We are now entering upon a new phase of Israel's history. They had, under Moses and Joshua, been in a relationship to God, founded upon obedience to the word given through Moses. In the Judges and Ruth we saw Israel under judges whom God raised up, and among them the record of one prophetess, Deborah (Judges 4:44And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time. (Judges 4:4)).
There was increasing departure from God from the closing days of Joshua. The two books of Samuel show the beginning of God's sovereign interference with the state of things by means of prophets. We have also the setting up of a king. This last was an important change; thereafter the relationship of God with the people was not direct, but through the king who was responsible to maintain suited conduct in the people, himself an example to them. The kings failed, and eventually the people and their kings were carried away captive. But there will be a king foreshadowed by David and Solomon,—the King of Glory of Psalm 24, the Lord Jesus Christ, Who will reign in righteousness until He has put all enemies under His feet (1 Cor. 15:2525For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. (1 Corinthians 15:25)).
The name of Elkanah (verse 1)—"God is possessing"—is significant, in connection with the name of Elimelech—" God is King"—in the preceding book of Ruth. God was owned as King in Elimelech's day, but we are not far into this book before a man is elevated to the throne, and Saul was to prove a poor king. God is possessing, however, and acting, as He has ever delighted to act, in grace (the name Hannah means grace), and as in the case of Sarah (Genesis 15, 18 and 21), and Rachel, Jacob's wife, and others. He presently showed His power where nature was powerless. Hannah was childless, and the other wife, Peninnah, having 'children, provoked her very much.
In the bitterness of Hannah's soul, she prayed and wept in the house of God, and her prayer ascended to Him. If He would give her a son, she would give him up to the service of God, and he should be a Nazarite, as Samson should have remained.
Godly people,—and Eli feared God, may be mistaken, and Eli the priest thought that Hannah was drunken, as she was praying. He Who heard her prayer makes no mistakes, and, in due time He answered her petition, for she had His glory before her in making her request. She judged rightly, we may be assured, that Israel were giving up their true king; the priesthood, too was failing, and God must communicate with His people by a new means,—the prophets, of whom Samuel was the first.