I Samuel 1
If you have ever had to memorize the books of the Bible, you know that it starts with Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. This is the Pentateuch, the heart of the Old Testament. After Deuteronomy comes Joshua, Judges, Ruth and then I Samuel. This is the book from which I will be preaching this fall up to December when we enter into the season of Advent.
But in the Hebrew text, the sequence goes directly from Judges to I Samuel, skipping Ruth. In the Hebrew Bible, Ruth is found in the third division of Hebrew scripture in a section called Writings. Christians took Ruth and put it where it belongs chronologically, in the period of the Judges, but did so to emphasize the place of David as the forerunner of the one who would be born King of the Jews in Bethlehem.
When you read the Hebrew Bible with I Samuel following directly after Judges 21, it becomes clear what the purpose of this book is. Judges 21 ends with this sentence:
In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit.
This is the true introduction to I Samuel which tells the story of how Israel came to have an earthly king. I&II Samuel and I&II Kings were originally one large book but were divided into four by the Greek translators of the Hebrew Bible. These four books tell the story of the kings of Israel from Saul, David and Solomon and all the way through to Hoshea, the last king of Israel.
This story of how Israel came to have earthly kings begins with the story of a woman named Hannah.
Hannah was one of two wives of Elkanah. She was much loved by her husband and he seems to have been very tender toward her, but she was in a very desperate situation.
Polygamy was not very common in this period but was more frequent in rural areas than in the cities. It may be that Hannah was the first wife and when she could not bear children, Elkanah married again in order to have sons and daughters. It may be that there were not enough men in the community where they lived so Elkanah took two wives to provide for another woman. In any case, Elkanah was wealthy enough to care for two wives. However it came to be, Hannah was trapped in a marriage where the other wife was bearing children and she had none.
I have talked and prayed with women who wanted to have children but were unable to get pregnant or perhaps could get pregnant but then had miscarriages. There is a huge emotional component to the suffering of Hannah in this story but in addition to this emotional suffering, there were two other factors that put Hannah in a very desperate situation.
First was the cultural stigma or shame associated with not bearing children. Today we understand better the physiology of conception, the development of the unborn child and the actual birth. But even with our knowledge there is a slight cultural bias against women who do not have children. In the day of Hannah this was a huge social stigma. She was shamed because she was unable to give her husband children and especially because she was unable to provide him with a son.
There was also a very practical concern. As a woman without children, when her husband died, she would have noone to provide for her. Elkanah’s property would go to his sons and they would provide for their mother but would they care for their father’s other wife? As you can read in the story, Peninnah, Elkanah’s other wife, was not inclined to be nice or generous to Hannah and she would be the primary influence on her children.
When her husband eventually died, Hannah would have no right to property. She would be destitute, dependent on the generosity of others to provide for her.
Hannah was in a desperate situation because there was a social stigma against women who were barren and because she was left with no security for the future.
During the time of Samuel, the ark of the covenant was kept in Shiloh. It was not until the time of David that Jerusalem was captured and the ark was brought up into that city. So Elkanah came to Shiloh for the three annual festivals and when he came with his family, he would bring a bull to be sacrificed and some of the meat would be used for his family. The way he distributed this meat, a rare item in ancient meals, showed his love for Hannah.
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. 5 But to Hannah he gave a double portion because he loved her, and the LORD had closed her womb. And because the LORD had closed her womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her.
These meals probably accentuated the pain of Hannah. With all the family gathered at one of these festive meals, Peninnah subtly and not so subtly reminded Hannah she had no children. Peninnah’s children were talking and laughing as they ate their portion of the meat while she sat alone. Perhaps Peninnah made a big deal of cutting portions of meat for her small children. Comments she made reminded Hannah that she was barren, although she needed no reminder. She was pushed out on the side. She did not belong in these family gatherings.
Notice that the text calls Peninnah Hannah’s rival. The use of the word rival reveals the tensions in this polygamous marriage. There is a good reason why the New Testament tells us men should have just one wife. Marriage is an intimate relationship that the Bible tells us creates a one-flesh relationship. Having two wives or having affairs destroys that one-flesh relationship and this passage clearly illustrates the tensions that occur. Hannah’s rival provoked her and made her miserable.
Elkanah saw this and did what he could to show Hannah he loved her but this was not enough.
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. 8 Elkanah her husband 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?”
Elkanah gave her double portions of meat and told her he loved her but her situation was more desperate than any emotional love from her husband could resolve.
If she was the only wife of Elkanah she would still suffer because she was unable to bear a child, but it was far worse to live in a household with children running around, constantly reminding Hannah of her pain.
So Hannah was desperate. She was unhappy and feared for her future. What did Hannah do in her desperation? She prayed.
Once when they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah stood up. Now Eli the priest was sitting on a chair by the doorpost of the LORD’s temple. 10 In bitterness of soul Hannah wept much and prayed to the LORD. 11 And she made a vow, saying, “O LORD Almighty, if you will only look upon 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.”
