Hannah

by John Drain, Derby | Category: Some Women Of Scripture | Sept 1976

The opening chapters of 1 Samuel indicate that at the time to which they refer in Israel's history the spiritual condition of the people of God was bad, and this was emphasized particularly by the circumstances in the house of God in Shiloh. The accepted leader of the nation was an aged judge and priest named Eli. In his family he had shown the tolerance of weakness, permitting his sons to engage in wicked activities. In the altar sacrifices these sons displayed such wanton rejection of the claims of the Lord that not only was God being robbed of His portion but the people of God also were losing the appreciation, joy and reverence which should have been associated with their offerings. In addition to such wickedness Eli's sons indulged in grossly immoral practices "with the women that did service at the door of the tent of meeting". How depraved were these men who carried important responsibilities! It was little wonder that Eli had to say, "ye make the LORD's people to transgress". A further clue to the cause of such depressing conditions is found in the expression, "The word of the LORD was precious (R.V. Margin, rare) in those days; there was no open vision" (1 Sam. 3:1). There was scant knowledge of God and of His law, and such a lack could only aggravate the low spiritual and moral condition of God's people.

These distressing circumstances caused deep grief to the godly among God's people. There were those who prayed and hoped, and watched and waited for better times. Among such was a family in the hill country of Ephraim. In Ramathaim-zophim there lived a man named Elkanah, a Kohathite, who had two wives, Hannah and Peninnah. In the derivation of the word Ramathaim-zophim we find the meanings "to observe, to wait, to behold, to look up, to wait for, to watch, to peer into the distance". The hill country of Ephraim was a district in which a good spiritual influence had prevailed. The names of Joshua, Eleazar,

Phinehas, Ehud were associated with it. No doubt in the home of Elkanah there was great grief because of the state and failure of God's people. These things must have been talked about with godly sorrow and prayed about with spiritual concern. This, we are persuaded, was particularly true of Hannah. In her heart there were longings for better conditions in the house of God and among God's people. God fearing people mourn when spiritual declension affects the people of God. But mourning in itself will not correct this trend nor rectify ensuing wrongs. Nor does mere exposure of wrong put things right. Something more is required, and we shall see that that something more was in the heart of Hannah.

In 1 Samuel 1 we see the very attractive picture of a man and his family going up to the appointed centre to worship the Lord and to sacrifice unto Him and to know the joy of sharing. God had clearly legislated that His people were to worship Him and offer sacrifices to Him only in the place which He chose. He had said, "Unto the place which the LORD your God shall choose out of all your tribes to put His Name there, even unto. His habitation shall ye seek, and thither thou shalt come: and thither ye shall bring your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices ..." (Deut. 12:5,6). It was obedience to this injunction which year by year brought Elkanah and his family to the house of God, the temple of the Lord in Shiloh. It is delightful to see a family united in obedience to the claims of God in relation to service and worship. Parents must feel a responsibility to each other and to their children in this important matter, and every possible encouragement should be given to such family unity and response. There may not always be the desired success. Many very godly parents have been tested by the failure of their children to share their spiritual exercise.

To the burden of godly grief which was in Hannah's heart concerning conditions in Israel there were added bitter domestic problems. In the inscrutable wisdom of God Peninnah had borne children to Elkanah but this joy and satisfaction had been denied to Hannah. Her name is said to mean, "favoured" or "to move to favour by petition". Perhaps there were times when in the sorrow of her heart she wondered wherein she was favoured. Perhaps we all in times of trial have known similar reaction in our minds. How careful we need to be! The writer of Psalm 73 said, "As for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped. For I was envious at the arrogant, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked". In the presence of the Lord the psalmist saw things in their true light and he was delivered.

Additional grief came to godly Hannah through the malicious provocation of Peninnah who in the family circle had become Hannah's rival. How sad it is that, through the perversity of the human heart, the very blessings of God can so be received that they produce a feeling of self-importance, and may breed pride and arrogance. How contrary this is to the will of the beneficent Giver. Many godly persons have at times been greatly humiliated by the arrogance and malice of the apparent superiority of others. Let us be wise in this matter. We all shall meet people who for one reason or another are superior to us. We need to be careful lest envy is the real cause of any irritation we may feel. In Hannah's case there was cause for the bitterness she felt. If similar trial should come our way let us learn from this God fearing woman. She poured out her heart in prayer to God.

But even more serious provocation awaited Hannah. As she stood at the door of the Temple, oblivious to her surroundings, she wept and prayed. The deep agonies, the conflicts, the resolutions of her inmost being were known only by the Lord. Only her lips moved as the words of her heart ascended to Him. Close by was the aged Eli, the priest and judge of the people. He completely misunderstood Hannah. It is difficult to accept the test of being misunderstood, especially when one's words or actions derive from genuine and righteous motives. But the test is all the more burdensome when the misunderstanding is in the minds of those from whom this would not be expected. There was something worse for Hannah. She was scandalously misrepresented. Eli called her a drunken woman. How bitterly it must have stung this woman who was pouring out her soul to the Lord to hear herself described by such as Eli as being drunk. Surely Hannah's cup of sorrow must have been full to the brim!

Here we ponder the lesson of Hannah. Her story underlines that often those in whose hearts are longings and purposes for the honour of God and His testimony find their pathway strewn with perplexing problems and obstacles. The awareness of limitations, the dreaded consequences of having been misunderstood, the bitterness of misrepresentation - all these may make the going hard. We can do what Hannah did. We can "take it to the Lord in prayer". But we can do more. As disciples of Christ we can look to Him as our great Example. Who suffered as did He? Who was more misunderstood, more misrepresented than He? And what do we read? "Who, when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, threatened not; but committed Himself (or His cause) to Him that judgeth righteously" (1 Pet. 2:23). He has left us an example, that we should follow His steps, walking in the line of His conduct.

The remonstrance of Eli led Hannah to disclose the great burden of her

heart. She had been asking the Lord of Hosts for a son. Why was she so anxious to receive a son? Was it to gratify Elkanah? Was it to remove her reproach and close the mouth of her rival? That both of these things could have been secured by the birth of a son we doubt not, but in neither of these do we see the real purpose of Hannah's heart. She wanted a son to give him to the Lord, to give him so that the Lord would have an instrument to lead His people back to His ways and to know the joy of spiritual revival. Here was a woman with a longing unsullied by selfishness that God would give to her so that she could give to Him. Here was a woman who for the glory of God was prepared to sacrifice all that maternal instinct and love valued. She was a noble woman, and He who reads the heart granted her petition. In due course the son given was brought to Shiloh and in impressive sacrificial giving a loving mother parted with her treasured possession. Who can enter into the deep emotions of that mother's heart? Only the Lord Himself knows. And who but the Lord can measure the dedication in the words, "For this child I prayed ... as long as he liveth he is granted to the LORD" (1 Sam. 1:27,28)?

Through Samuel there came glory to God and blessing to Israel. He became a channel through whom the word of God reached His people. He became an instrument through whom the rule of God could be administered. But above all, he became a powerful influence in leading the people back to God.

We desire to see a clearer, stronger and more effective testimony for God on earth today. What am I willing to sacrifice to promote this?

John Drain, Derby | Sept 1976
Some Women Of Scripture