Obedient Godly Women of Old...Hannah
Good afternoon sisters!
I pray your day is going well and that you are standing on the precious Word of God, strong and steadfast!
Today I want to write about Hannah in 1 Samuel. Let's read verses 1-5
1 Now there was a certain man of Ramathaimzophim, of mount Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephrathite:
2 And he had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.
3 And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the Lord of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the Lord, were there.
4 And when the time was that Elkanah offered, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions:
5 But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: but the Lord had shut up her womb.
First of all I want to mention that back in those days, God allowed for multiple wives even when it was not so from the beginning. We don't know all the details on that and I'm not going there but what I wanted to say is that we, today, cannot fathom such a situation as that. (Sharing a husband with another-or more- women and dealing with them.) We do see that Elkanah loved Hannah and treated her well (which might possibly be why Peninnah became her adversary.) Verse 5 says "The Lord had shut up her womb", we know God is the giver and taker of life and we see later in the chapter that this was all for the glory of God and why He did what He did.
6 And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the Lord had shut up her womb.
7 And as he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of the Lord, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat.
This situation went on for a long time which means she endured through a lot. I can imagine how bad it could be with her adversary (Peninnah) provoking her sore on such a touchy and personal situation.
8 Then said Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? am not I better to thee than ten sons?
Her husband asks her a poignant question which seems to press her on to the temple to make a vow before God.
9 So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the Lord.
10 And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the Lord, and wept sore.
11 And she vowed a vow, and said, O Lord of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the Lord all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.
12 And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the Lord, that Eli marked her mouth.
13 Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken.
14 And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee.
15 And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the Lord.
16 Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto.
The priest, Eli, thinks she was drunk but she shares how she bared her sorrowful soul in which he then tells her that God will grant her petition to Him.
Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him.
Verse 17
We find out the vow she made to God if she were to bear a son.
20 Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the Lord.
21 And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer unto the Lord the yearly sacrifice, and his vow.
22 But Hannah went not up; for she said unto her husband, I will not go up until the child be weaned, and then I will bring him, that he may appear before the Lord, and there abide for ever.
23 And Elkanah her husband said unto her, Do what seemeth thee good; tarry until thou have weaned him; only the Lord establish his word. So the woman abode, and gave her son suck until she weaned him.
24 And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house of the Lord in Shiloh: and the child was young.
25 And they slew a bullock, and brought the child to Eli.
26 And she said, Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the Lord.
27 For this child I prayed; and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of him:
28 Therefore also I have lent him to the Lord; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the Lord. And he worshipped the Lord there.
 |
| (brother Jim drew this for me) |
What a testimony of faith. She bears the burden of barrenness for a long time, being provoked by the other wife and when she has her son, she gives Him to the Lord. What godly character she had and quite honestly when you examine it, it puts Pininnah in her place who was getting down on her for not having children. We see that in the next chapter.
2 And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the Lord, mine horn is exalted in the Lord: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation.
2 There is none holy as the Lord: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.
3 Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.
4 The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength.
5 They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; and they that were hungry ceased: so that the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble.
6 The Lord killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up.
7 The Lord maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up.
8 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the Lord's, and he hath set the world upon them.
9 He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.
10 The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the Lord shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed.
As we read through chapter 2 with Hannah praying to the Lord, we see a similarity to when Mary rejoiced about the Lord to Elisabeth. (You can read that post HERE.) Hannah, like Mary, praises God in how He lifts the lowly and brings down the lofty. Her words of praise are recorded forever!
Later we see that in her faithfulness, God blessed her with more children.
As we read about the godly women of old, we don't see them acting like prophets or doing the actions that men do, we see quiet, obedient women who fear and love God. What awesome examples for us godly women today who have to fight through the feminists of this world who like to tell us that we are set free from all that. Free from being a godly, obedient woman?! Who would want that, not I!
I rejoice to see the life of Godly women, standing strong in their faith and therefore being recorded for us who are walking behind.
Sisters, if we faithfully endure through the troubles of this life, we shall also, like our sisters before us, rest from our earthly labors and spend eternity with our Father in heaven. What a glorious day that will be!
Press on...
I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:14
Have a joyous day.
Blessings to you,
Sister Deb
The biblical gospel...