the proper of name of God, “YAHWEH.” Seven time in chapter 1, Hannah refers to God as “YAHWEH.” Nine times in 10 verses in her prayer in chapter 2 she uses the personal Name of God. Whereas Eli, the spiritual icon of his generation, never uses the name “YAHWEH,” but rather uses the more distance phrase “God of Israel” instead. Hannah prayed like she knew the Lord personally, and God heard her prayer. Yet she was humble before God for three time she referred to herself as “Your maidservant” in her prayer.
Hannah also is the only woman in the Bible recorded to make and keep a vow made to God. According to the Tora, a woman can only make a vow if either her father or her husband agrees to it. They have the power to nullify a vow made by a daughter or a wife (Numbers 30). Evidently, Hannah’s husband Elkanah, honored the vow she made.
Eli was a poor judge of character when he accuse Hannah of being drunk. Perhaps that was the norm for those coming to make sacrifices at the tabernacle. It was party time. Yet Hannah respectfully corrected Him calling lord (little “L”) and referred to herself as his servant. So Eli blessed her.
1 Samuel 1:17–18 (NKJV) Then Eli answered and said, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition which you have asked of Him.”
And she said, “Let your maidservant find favor in your sight.” So the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.
Hannah’s departure from the sanctuary area was an example of faith triumphant. Though she had approached the Lord in the depths of despondency, she left the sanctuary elevated and transformed. Hannah’s spiritual victory, won through the labor of tearful prayers, enabled her to eat the festival meal in peace and hope.[4]
1 Samuel 1:20 (NKJV) So it came to pass in the process of time that Hannah conceived and bore a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, “Because I have asked for him from the LORD.”
Samuel, in Hebrew, means “Asked of God” or “Heard of God.” As a Levite, a Nazirite, a prophet, and a judge, Samuel would faithfully serve the Lord and Israel and help to usher in a new era in Jewish history. The story thus far makes it clear that the life and future of a nation depends on the character of the home, and the character of the home depends on the spiritual life of the parents. Eli and his sons had “religious” homes that were godless, but Elkanah and Hannah had a godly home that honored the Lord, and they gave Him their best. The future hope of the people of Israel rested with that young lad in the tabernacle learning to serve the Lord. Never underestimate the power of the home or the power of a little child dedicated to God.[5]
Hannah fulfilled her vow and after she weaned the child (probably somewhere after age 3), she brought Samuel to the tabernacle in Shiloh.
1 Samuel 1:27–28 (NKJV) For this child I prayed, and the LORD has granted me my petition which I asked of Him. 28 Therefore I also have lent him to the LORD; as long as he lives he shall be lent to the LORD.” So they worshiped the LORD there.
Hannah was a woman of prayer and she certainly taught Samuel to pray, even at the tender age of three. After leaving her young son at the temple for most would have been a time of sorrow, yet Hannah rejoiced in the Lord. She praised God in a wonderful prayer. Her prayer in chapter 2 verses 1-10 reads very similar to Mary’s song in Luke 1:46-55 call the Magnificat.” Hannah’s prayer reveals an in-depth knowledge of God, His character and His deeds.
1 Samuel 2:1 (NKJV)
And Hannah prayed and said: “My heart rejoices in the LORD; My horn is exalted in the LORD. I smile at my enemies, Because I rejoice in Your salvation. 2 “No one is holy like the LORD, For there is none besides You, Nor is there any rock like our God.
What a prayer! “horn” in the OT lingo means her strength. Her strength is renewed in the Lord. This prayer is considered Messianic. It points to Jesus. Consider the word “salvation” in verse 1. In Hebrew it is “yesuah” from which the name Joshua comes, meaning "God is Salvation." Jesus is the Greek form of that name.
Hannah’s prayerful song eloquently affirms core concepts of Israelite faith: the Lord is the great judge and overseer of human destinies and a rewarder of those who earnestly seek him.
Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV) But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
He is the source of empowerment and victory for those who fear him, but for all others he is the overpowering authority who dispenses fearful judgment.[6]
1 Samuel 2:18–19 (NKJV) But Samuel ministered before the LORD, even as a child, wearing a linen ephod. 19 Moreover his mother used to make him a little robe, and bring it to him year by year when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice.
Samuel’s mother annually brought Samuel a robe, a longer outer garment worn by members of the Levitical tribe involved in priestly service. This thoughtful gift from Hannah suggests that although Samuel was gone from the household in Ramah, he was still very much in Hannah’s heart.
1 Samuel 2:20–21 (NKJV) And Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, and say, “The LORD give you descendants from this woman for the loan that was given to the LORD.” Then they would go to their own home. 21 And the LORD visited Hannah, so that she conceived and bore three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile the child Samuel grew before the LORD.
Hannah gave up her first born to God and God blessed her, who once was barren with 5 more children. Now in contrast to Eli’s sons who were the paid professional holy men, we have this interesting verse place in the middle of the narrative about of their evil doings.
1 Samuel 2:26 (NKJV) And the child Samuel grew in stature, and in favor both with the LORD and men.
This same verse is used of Jesus in Luke 2:52. Samuel grew up in the midst of decadence. Yet he was the man who brought about much change to Israel. He was the first of the great prophets. No doubt his mother continued to lift him up in prayer all the days of her life. This passage also teaches that true power is to be found not in one’s position in society but in one’s posture before God.
What is your poster before God? God does not look at our social standing, our standing in the church, our reputation before men. God knows our hearts and our very thoughts. Are we genuine before Him?
Parent, do we pray for our children. Do we give them over to the Lord and teach them from when they are very young.
God can and does great things for His people. Hannah brought her concerns before God, not as a last resort, but the only resort. Don’t wait till there are no other options.
[1] Warren W. Wiersbe, Be Successful, “Be” Commentary Series (Colorado Springs, CO: Victor/Cook Communications, 2001), 15.
[2] ibid.
[3] David F. Payne, I & II Samuel, The Daily Study Bible Series (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2001), 9.
[4] Robert D. Bergen, 1, 2 Samuel, vol. 7, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1996), 70.
[5] Wiersbe, 17–19.
[6] Bergen, 75.
