Hannah went before the Lord to pray for she was “in bitterness of soul” (1 Samuel 1:10). She had no children. Her husband Elkanah had another wife, Peninnah, who had been blessed with children; moreover, Peninnah was cruel, provoking and irritating her (vv. 4-6). Hannah asked for a son and vowed to dedicate the child wholly to God (v. 11).
Eli, the priest, was nearby and watched Hannah while she prayed only moving her lips without making any sound with her voice. He made an assumption about Hannah that was both hasty and undeserved; he rebuked her for being drunk (vv. 12-14). Hannah explained that she was not drunk, but rather pouring out her soul before the Lord (v. 15). She said, “Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial” (v. 16). “Belial” is a word in Hebrew for worthlessness (cf. Deuteronomy 13:13). Hannah had the godly character and judgment to regard being drunk as worthless debauchery.
In reality, Eli’s children were “sons of Belial” who robbed those who brought their offerings and committed fornication with the women who assembled at the door of the tabernacle (2:12-17, 22). While Eli verbally rebuked his sons, he did not administer discipline that would be effective enough to curtail their evil (2:23-25). It appears that Lord rebuked Eli for not only not restraining his sons but also being one of those who benefited from their robbery (2:29).
Hannah, however, was blessed by the Lord. She returned home after pouring her heart out to the Lord in prayer, no longer distressed but at peace (1:18). She became pregnant and had a son, naming him Samuel, meaning “asked of God” (1:20). She weaned the child and was faithful to her vow by giving him to the service of the Lord (1:24-28). Hannah rejoiced in God’s blessings and was, unlike Eli’s sons, willing to give what she received to the Lord. Her child Samuel grew and served at the tabernacle with Eli (2:11). Hannah “made him a little coat, and brought it to him from year to year, when she came with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice” (2:19). Hannah was rewarded five-fold for her faithfulness; she had three sons and two daughters (2:21).
It is easy for us to look at others and assume the worst while failing to really see our own sins clearly. Members of the church can be like Eli or they can be like Hannah. Those like Eli make exception for their own and operate by a double standard. We are thankful for those who imitate Hannah, who in sincere devotion to God raise godly children. When Samuel had grown old he could honestly say, “Behold, here I am: witness against me before the LORD, and before his anointed: whose ox have I taken? or whose ass have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed? or of whose hand have I received any bribe to blind mine eyes therewith? and I will restore it you.” Samuel had lived like his mother Hannah rather than Eli and his sons with whom he had served at the tabernacle. Would to God that all of us and our children could honestly say what Samuel said when we have grown old.
-Mark Day
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