This was not a timid prayer. This was not a formal prayer. This was not an intellectual prayer. This was not a prayer designed to be impressive. This was not a prepared prayer. This was a prayer from the heart and because her heart was in turmoil, her prayer was an emotional outpouring of her trouble.
She prayed in bitterness of soul. What does this mean? I think it means, at least, that this was not a polite prayer. I don’t think she prayed Dear heavenly father. You are so gracious and kind. I think she prayed something closer to You say you love us but how could you do this to me? My life is miserable. I am persecuted by my rival. She never passes up an opportunity to remind me of my misery. Why have you kept my womb closed? Why have you blessed this wicked woman with children? What have I ever done to you that you would treat me so cruelly?
Heartfelt prayer speaks out what is in the heart, even when what is in the heart is not nice or polite. She prayed in bitterness of soul. She wept much. And then she made a vow.
She vowed that if God would open her womb and give her a son, she would give the son back to God. She made a vow that if she had a son, he would be a Nazarene, like Samson and like John the Baptist who would be born in the future.
Eli was sitting by the door of the temple and watched her.
As she kept on praying to the LORD, Eli observed her mouth. 13 Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk 14 and said to her, “How long will you keep on getting drunk? Get rid of your wine.”
Eli did not have an easy job. One of the things with which he had to contend was drunkenness. Perhaps Eli was so disturbed by what he perceived to be her wicked behavior because his sons were doing the same thing. Hannah defended herself by saying she was not a wicked woman and in the next chapter, Eli’s sons are described as wicked, using the same word.
“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. 16 Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief.”
A bit chagrined, Eli gave his priestly benediction to her request – without knowing what she had been praying about – and in his prayer Hannah took faith.
Eli answered, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.”
18 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.
Hannah who had been bitterly pouring out her heart to God, releasing all the pain and shame and fear she carried, now picked up her head and in faith went home believing God had answered her prayer.
She went back home and conceived and gave birth to a son she named Samuel – which means the name of God is El, a reference to the power of God who had answered her prayer.
Now here is where Hannah is revealed to be a truly amazing woman. Think about it. She was desperate and prayed for a son and after years of being barren, God gave to her a son. God answered her prayer. Now she was no longer shamed because she did not have a child. Peninnah could no longer gloat. When the children of Peninnah came by, she could look down at her son. She no longer had to fear the future. She had a son who would inherit from Elkanah and with this provision she would be provided for in her old age.
She held in her arms the answer to her desperate prayer, the removal of her shame, the answer to her fears for the future – and then she remembered her vow she had made in Shiloh to give this child back to God.
She could have rationalized her way out of this vow. She had been distraught, deeply disturbed. She had been depressed and bitter in her soul. She had said things she did not mean to say. She could have worked her way out of this and kept her son.
But there is no indication she tried to do this in the account. She made a vow and now she meant to fulfill it. She waited three years until Samuel was weaned and then she took him to Eli in Shiloh.
She did not take Samuel back reluctantly. With the support of her husband, she took a generous sacrifice. The NIV says they took a three year old bull. The text may also be read to say they brought three one year old bulls. The flour and wine they took were three times the required amount so this reading may be the right one. In any case, they took a generous gift to express their deep appreciation and gratitude to God.
Abraham is praised in the Bible as a man of great faith and one of the marks of his faith is that he was willing to sacrifice his only son, the son who had been long promised to him. In Hebrews 11:17-19 we read:
By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, 18 even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” 19 Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death.
Abraham was willing to obey God and give up Isaac. Hannah stands beside Abraham in being willing to give up her only son, Samuel.
This is an admirable woman, a woman of great faith, a woman to be emulated.
God gave to her a gift, her son Samuel, and because she was responsible with this gift he gave even more to her. After the birth of Samuel, she gave birth to three sons and two daughters.
What can we learn from Hannah? Let me suggest seven lessons, one for each day of this coming week.
Here is a lesson for Monday. When you are desperate, pray. There are lots of other options. Some people get drunk or high or in some other way try to escape the reality of what is making them desperate. Some people become suicidal and begin to contemplate how they could end their life and escape their situation. Some people sink into depression and find relief in numbing themselves against what is causing them to feel desperate. There are lots of behaviors people use but the best thing to do when you are desperate is to pray.
In our bulletin each week there is a verse from Philippians to head up our prayer concerns. Philippians 4:6-7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
When we are anxious or desperate we are limited in what we can give to God or receive from him. Our physical body suffers when we are anxious. So for your own spiritual and physical health, when you are desperate, pray.
Tuesday’s lesson is this. When you pray, pray from the heart. Release what is in your heart when you pray. Don’t try to pretend you are a better person or a better Christian than you are. If you are bitter, express your bitterness. If you are jealous or angry, express your jealousy or anger. If you want to take someone and chop them up into little bits, tell God that is what you want to do. No matter how immature or how unchristian you think your feelings are, release them in prayer.
