(August 19, 2024) Brian Bell shares more on this theme, quoting from 1Samuel NLT(1996)…

In Part 1 of this short series, we looked at some thoughts about Noah, whom we might call him ‘God’s boat builder.’ And while God declared him to be the only righteous man on earth at that time, we also saw that Noah was overtaken by sin.

The sin of Noah did not take God by surprise, it was in God’s foreknowledge, yet it did not prevent God from choosing and using Noah and what encouragement that should bring to our hearts today.

In Part 2, we looked at some thoughts about a woman God chose to place in a leadership position, Deborah, a prophetess and judge.

Personally I am so glad that God’s choices are not based on some kind of bias or favouritism. God is not looking only for those with a specific level of educational attainment, outstanding talents or natural abilities, although of course He does value and chooses people with these attributes.

This is Part 3 in this short series and I share some thoughts about another woman— Hannah, the mother of Samuel the prophet. Thescripture quotations are taken from 1Samuel:1.

An Undesirable Situation
Reading verses 1-8 we find Hannah was one of two wives to a man named Elkanah. Unfortunately Hannah was childless, while Elkanah’s other wife Peninnah had given birth to children.

It was an undesirable polygamous union, yet we find Elkanah demonstrated his sincere love for Hannah as the family undertook the yearly ‘pilgrimage’ to the tabernacle located at Shiloh as we read in verses 4-5: ‘On the day Elkanah presented his sacrifice, he would give portions of the sacrifice to Peninnah and each of her children, but he gave Hannah a special portion because he loved her very much.’

Hannah’s situation was also undesirable because of how she was treated by Peninnah as we read in verses 6-7: ‘Peninnah made fun of Hannah… year after year it was the same… Peninnah would taunt Hannah… Hannah would be reduced to tears and would not even eat.’

It is clear to me that the Lord enabled Hannah to endure this abuse.She an attitude of faith, yet at personal cost, affecting her emotional and physical health. Today we would say the way Hannah was abused amounts to bullying and is still undesirable and unacceptable behaviour.

A Prayer of Desperation
In verses 9-10 we read: ‘Once when they were at Shiloh, Hannah went over to the Tabernacle after supper to pray to the Lord, Eli the priest was sitting at his customary place beside the entrance. Hannah was in deep anguish, crying bitterly as she prayed to the Lord.’

In taking this action, Hannah shows that despite the abuse she endured for years, she was also a woman of believing faith because she took her problem to the Lord. Sometimes, certainly if we ever find ourselves being abused, we wisely need to seek the counsel of others, yet as believers we can also take everything to the Lord.

This prayer led Hannah to make a vow to the Lord in which she said that if He would answer her prayer and give her a son she would give that son back to Him for his entire lifetime and that he would be dedicated to the Lord.

In my home church, we still follow this example and will on request prayerfully dedicate infants of believing parents.

An Unwarranted Accusation
Have you ever been the subject of an unwarranted accusation?

It is particularly difficult if the accusation comes from a servant of the Lord and yet that is where the accusation against Hannah came as in verses 12-14: ‘As she was praying to the Lord, Eli watched her, seeing her lips moving but hearing no sound, he thought she had been drinking. “Must you come here drunk? he demanded. “Throw away your wine.”’

You may recall many centuries later, on what we call the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit fell on the disciples, the people in Jerusalem who had come from many nations were able to understand what the believers were saying because they heard them speaking in their native languages, but Acts 2:13 tells us that ‘… others in the crowd were mocking, “They’re drunk, that’s all!” they said.’

Even today, it is possible for people even God’s people, however well-meaning to misunderstand or misjudge us over some matter and subject us to an unwarranted accusation.

An Unexpected Blessing
Hannah had been living in an undesirable situation she faced an unwarranted accusation but Hannah’s faith-filled response to Eli the priest is recorded in verses 15-16: ‘Oh no, sir! she replied, I’m not drunk! but I am very sad and I was pouring out my heart to the Lord. Please don’t think I am a wicked woman! For I have been praying out of great anguish and sorrow.’

Notice the intensity of Hannah’s approach to the Lord in ‘pouring out her heart.’

If you are ever the subject of an unwarranted accusation it is quite proper to correct your accuser, or if you don’t know the accuser, to correct the accusation with others. The most important thing is to talk to God about it! And in doing so the Lord will undertake for you.

Eli’s response to Hannah as recorded in verse 17 is quite revealing and in contrast to his unwarranted accusation: ‘“In that case,” Eli said, “cheer up and may the God of Israel grant the request you have asked of Him.”’

Despite Eli’s hasty misjudgement and the harshness of his accusation, on hearing Hannah’s reply, Eli did not investigate the nature of the prayerful request about which she had sought the Lord, but by his words and under the Lord’s direction Eli was led to pray a priestly blessing on Hannah.

A Vow Fulfilled
Sometimes we may make a vow or promise and then fail to keep it but Hannah proved faithful to her vow as we find in reading verses 19-28.

Hannah did receive the answer to her prayer and became pregnant giving birth to a son. It is notable that it was Hannah, not Elkanah, who named the boy Samuel, which in the Hebrew language means ‘asked of God’ and in due course, the family went on their yearly pilgrimage to the tabernacle at Shiloh.

It was there in Shiloh, they took Samuel to Eli the priest and Hannah reminded Eli of their meeting and her prayer which was answered in the birth of the child Samuel and Hannah fulfilled her promise in giving him to the Lord’s service.

1Samuel 2:21 tells us ‘Samuel grew up in the presence of the Lord.’

Hannah was not of course the first woman God had chosen or would choose to bear a child— but God’s choices, whoever He chooses and however He uses us, are always those of a divine, sovereign and gracious God.

A Prayer for Troubled Individuals
Gracious Lord, I pray for those today whose personal circumstances of life or faith are challenging or difficult at present, for different reasons than those which Hannah experienced, or maybe in some cases even similar.

Please help them to rest in the confidence that you are with them in their experience of life today (indeed everyday) and that you can answer their hearts cry, for your glory and their good.

May we all know that we are chosen by our sovereign God not only to be blessed, forgiven and redeemed but for His purpose— and may we discover it!

_________________________________________________
Brian Bell is a diaconate member, Christ Church (Congregational) Abbots Cross, Northern Ireland. Brian delights in studying his NLT 1996 version and describes himself as ‘grateful for the privilege and opportunity given me to serve my Lord.’
__________________________________________________