1 Samuel 1 and 2
Hannah was sad and tried, or as she describes herself, was “a woman of a sorrowful spirit.” Naturally, there was plenty of reason for her sorrow. She had a deep longing in her heart which was, as yet, ungratified, and in addition, the adversary used Peninnah to further try her with unkind taunts and teasing speeches.
Even the love of her devoted husband could not bring permanent sunshine into her life, and we are introduced to her in all her sadness and depression. However, although she does not know it, God has His eye on her for blessing. Her weeping may indeed endure for a night, but she is to prove that “joy cometh in the morning.”
The sorrow of unfulfilled desire is too deep to confide to an earthly friend, but Hannah turns to the Lord, whose sympathies fail not, and in the bitterness of her soul, and with the burning tears of a wounded spirit, she pours out her heart to Him in prayer. A special opportunity is afforded her for this when she accompanies her husband Elkanah and the provoking Peninnah to Shiloh for the yearly worship and sacrifice to Jehovah. Here, in the depths of her earnestness, she requests the Lord to remember her, and give her a son, whom she promises to give back to Him for His service as long as he lives.
His eye was upon this poor, sad woman, and He would not let her be crushed with over-much sorrow, but in answering her request according to His infinite wisdom, He was about to bring such rejoicing into her heart as would tune it to lofty praise in one of the most beautiful inspired songs on record. Who teaches like Him? Can we think that her daily trial and burden of heart was unnecessary when, under the training hand of God, it was productive of such results?
When looking back upon the trial Hannah could say, “The Lord is a God of knowledge, and by Him actions are weighed” (1 Sam. 2:33Talk 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. (1 Samuel 2:3)). She realized then that He had been training her all the time, that every unkind action of her tormentor, and every action of hers, were all noticed and estimated at their right value by Him. Then when patience had had its perfect work, He came in to deliver.
The Lord granted her request, and in due time little Samuel (asked of the Lord) is born, bringing joy and gladness to the heart that had known so much weeping.
I believe the Lord continued to teach Hannah much of Himself during those two or three years of seclusion with her infant son, for what she desires for him speaks eloquently of what the presence of the Lord had become to her own soul. When the infant Samuel is weaned, she brings him to the tabernacle that “he may appear before the Lord, and there abide for ever.” What greater ambition could she have for her child than that he should abide in the sunshine of the Lord’s presence? Could she wish it for him unless she had proved something of the sweetness of it herself?
How gladly did she “lend” her precious gift to the Lord, little realizing how He would use him to stand for Him and for the truth in a day of Israel’s deep departure. At this time the priesthood was marred by such wickedness that the offerings of the Lord were actually held in abhorrence by the people, the priests thus acting as a barrier between the Lord and His people instead of drawing their hearts more closely to Him.
The Lord, therefore, not only became the timely Deliverer of the downcast Hannah, but, in lifting her up from the depths of sorrow and granting her petition, He became the sadly-needed Deliverer of His backsliding people Israel, by raising them up a prophet and spiritual leader in Samuel. We have only to read Hannah’s beautiful song carefully to see how full she is of the Lord and all He has wrought. And no wonder! She has proved Him for herself, and found Him to be far better than her highest expectations.
Have we so learned Him? If not, may we prove Him now. He loves to be confided in, and the result will not be less blessed than that experienced by Hannah.