Character Studies #10 - Hannah

“Hannah – A Woman with a Mother’s Heart”

Photos in God’s Album Series

—Hannah, Samuel’s Mother—

1 Samuel 1-2:11; 2:18-21 

INTRODUCTION:

On more than one occasion I have found myself observing that some of the people who seem best suited to be parents are unable to have children. While others, who obviously have no clue about how to raise kids, breed like rabbits and end up having ten of them. 

Not only that, these days we see so many unplanned and unwanted pregnancies resulting either in abandonment or abortion; but those longing for children are also forced to endure an agonizing time-consuming and costly process just to adopt and provide a child with a mommy and a daddy and a loving home. 

TRANSITION:

In this study we are going to meet a wonderful woman who truly had a mother’s heart, even though she had no children. Her story is remarkable, because it was through her that God brought forth one of the greatest men of the Bible – Samuel, who stood in the gap as the last of Israel’s Judges and in a sense the first of the great prophets. 

In Hannah’s story, and in that of her son Samuel, we clearly see the hand of God directing and orchestrating events so that in the fulness of time Samuel would be prepared to step onto the stage of Israel’s history to play out his crucial role in guiding the nation through a difficult transition period. 

In 1 Samuel chapter 1 we look in on the home that gave rise to this great man of God. The first book of Samuel opens with the cry of a godly woman. While the people of Israel cry out for a king, Hannah cries for a child. 

NOTES on the Text:

I. Hannah’s Trial and Trust (1:1-18) 

Verse 1: Now there was a certain man from Ramathaim-zophim [aka Ramah] from the hill country of Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite.

·       Here we meet Elkanah, “a certain man from Ramah…”

·       Ramah was a village in the hill country of Ephraim near Shiloh, the site of the tabernacle and the center of Jewish worship in that time.

·       “a Levite” (cf. 1 Chron. 6:33-34) 

Verse 2: He had two wives: the name of one was Hannah and the name of the other Peninnah; and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.

·       Elkanah had two wives:

o   Hannah, his 1^st wife – She was barren, with no children.

o   Peninnah, his 2^nd wife – She bore him both sons and daughters.

·       [N.B. A home can look good on the outside, and still be so filled with strife and unhappiness on the inside. An individual can be the same way.]

·       This verse reveals incredible pain:

o   For a woman to be barren was a sign of being cursed by God.

o   To be barren was to have no future descendants.

o   To be barren was to be an object of derision and ostracism.

This polygamous marriage probably came about because of Hannah’s infertility. Elkanah probably took a second wife to continue his family line, exactly as Abraham did when he took Hagar because of Sarah’s barrenness. Notice however that just because something appears in the Bible does not mean that God approves of it.

In fact, God’s ideal of monogamous marriage is clearly seen from the beginning, from back in Genesis 2:24, which says: “For this cause a man shall leave his father and his mother and shall cleave to his wife and they shall become one flesh.” However, polygamy was still practiced by Abram, Jacob, Gideon, David, and Solomon. 

No doubt it was tacitly permitted to a man in those days to have two wives. But where there were two wives there were two centers of interest and feeling, and discord was guaranteed to be the result. Unity was impossible to achieve. 

Let’s read 1:3-7 – Now this man [Elkanah] would go up from his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice to the Lord of armies in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests to the Lord there. ⁴ When the day came that Elkanah sacrificed, he would give portions to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters; ⁵ but to Hannah he would give a double portion, because he loved Hannah, but the Lord had closed her womb. ⁶ Her rival, moreover, would provoke her bitterly to irritate her, because the Lord had closed her womb. ⁷ And it happened year after year, as often as she went up to the house of the Lord, that she would provoke her; so, she wept and would not eat. 

The situation in Elkanah’s home was fertile soil for bitterness to take root.

Hannah: (Her name means “grace, favor”)

·       Hannah suffered long-standing pain over her infertility, the principal sign of her being disfavored (N.B. the irony). Also notice the perception of God’s involvement in this matter. Two times (2x) in verses 5 and 6 we read, “But the LORD had closed her womb.” For many this would lead to bitterness against God.

·       There were constant reminders of Hannah’s shame all around (i.e., the children of Elkanah by Peninnah).

