1 Sa. 2: Hannah Prays, Eli Prophecied Agin

1 Samuel 2:35 "I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who will do according to what is in my heart and mind. I will firmly establish his house, and he will minister before my anointed one always."

Well, Hannah, like most good people in the Bible to this point, takes time to remember to give God glory when He grants requests. In her thanks, she acknowledges God as creator, as all powerful, all knowing, boastworthy...author of life and death. Giver of status. The great equalizer. And she takes a shot at her wife, Peninnah. It's her wife, too, right? Eh, maybe not. She may have thought that having children would be her only shot at value as a person. Amazing what we come to ascribe as attributes of value for ourselves, and what God has is completely different.

Her son begins to help out around the tabernacle...maybe becoming the world's first altar boy? Sweeping floors, vacuuming, whatnot.

Eli's sons (also priests) Hophni and Phinehas (not that Phinehas) were not exactly exemplary in line for the priesthood. They abused their position, and took advantage of the sacrifices Israel brought. However, this was apparently not worthy of a death sentence. Among the offenses counted against them, boning the chicks that helped out at the temple, and demanding the fatted portion of the sacrifice to the point where they threatened the sacrificer with taking it by force. The best was supposed to belong to God. Specifically. Additionally, anyone eating the fat offered to God was to be cut off from his people. An important punishment.

But were they incinerated like Nadab and Abihu? No. But God did want them dead (v. 25), and His justice just wasn't as swift in this case. And Eli didn't just let this sin go ignored. He made a token effort here and there to talk to them, but this wasn't enough, as it went unheeded...as though Eli was not really a man of much discipline.

Meanwhile, Samuel was given linens to wear...which, if you'll remember, linens were reserved for those who were priests or were in training to be priests. Samuel had an important place in the tabernacle, despite being an Ephraimite.

Eli was visited by a prophet who told him that this behavior by his sons was not acceptable, and would lead to a terrible curse...that no one in his family would ever live a long life. However, there was a promise that there would be a priest who would rise up who would be faithful, and would be so tight with God, that this priest would do everything according to God's heart and mind. Can you imagine that connection? His house will be firmly established, and he will minister always. As if this would be the final priest. And all would come to him asking for favor and sustenance.

1 Sa. 1: Hannah's Vow

1 Samuel 1:19 "Early the next morning they arose and worshiped before the LORD and then went back to their home at Ramah. Elkanah lay with Hannah his wife, and the LORD remembered her."

It's a new story. There's a guy named Elkanah, an Ephraimite. But the story isn't so much about him. It's about one of his wives. Like Jacob, Elkanah had two wives, but one he (apparently) truly loved. Like Jacob, he had one wife with children (Peninnah), and one wife who could not conceive (Hannah), at least at first. And Peninnah obviously did not take kindly to this favoritism from Elkanah. Polygamy seems to end up like this. Peninnah did not hesitate to rub it in that she was having children, and this constantly broke Hannah's heart.

It says that every time they went to the tabernacle, Penny would poke and prod until Hannah wept and refused to eat. And then you have Elkanah. I love Elkanah, because he reminds me of me. He has absolutely no idea why his beloved wife is so depressed. "Why do you weep," he asks. And then the mother lode of density, which even I know is the wrong thing to ask, "Don't I mean more to you than ten sons?" Yeah. He asked that. No marriage counselor in the world...

One day, "in bitterness of soul," Hannah prays, desperately begging God to send her a son, and she vows to give up her son in service to the LORD. How very descriptive, "bitterness of soul." Have you prayed like that? At the point where you can't breathe, and you cry out out of your despair?

Eli, the priest there, suspects her of being drunk, since her mouth is moving and no sound is coming out. And Hannah, even though she is sort of backed into a corner as far as having to explain herself, she doesn't hide how she feels from Eli. She isn't afraid to be real with him. She admits to being deeply troubled. She puts up no facade, doesn't try to explain it away. How many of us can have this type of interaction with a church leader?

Eli softens and tells Hannah to go in peace, with the blessing that the LORD would grant whatever she was asking. She left with joy in her heart.

In time, Hannah has a son, Samuel. The Bible says that the LORD remembered her. He remembered her request, or He remembered her vow, that's the question. No vow is taken lightly by God, and he has proven this in the case of Jephthah.

She didn't go with Elkanah for the annual sacrifice, because Samuel wasn't weaned. Couldn't handle the travel to Shiloh. Eventually, Hannah does bring Samuel in with a sacrifice. And who is there, but Eli, and Hannah reminds him that it was her who wept so bitterly, and the LORD gave her what she asked for, and she was fulfilling her promise to God by bringing in her son. Wonder what the child care system was like at the temple...