Elkanah, Hannah's husband had two wives. Penninah, one of his wives had sons and daughters, but Hannah had none. And Penninah teased her and she was very sad and unhappy. Her husband loved her, but did not understand Hannah's feelings so he could not help her. But she trusted God, knowing that He could help her and give her a son. Therefore each year, the family took a trip to the temple to offer sacrifice and to worship God. She cried and did not eat because Penninah constantly provoked her because she had no kids and was alone.
Hannah though, knew that she wasn't alone. At Shiloh she felt close to God, so she went into the temple, knelt down and just poured out her heart to God. She prayed, but no words or sound could be heard by Eli the priest who assumed that she'd simply had too much wine.
Hannah said to Eli, "I am not drunk, my Lord. I am a woman of sorrowful spirit, and I'm very grieved."
Eli responded, "Go in peace and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou has asked." Eli was a pro, Hannah knew, so she believed it was just as good as if God had spoken to her. She therefore went back to her family with a good attitude and a happy countenance. She ate, drank and gave thanks to God. She knew that God had heard her prayer because it was from her heart so she made a vow saying that if God gave her a son; then she would give him back to God and as long as he lived, no razor would come upon her son's head.
Soon after, they went back home to Ramah their home Hannah found herself with child. And when the time was come, Hannah bare a son and called his name Samuel, saying, "Because I have asked him of the Lord." She nursed him, and when she was ready to go up to Shiloh, she took him with an offering to the temple there and brought him to Eli the priest. The family killed the bullocks and with other offerings, brought him to the temple to fulfill Hannah's promise to present the boy to God.
Hannah said to Eli, "O my lord, as my soul liveth, I am the woman that stood here by thee and prayed for this child. The Lord has granted me my petition. Therefore, I have lent him back to the Lord for as long as he lives." And she prayed again and said, "My heart rejoiceth in the Lord; He is exalted. I rejoice in His salvation. There is none holy as the Lord. Let not arrogancy come out of my mouth: for the Lord is a God of knowledge by Him actions are weighed."
And Eli blessed Elkanah and Hannah and said, "The Lord give you seed of this woman for the loan which you've lent Him."
And she conceived and bare three sons and two daughters. And Samuel grew as he stayed at the temple with Eli. And the child Samuel ministered unto the Lord and before Eli. And the word of the Lord was precious in those days. As Samuel went to sleep in the temple, the Lord called Samuel and He answered, "Here I am." And the boy ran to Eli as he usually did.
Eli said, "I did not call you son, lay down again." And three times the Lord called Him and He went to Eli. So Eli perceived that God had called him. So Eli said to Samuel, go and lie down and if He calls you say, 'Speak Lord; for thy servant heareth.' "
So Samuel went and lay down and God called him again, but this time the Lord came and stood and said, "Samuel, Samuel." Samuel responded, "Speak, for thy servant heareth." God gave him a message to give to Eli about his sons, because they were evil, God punished them by death because they were not obedient to God, and did not repent of their evil ways and Eli had no control over them. Therefore he also would be punished. The three of them would all die on the same day.
0 comments:
Post a Comment