Text by Rheynalyn Altoveros
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1 Samuel 1:1-20 (NASB)
There was a certain man from Ramathaim, a Zuphite from the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Elkanah son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. He had two wives;one was called Hannah and the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none.
Year after year this man went up from his town to worship and sacrifice to the Lord Almighty at Shiloh, where Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, were priests of the Lord. Whenever the day came for Elkanah to sacrifice, he would give portions of the meat to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters. But to Hannah he gave a double portion because he loved her, and the Lord had closed her womb. Because the Lord had closed Hannah’s womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her. This went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the Lord, her rival provoked her till she wept and would not eat. Her husband Elkanah would say to her, “Hannah, why are you weeping? Why don’t you eat? Why are you downhearted? Don’t I mean more to you than ten sons?”
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. In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly. 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.”
As she kept on praying to the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk and said to her, “How long are you going to stay drunk? Put away your wine.”
“Not so, my lord,” Hannah replied, “I am a woman who is deeply troubled.I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the Lord. Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief.”
Eli answered, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.”
She said, “May your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast.
Early the next morning they arose and worshiped before the Lord and then went back to their home at Ramah. Elkanah made love to his wife Hannah, and the Lord remembered her. So in the course of time Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, “Because I asked the Lord for him.”
Reflect:
Have you ever felt defeated in life? Or have you been mocked by someone? How do you respond to pain and misery? Meet Hannah, the mother of prophet Samuel who grew up in the presence of God and anointed kings Saul and David. The woman who responded to her difficult circumstances with grace and so much faith.
Hannah, one of the two wives of Elkanah, experienced deep pain as a woman. Elkanah loved her dearly, but the Lord closed her womb. The other woman made fun of her and provoked her. And she did it every time they would go to the house of the Lord. It’s literally the enemy attacking you whenever you get closer to the Lord.
In all of these, Hannah remained silent; she didn’t lash out to Peninnah, but she poured out her heart to God. She prayed. She knew the right person to talk to. She knew who had the solution to her problem. Hannah’s honor and faith in God were deeper than any of her pain.
Even when Eli thought she was drunk, she didn’t get offended. Instead, she only displayed humility and respect towards Eli. Such a graceful response when her character was being tested. And there, she was met with words of hope from the servant of God. She was instantly transformed; although she was not pregnant yet, she was no longer downcast. That’s the power of prayer, of an encounter. When we bring ourselves before God, whatever our situations are, He will change us to understand better. Before our prayers can change anything in our situation, we are first changed.
We knew what happened next: she became pregnant, gave birth to Samuel, and dedicated Him to the Lord.
The Lord was gracious to Hannah. Her name, which came from a Hebrew word that suggests divine grace, is very much evident in her life. In her story, it is good to notice that it was the Lord who closed her womb. However, with prayers and persistence, she changed her destiny. The Lord remembered her and looked at her with favor. Not only did she give birth to a prophet but she also gained five more children.
Respond:
Friends, if you are feeling distressed, trust God and take your concerns to Him. Our prayer is the most powerful weapon we can use against any circumstance. With an honest, earnest, and fervent prayer like that of Hannah, you will find peace. He listens.
Let us praise God and recall His faithfulness in our lives. Let us strengthen our faith.
Rheyn is an agriculturist and an aspiring best-selling author. She lives in Bay, Laguna with her husband Pau and their little one, Fave. She currently works as a freelance writer but will be finishing her MS degree soon. She is passionate about seeing the youth surrendering their lives to Jesus and following His ways. What she likes most about the Word of God is the life and reality it carries, how it springs to life whenever she needs it.
AUTHOR: RHEYNALYN ALTOVEROS