·       There was also the constant antagonism of Peninnah toward her.

o   “Her rival” in verse 6

o   “Bitter provocation designed to irritate her” in verse 6

o   “Year after year” in verse 7

·       Having to share her husband with another woman left Hannah open to public shame and ridicule. 

Peninnah:

·       She was filled with bitterness against Hannah, whom Elkanah loved, and to whom he always gave preferential treatment and the best of everything, right under Peninnah’s nose.

·       She was filled with bitterness at life for her being locked into a loveless marriage where she was nothing more than a baby-factory and a housekeeper. 

Both women:

·       Had every right to feel bitterness against Elkanah who, although he appears to have been a good and godly man in many ways, was truly the cause of most of the problems in his home. For example:

1.    He did not provide spiritual leadership in his home to promote peace and understanding.

2.    He was stupidly insensitive toward both of his wives, not recognizing their unmet needs.

3.    He did not perceive the depth of Hannah’s grief over her infertility, and he made light of her feelings when she finally shared them with him (cf. verse 8).

4.    He should have shown equal love to both women. Had Peninnah’s need for love and acceptance been met she very likely would have treated Hannah differently.

5.    He apparently made no attempt to intervene between the two women to protect Hannah and to bring peace.

6.    He did not relate to Hannah’s desperate desire for a child because his own need for an heir was being met through Peninnah. 

N.B. All this misery serves to remind me that even a good man can have some huge blind spots. We as men and husbands and fathers need to examine our words, attitudes, and actions to see if we are being insensitive and hurtful to the women and children in our lives. We need to learn to “read” the women around us. 

Observe Hannah’s signs of grief and desperation:

·       Verses 7-8 “provoked,” “weeping,” “not eating,” “sad heart and countenance.”

·       Verse 10 “greatly distressed” (lit. bitter of soul), “cried out to God in prayer,” “wept bitterly.”

·       Verse 11 she bargained with God and “made a vow.”

·       Verse 12 “continued praying” (lit. “multiplied praying”)

·       Verse 15 “oppressed in spirit,” “poured out her soul.”

·       THIS IS A PICTURE OF A VERY UNHAPPY WOMAN! 

Verse 9: Then Hannah got up after eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat by the doorpost of the temple of the Lord.

·       Hannah went up to the Tabernacle to pray. Eli the priest was sitting by the doorway watching people go in and out. 

Verse 10: She, greatly distressed, prayed to the Lord, and wept bitterly.

·       With “bitterness of soul” Hannah prayed to the LORD and “wept bitterly.” She poured out her deep disappointment. She expressed her sorrow. She pled with God to intervene in her situation. 

Verse 11: And she made a vow and said, “Lord of armies, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your bond-servant and remember me, and not forget Your bond-servant, but will give Your bond-servant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and a razor shall never come on his head.”

·       Hannah “made a vow” to the LORD. Notice her humility: “O LORD of Hosts” VS “Thy maidservant” 3 times. Her deal with God if He will give her a son:

1.    “I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life” = perpetual Levitical service (Levites normally served only until 50 years of age).

2.    He will be forever consecrated (as a Nazarite) = permanent Nazarite service [cf. Numbers 6:5; Judges 13:5 (Samson); Luke 1:15 (John)]. 

Verses 12-18: Now it came about, as she continued praying before the Lord, that Eli was watching her mouth. ¹³ As for Hannah, she was speaking in her heart, only her lips were moving, but her voice was not heard. So, Eli thought she was drunk. ¹⁴ Then Eli said to her, “How long will you make yourself drunk? Put away your wine from you.” ¹⁵ But Hannah replied, “No, my lord, I am a woman oppressed in spirit; I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have poured out my soul before the Lord. ¹⁶ Do not consider your maidservant as a worthless woman, for I have spoken until now out of my great concern and provocation.” ¹⁷ Then Eli answered and said, “Go in peace; and may the God of Israel grant your petition that you have asked of Him.” ¹⁸ She said, “Let your maidservant find favor in your sight.” So, the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.

·       We find several interesting sidenotes in these next verses.

1.    Eli watched Hannah praying but misread the signs. He thought she was drunk. Why?

o   He saw her praying silently, perhaps with her eyes closed, with her lips moving but making no sound. He jumped to the wrong conclusion.

o   Reason: People in that day normally prayed out loud, even amidst a crowd. Eli misread Hannah’s great emotion. However, I am sure that this was not the first time that a man misunderstood a woman!

