Forgotten Ground Regained

Hannah Sings (1 Samuel 1:1—2:11)

From the hill country came Elkanah,the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu,the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph,to worship and sacrifice at the city of Shiloh,to worship the Lord of hosts, the living God.Each year he took his two wives with him:Hannah was one and one was Peninnah.Now Peninnah had borne both boys and girlsto her husband Elkanah; but Hannah was barren.
Following the sacrifice was a family feast,where Elkanah would send single portionsto Peninnah and her children, while to childless Hannahcame double portions for his dearer wife.For his heart’s love belonged to Hannahalthough the Lord, the living God,had closed her womb. Wounded was she thenby her rival Peninnah, who ridiculed her and derided herfor her childless state, so that she sorrowed and wept,unable to eat while everyone feasted.To comfort Hannah, her husband asked her,“Why do you weep? Why don’t you eat?Don’t I mean more to you than many sons?”But her heart was sore despite his words.
One year, when the family had finished feasting,Hannah stood up in order to enterthe temple of the Lord. She laid her troubles before Him,praying and weeping, pleading in anguish,and finally vowing a vow to the Lord.“O Lord of hosts,” Hannah promised,“If You will indeed look on the tribulation of Your handmaid,and remember me and bless me with a male child,I will give him to the Lord as long as he lives;and a razor shall never come near his head.”
As Hannah prayed, the priest Eliobserved her and listened: her lips were movingbut he heard nothing from Hannah’s mouth,for Hannah was speaking in her heart to the Lord.So he diagnosed her as a drunken woman!The priest approached the pleading one and asked,“How long will you be drunken? Be done with your wine!”
“Not so, my lord,” she said in reply.“I have drunk no wine, but I am a downcast woman.I have been pouring out the sorrow of my soul before the Lord.Regard me not as a worthless wicked woman—I have been speaking from my great grief and aggravation.”
Then Eli the priest answered and said,“Now go I peace, and the God of Israelgrant the petition that you have entreated of Him today.”
“Let your servant find favor in your eyes,”the woman replied. Then she went her wayand ate and no longer looked miserable.
Before making their journey the morning after,the reverent family arose earlyand worshiped the Lord, the living God.Then they turned homeward happily, and in time,by the seed of her husband, Hannah conceivedand bore a son, the son she desired;for the Lord remembered His maidservant faithfully.She named her son Samuel, saying,“Because I asked the Lord for him,” for the ears of Godhad heard and answered her anguished plea.
When the time came for Elkanah to returnto the city of Shiloh to sacrifice to the Lord,Hannah remained behind at home.She would wait until her son Samuel was weanedbefore paying her vow—the vow belongingto Elkanah also—that for all the daysof Samuel’s life he would serve the Lord.Her husband agreed to Hannah’s plan:“Do what seems best to you,” said Elkanahto his beloved wife. “Wait until he is weaned.Only let the Lord, the living God,establish His word by receiving Samuel,the son promised to serve Him forevermore.”
When the woman Hannah had weaned Samuel,she took her young son to the city of Shiloh,bringing along a bull to be slaughtered,a three-year-old, an ephah of flour,and a skin of wine. After slaying the bull,they brought to Eli the boy Samuel.“As surely as you live, my lord, I am the womanwho stood in your presence, praying to the Lord.For this child I prayed, and it pleased the Lordto grant me my petition. So I give him nowto the Lord our God, to live here in serviceto Him all his days.” So she dedicated her son.And he worshiped the Lord there, and lived to serve Him.
And Hannah prayed, praising the Lord:“My heart rejoices, my horn exultsin the Lord of hosts, who lives to save.My mouth derides my rancorous foes,O Lord my God, for I delight in Your deliverance.
“No one is holy, no one but the Lord;there is no rock like our righteous God.
“No more let your mouth move arrogantlyfor the Lord your God listens and knowsand weighs the actions of all humans.
“The bows of the mighty men are broken,but those who stumbled are encircled with strength.Those who were full feel their hunger,and labor for food to fill their bellies;but those who were hungry now hunger no more.Even the barren has borne seven,but she who has many sons is sapped and inconsolable.
“The Lord both kills and delivers life;He lowers into the grave and lifts up again.The Lord makes poor and the Lord makes rich;He brings us low and He lifts us high.From the dust the Lord lifts the poor one;from the ash heap He elevates the needy,to set them among the princes of the people of God;to seat them upon thrones of strength and honor.
“For the Lord has placed the pillars of the earth,and has firmly and soundly set the world upon them.He will guard the feet of His faithful servants,but the wicked shall sink into silence in the dark.
“For not by might shall a man prevail. The adversaries of the Lord shall be utterly broken;the Lord of hosts from heaven will thunder against them.He will judge the ends of the earth in righteousness.
“He will strengthen His king, the sovereign of His choosing;He will exalt the horn of His holy anointed one.”
Then Elkanah headed home to Ramah;and the lad ministered to the Lord at Shiloh,in the presence of Eli, the appointed priest.
Copyright © 2023 Kathryn Ann Hill.
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