This requires that you be honest with yourself. You need to be honest with what you are feeling. It may be that you don’t want to admit you could be so petty or so childish or so vindictive. Keep it unexpressed in your heart and it will continue to inflict its poison on you. Release it in prayer and you begin the process of healing that you need.
The lesson for Wednesday is that God will not give you what you want because of the intensity or fervency of your prayers. When you read this story of Hannah, remember that God wanted Samuel to be born. God needed a prophet to take the place of Eli. Eli’s sons were wicked, good-for-nothing men who were stealing from God to fill their stomachs.
When Hannah in her desperation prayed what was on her heart, her prayer was met by God’s desire to fulfill her prayer. Hannah was praying what God wanted her to pray. This is not always the case. Sometimes we pray with all our heart for something and because in God’s wisdom it is not what he wants for us, the prayer is not answered positively. In these cases our prayers open our heart to God, we release the feelings of our heart and God can then speak to us and lead us to change the desire of our heart so we are praying for what he wants to give us. Be open to God’s answer to your prayer even if his answer is no and you have to change what it is you pray for.
Thursday’s lesson is that when we sense God has heard our prayer, relax and believe. Hannah had been so upset she had been unable to eat but after Eli prayed his benediction over her request, she ate something and her face was no longer downcast.
When we first came to Morocco, I came alone for the first six months although I made a couple trips to the US in that time and Annie came over here twice. We prayed and many in the church prayed we would find a house and each time Annie came we went around looking at places to rent. We looked and looked and were frustrated because it did not seem God was answering our prayer.
Finally in June Annie came and within two weeks the Russons put us in touch with a couple who were leaving and we ended up renting their house that we have now lived in for seven years. God answered our prayer the first time we prayed but we had to wait six months to see the answer to our prayers.
I don’t mean by this point that you can believe in something you have prayed for, name it and claim it and it will be yours. God cannot be manipulated by our demands. But I think that when we have prayed, we need to have faith that God has heard and that he will answer. We need to pray until the anxiety of our heart is released and we experience the peace of God that transcends all understanding. If what we have prayed for is in our best ultimate interest, our request will be answered. If not, we can have faith that God will change our hearts and lead us to what is good for us. The point is that we can have faith and believe God has heard us and then relax knowing that God who loves us is taking care of our concern.
Friday’s lesson is that when God gives you something, give it back to him. Hannah gave back to God the gift of her son Samuel. She visited him once a year with a new robe she had made for him but someone else in the temple cared for him. This seems strange to us but God always knows what is best. Somehow, in God’s plan, it was right for Samuel to grow up in the temple to be prepared for his future role as prophet of Israel.
I learned this lesson from Uchenna who works with me in our association, AMEP. When we received the papers from the government allowing us to function as a legal church association, the first thing Uchenna prayed when we met was to return to God the gift he had given. He thanked God for the gift and then returned it to him, asking that we not hold on to it as our treasure but that we give it back to God and seek the purpose for which he gave us this gift. In the years since then we have been guided by this principle. This is God’s association, not ours, and we are only stewards of what he has given to us.
When you have a child, it is good and necessary that you return to God the child he has given. You will most probably be expected to maintain your stewardship of this gift by being a good parent. What God intended for Samuel is very rare. But it is helpful to remember that this child is a gift from God, not your personal treasure. You don’t own your child. You are only the guardian of God’s gift to you.
Whatever it is God has given you, your child, your spouse, your job, your university education, your home, your car, whatever God has given you, give it back and seek the purpose for which God gave you his gift.
Saturday’s gift is that when you are faithful with what God has given to you, he will give you even more. Hannah was faithful and remembered the vow she made and brought Samuel to Eli and then she was rewarded with five more children.
This is the lesson from the parable Jesus taught about the talents. A man gave money to three of his servants: five talents to one, two talents to another and one talent to the third. When he returned, the servants who had wisely invested his money returned to him the original money plus the money they had earned and they were rewarded by being given even more. The servant who buried his money received the condemnation of his master and what he had was taken from him.
This is not the gospel of health and wealth, but if you are faithful with the money God gives to you and earn as much as you can, save as much as you can and give as much as you can, God will bless you and you will be given more money or more responsibility or more authority or more of whatever God has given you.
And finally, Sunday’s lesson is that when we look back at the work of God in our lives we need to allow the praise that rises up within us to come out.
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.
We are created to give God the praise due to him and when we look back on our lives and see the way he has worked for our benefit, the praise that wells up in us needs to be expressed.
God has been working in your life this past week, this past summer. God did not take a vacation. God did not take his eyes off you. God has grieved when he saw you stumble and rejoiced with the angels in heaven when you took steps of faith.
If you are desperate this morning, for whatever reason, spend time today with God and pray from your heart, releasing all the pain you are feeling. This is a step toward God that will be rewarded. God will give to you what he knows is best for you. Relax in the assurance of his love and care for you. Lift up your head, eat something and relax in faith.