2.    There is a sad irony in Eli’s encounter with Hannah. In verse 14 he rebuked her for her supposed public drunkenness. Yet he would not rebuke his own sons for their gross iniquity even though they were priests in the house of the LORD (cf. 1:3; 2:12, 17; 3:12-13).

·       After Hannah had explained herself and Eli finally understood, he pronounced his priestly blessing on her and wished her well. 

From our 20/20 perspective we can see that Hannah’s infertility was for a divine purpose, although she, of course, did not have the same vantage point.

·       It was so that, at the right time, Samuel would be born, the man who would carry God’s torch.

·       Other examples:

1.    Elizabeth’s barrenness was to bring forth John the Baptist at just the right time.

2.    Lazarus’ death was for a purpose, to reveal Christ’s power at just the right time.

3.    The blind man of John 9 was there in that place, on that day for a purpose, “that the works of God might be displayed in him” at just the right time. 

I believe that Hannah’s prayer was in response to God’s prompting. He put into her heart that desire for a son. She prayed in response to His direction so that Samuel would be born. It was no accident! 

Notice how God confirmed to Hannah that her prayer was heard and answered:

·       Verse 17 – By the word of blessing and confirmation from Eli the priest.

·       Verse 18 – By the internal witness of the Spirit, which lifted her spirit and lightened her load. She even got her appetite back.

·       Verse 19 – By the new-found freedom to worship the LORD, knowing that He had heard and answered her prayer. 

II. Hannah’s Faith Rewarded (1:19-28)

·       She went back home and soon conceived.

·       Imagine her joy when Samuel was born, her first-born son, her only son.

·       She loved him, nursed him, nurtured him, and prepared him.

·       THEN, she did the hardest thing a good mother could ever do... she gave him up.

o   She gave him back to the LORD, just as she had promised.

o   She offered up an incredible sacrifice when she gave up her “only begotten son” to the LORD, just like Abraham did with Isaac, and just like God the Father did with His Son, Jesus. 

Hannah was true to her vow because of her complete trust in God. She knew that God would take good care of her precious little boy. This does not mean that she took herself out of the picture. You can be sure that she prayed fervently for him. She made clothes for him. She went to see him. Yet, she turned the day-to-day work of training over to Eli, the old priest. 

I am certain that this was not a once and for all thing for Hannah. There must have been many days when she was tempted to go to Shiloh to bring Samuel back home to be with her. She must have had to reconfirm her sacrifice to God repeatedly. She had to offer Samuel to God daily, entrusting his protection to the LORD. 

She herself described this arrangement in 1:28 as a permanent loan of her son to the LORD. She said: “I have lent him to the LORD for as long as he shall live.” She still loved Samuel and she was still vitally involved in his life. 

I have heard Hannah criticized for what she did. Some people think she abandoned her son in a misguided religious frenzy. This could not be further from the truth. Moreover, the history of Christian missions has many examples of many parents who, like Hannah, have had to entrust the day-to-day parenting of their children to other people, often in faraway places or in mission schools. 

It is interesting to notice that because of the prayer, faith, and dedication that characterized Hannah’s life, Samuel, her son, learned to worship the LORD also (cf. verse 28). That might not have happened if she had taken the natural easier road. 

III. Hannah’s Song of Thanksgiving (2:1-10)

·       This is a great hymn of Praise to God.

·       It is very similar to Mary’s Hymn, The “Magnificat” in Luke 1:46-55. 

IV. Hannah’s Dreams Exceeded (2:18-21)

·       God gave Hannah more children in place of Samuel, the one she dedicated to the LORD.

·       Besides Samuel, she had three more sons and two daughters.

·       You cannot outgive God! 

CONCLUSION:

·       Have you ever felt that God has dealt you a bad hand, that He has acted unfairly toward you?

·       Have you ever been tempted to yell at God and then walk away in bitterness and frustration?

·       Do you sometimes doubt that He hears you when you pray to Him?

·       Do you pray once then give up hope before the answer comes? 

Hannah has much to teach us about endurance and about prevailing prayer and about sacrificial love for God. Out of the crucible of her pain and heartbreak eventually came great blessing, which spread outward to many people through her son, Samuel. Hannah, this godly woman with a mother’s heart, will stand out for time and eternity as a model of selfless, sacrificial love.